Trust Amanda (A play for students in grades 1-4) Amanda hates being treated like a little kid.  She had hoped that her recent birthday would change how people treated her, but it’s been two weeks and nothing is different.  Amanda’s class mate, Tyler, still gets all the coveted privileges even though he is younger than Amanda. Miss Thomas, Amanda’s teacher, claims Tyler’s privileges are a result of his responsibility.  Regarding Amanda, Miss Thomas concludes: “Trust Amanda to procrastinate, to have an excuse, to need to be told.”  Her class mates add, “Trust Amanda to blame anybody but herself.” Amanda has a way of tuning out her teacher and class mates, but one day she discovers a creature she can’t tune out.  Einstein, the class’s pet iguana, appears in giant form.  The talking Einstein complains that he can only trust Amanda to “Starve me, ignore me, forget me.” As grumpy and pushy as Einstein is, he finally agrees to help Amanda in her quest to be treated more grown up.  Ignoring Einstein’s more noble recommendations, Amanda decides she will look better if Tyler looks worse.  Amanda tries to make Tyler look bad by dumping trash in his desk on desk inspection day.  The plan backfires and Tyler ends up with yet another privilege. Eventually, Amanda discovers the three secrets of responsibility – (1) volunteer for jobs, (2) keep promises and (3) help solve problems.  Amanda and Einstein help Tyler discover that he suffers from taking too much responsibility.  He blames himself for his parents’ marital problems. About the time Amanda sees that respect is earned by being responsible, Einstein becomes gravely ill.  Miss Thomas blames Amanda for feeding salsa and chilies to the iguana.  It’s true, the Mexican iguana longs for salsa and chilies and has pestered Amanda into satisfying his cravings.  This time, however, Amanda accepts blame for the mistakes she’s made.  But the mystery of what is making Einstein sick persists.  Amanda takes responsibility for solving the problem.  Her research efforts pay off when she discovers that it is the hot rock in Einstein’s cage that is causing his demise.  Reptiles love heat, but they can’t sense when they are being burned. As a result of Amanda’s newly demonstrated responsibility, Miss Thomas trusts Amanda with taking care of Einstein over winter break and Einstein is willing to trust Amanda with his life.

Copyright 1998-2004, All Rights Reserved, Bridgework Theater, Inc. Please report any problems to webmaster@bridgework.org