Night of the Gnomes
Parts available for children aged 11 up to teens.
Characters Ten characters. Five males. Five females.
Running Time Approximately 20 minutes.
Night of the Gnomes is a fantasy about a world wide rebellion of garden gnomes set in modern-day Norway. An eccentric Norwegian mushroom farmer has four garden gnomes. When the gnomes come to life, they kidnap the ten year old daughter of a visiting American family. The ten year old learns that the gnomes are misunderstood and champions their cause.
A sample from the play
Patricia-(Enters) Mom, this is so boring. I am only a child. Children can only deal with so much boredom before their heads explode.
Mom-(Hurrying to catch up) Now Patricia, darling, your aunt Aunt Julia is enjoying our forced march through homes and gardens of Norstad, aren't you Aunt Julia?
Aunt Julia-What? Oh yes. You would think they could make a decent cup of coffee. How do these people manage to wake up without a good cup of coffee?
Mom-Aunt Julia! The map! Where are we?
Aunt Julia-Uh, oh yes. Where are we?
Mom-(Sighs) Nordverk.
Aunt Julia-Oh yes. Uh, this appears to be the home of Thomas Verstag. He is a champion grower of fungus.
Patrica-Wow! Look at the mushrooms. I bet their poisonous. Can I eat one?
Mom-Don't be silly dear. Your father would miss you.
Aunt Julia-What a fabulously dreary place.
Mom-Its the ocean breeze. Keeps everything damp. Good for mushrooms.
Aunt Julia-Not good for my hair though.
Patricia-Hey mom (Running up to The Maestro and staring at him) What's this?
Night of the Gnomes is an ensemble piece where each child gets an important part. The lines are fairly evenly distributed with the character of Thomas Verstag requiring perhaps requiring the best male actor. Though the gnomes initially seem fierce, it becomes wuickly apparent they are actually very nice. An imaginative look at garden ornaments.
