Readers Theater--On the Banks of the Amazon by Nancy Kelly Allen

Narrator 1:  On the banks of the Amazon, a new day breaks.  The mighty Amazon River weaves in and about, around and out the canopy of green.  Hanging mosses drop down in this grand tangle called a rain forest.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters look at paw prints. 

Animals: Animals peek out at wildlife hunters.

Narrator 1: Two wildlife hunters on a safari see paw prints. Animals see footprints.

Narrator 2:  On the banks of the Amazon, the jungle wakes to a gentle breeze sifting through the trees, rustling leaves.  Howler monkeys swing from branch to branch with arms and tails.  The monkeys’ frightful yowls and haunting growls tell other monkeys to stay away.  Their fruit trees will not be shared.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters look around for the monkeys. They stop and cup their ears as they listen to the howls and growls. 

Howler monkeys: Howler monkeys howl and growl.

Narrator 2: Two wildlife hunters on a safari hear the howlers. Howlers hear them.

Narrator 3:            On the banks of the Amazon, the morning air is fresh and clean. A jaguar pants in a slow, deep rhythm. 

Jaguar: Enters stage and walks around.

Narrator 3: Nearby, a tapir watches the jaguar watching it.

            Quick as a whistle and with a squeal as loud, the tapir plows through the underbrush toward the river. 

Tapir: Tapir enters and looks around. It sees the jaguar and squeals. Then, it runs off the stage.

Narrator 3: The jaguar turns and runs on soundless paws. Two wildlife hunters on a safari take aim at the jaguar. The jaguar flees.

Jaguar: The jaguar turns and runs.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the jaguar.  

Narrator 4:  On the banks of the Amazon, sunshine seeps through the trees.  The forest floor, far below the canopy of trees, is speckled with bits of sunshine.  Trees and vines spread their leaves grabbing the sun’s rays long before they reach the ground.

Frogs: Poison dart frogs enter and jump around. 

Narrator 4: Brightly speckled poison dart frogs don’t try to hide.  Instead, they flaunt their colors as they jump into a pile of leaves, searching out insects for a meal. 

Frogs: Poison dart frogs did into a pile of leaves.

Narrator 4:  Two wildlife hunters on a safari stare at the frogs.  Frogs stare at them.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the frogs.  

Frogs: Poison dart frogs stare at the wildlife hunters. Then, they jump and hide.

Narrator 5: On the banks of the Amazon, the morning sun rises higher in the sky. Near the water, an anaconda wraps like bark around a tree. 

Anaconda: Anaconda slithers around on stage.

Narrator 5: The stillness is broken when a fish jumps out of the water. 

Fish: Fish jump.

Anaconda: The anaconda slithers past fish.

Narrator 5: Two wildlife hunters on a safari glimpse the anaconda.  The anaconda glimpses them.

Wildlife hunters:  Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the anaconda and fish.

Anaconda: Anaconda sees wildlife hunters and slithers off.

Fish: Fish see wildlife hunters and hide.   

Narrator 6:  On the banks of the Amazon, the midday sun heats up the jungle.  High in a tree the world turns topsy-turvy for a three-toed sloth.  The sloth hangs upside down all day long as it eats and sleeps.  Even the hair on the sloth grows upside down, from the stomach to the back.

Sloth: Sloth slowly moves across stage and hangs upside down.

Narrator 6:  Two wildlife hunters on a safari look for the sloth.  The sloth looks at them.

Wildlife hunters: Wildlife hunters take pictures of the sloth.

Sloth: Sloth looks at hunters. The sloth slowly walks off stage.

Narrator 1:  On the banks of the Amazon, treetops brighten the day.  Orchids in red and orchids in pink push their petals toward the sun.

            Feathers in blue and feathers in green set branches ablaze where parrots perch.  They go like the wind to the clay cliffs where they settle and nibble.

Parrots:  Parrots walk/run across stage with arms extended as in flight. Narrator 1:  Narrator 1: Two wildlife hunters on a safari view the parrots.  They aim and shoot.  Parrots squawk as they lift off the cliff and soar back to the safety of the trees.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of parrots.

Parrots: Parrots perch near narrator.

Narrator 2:  On the banks of the Amazon, the afternoon sun sends most animals running for the cover of shade.  Graceful pink dolphins glide with ease through the rippling stream.

Dolphins: Two graceful pink dolphins glide out on stage and play as if in water.         

Narrator 2:  Two wildlife hunters on a safari watch the pink dolphins.  Dolphins watch them.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the dolphins.

Dolphins: Dolphins watch wildlife hunters.

Narrator 3:  On the banks of the Amazon, shadows get longer in the late day.  The piranha tree sprawls over the rippling water.  Hundreds of caterpillars, thousands of caterpillars cover the tree, waiting to hatch.  Beneath the tree a school of piranha fish swim and wait.  A caterpillar falls.  The water splashes.  SNAP!

Piranhas: Piranhas play as if in water. A caterpillar drops into the water.

Narrator 3: Two wildlife hunters on a safari eye the piranhas.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the piranhas.

Piranhas: Piranhas look at wildlife hunters then walk off stage.

Narrator 4:  On the banks of the Amazon, the evening sun fades low in the distant sky.  Azteca ants are busy at work on the acacia tree.   A worrisome vine doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance of growing around the acacia tree.  Azteca ants attack the vine, leaf by leaf, until it gives up and grows in another direction. Two wildlife hunters on a safari study the ants at work.  Ants study them.

Ants:  Ants crawl around on stage.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the ants.

Narrator 5:  On the banks of the Amazon, animals hunt in the twilight.  Spectacled caiman sun themselves on warm rocks.  Slowly, they crawl, one by one, back into the water.  Their jaws smile as they float, still as driftwood, waiting to catch evening meals.

Caimans: Caimans enter and lie on stage.

Narrator 5:  Two wildlife hunters on a safari take aim.  Caiman disappear into deep waters.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the caimans.

Caimans: Caimans slither off stage.

Narrator 6:            On the banks of the Amazon, night creeps upon the rain forest.  Rain falls hard and fast.  The heat of the day is washed away.  Chirps, squeaks, and croaks fill the darkness with rain forest music.  The bullhorn calls of tree frogs from inside rolled-up leaves pierce the air and up the tempo.

Frogs: Frogs hop out and croak.

Narrator 6: Two wildlife hunters on a safari listen to the animals.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the frogs.

Frogs: Frogs hop off stage. 

Narrator 1:            On the banks of the Amazon, fireflies flash their nighttime beacons.  Glowing lights float up and down.  Like a helicopter, the lights hover then once again float up and down.  It’s only click beetles looking for food.  The forest floor casts an eerie glow.  A mushroom, a fungus, throws out a weak beam.

Other narrators: Walk out with flashlights turned on.

Narrator 1: Two wildlife hunters on a safari stare at the lights. 

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters stare at the animals and lights.

All animals: Animals stare at the wildlife hunters. Then animals leave stage.

Narrator 2:  On the banks of the Amazon, fog rises on a new day in the emerald world.  Howler monkeys howl their wake-up calls. 

Howler monkeys: Walk on stage and howl and growl.

Narrator 2:  A new day of hunting begins for the jaguar. 

Jaguar:  Jaguar enters stage and walks around.

Narrator 2:  A new day of sunning awaits the caiman. 

Caimans: Caimans walk out and stretch out on floor of stage, looking toward the audience.

Narrator 2:  A new day of hunting ends for the click beetles.

Other Narrators: Walk on stage with flashlight on.

Narrator 2:  Two wildlife hunters on a safari pick up their cameras, aim, and shoot again.  Animals scurry.

Wildlife hunters: Two wildlife hunters take pictures of the animals.

Animals: Animals scurry around the stage and freeze to indicate that the show is over.

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