This document provides a summary of an adaptation of Jean de La Fontaine's fables for a junior drama workshop. It includes a list of characters and their costumes as well as a synopsis of two adapted fables - The Hare and the Tortoise and The Crow and the Fox. The adaptation modernizes the fables, setting the story of the Hare and Tortoise in the modern Tour de France cycling race. It also depicts interactions between the characters in dramatic scenes.

1. LES FABLES DE LA FONTAINE – revisited
A UCS Junior Branch Drama Workshop
Adapted by E. Couture

2. LIST OF CHARACTERS
LION - King Louis XIV – magnificent sleeping gown, crown
HIBOU FONTAINE – glasses and blue cape
SERVITEUR/LE GARCON – 17th C servant outfit
M. LIEVRE – racing outfit, goggles
M.ME LIEVRE – stunning yet worried she-hare. All in pink, massive handbag
M. TORTUE – goggles, slightly old fashioned clothes, old trainers
M. BISON FUTEE – sophisticated news presenter
COMPERE HERISSON - both stripy t-shirts, moustaches, pétanque set and
baguette under the arm… Stereotypical French!
COMPERE MOUTON both stripy t-shirts, moustaches, pétanque set and
baguette under the arm… Stereotypical French!
COMPERE CANARD both stripy t-shirts, moustaches, pétanque set and
baguette under the arm… Stereotypical French!
MAITRE CORBEAU - could be dressed in « designer » clothes, all black
MAITRE RENARD – cunning looking.
M. HAUTE COUTURE - over the top fashion designer, exuberant, larger than
life clothes
COOL CIGALE – summer outfit, maybe Bermuda shorts, sun glasses, t-shirt
PENNY FOURMI – serious looking. Nice big winter jacket for the final scene
LEZARD – summer outfit
MOUSTIQUE – summer outfit
JEAN BŒUF – James Bond outfit
PETITE GRENOUILLE – in large clothes initially, then smaller clothes to show
the weight put on
INSTRUCTEUR DE GYM - lycras
CHEF DU RESTAURANT – chef’s hat, moustache and panache
ALL : CHORUS false directions, gym buddies, party people, morale.
2

3. PROLOGUE
Effect of sunrising onto Versailles palace.
LION in bed. Background of Versailles.
(roars of lion waking up)
Court/Chorus (behind the stage): Bonjour Votre Majesté!!
LION
Ouais! Bonjour! Oh la là, je m'ennuie, je m'ennuie…
Hibou! Hibou! Hibou Fontaine! (owl sound in the background)
Viens, viens vite!!
Yeah! Hello! Oh, I'm bored I'm so bored ...
Owl! Owl! Owl Fontaine! (owl sound in the background)
Come, come quickly!
FONTAINE
Bonjour Votre Majesté! (reverence)
LION
Je m'ennuie La Fontaine!!
I am bored La Fontaine!
FONTAINE
Voulez-vous jouer aux échecs?
Would you like to play chess?
(servant brings chess board and repeats: “les échecs”)
LION
Oh non…! Je m'ennuie!!
FONTAINE
Pardon Votre Majesté! Voulez-vous danser?
Sorry Your Majesty! Would you like to dance?
(court music being played, servant does a few dance steps and repeats:
“danser”)
LION
Oh non!!! Je m'ennuie!
FONTAINE
Pardon pardon Votre Majesté! Voulez-vous manger un festin??
(servant brings tray of food, servant tastes something from the tray and repeats:
“un festin”)
Sorry sorry Your Majesty! Would you like to eat a feast?
LION
Euhhhhh… Non, je n'ai pas faim! Je m'ennuie!!
Errrr, no, I am not hungry ! I am bored !
3

4. FONTAINE
Pardon pardon pardon Votre Majesté! Voulez-vous boire du vin?
Would you like to drink wine?
(servant brings bottle of wine and repeats: “du vin”)
LION
Euuuuh… Non je n'ai pas soif! Je m'ennuiiiiiiiie!!
(Fontaine and servant recoil)
Raconte-moi… une fable!!
Errrr, no, I am not thirsty! I am bored !
Tell me… a fable !!
SERVANT
Ah oui ! Une fable !! (surprised Fontaine and Lion both look at him)
Oh yes, a fable !!
FONTAINE
Une fable?? Oui, bien sur Votre Majesté!
Il y a très très très longtemps…
A fable? Yes, of course Your Majesty!
Once upon a time…
(servant walks past with sign and says: en 800 avant Christ, Fable d’Esope)
FONTAINE
Rien ne sert de courir ; il faut partir à point.
Le Lièvre et la Tortue en sont un témoignage…
There is no point in running, you must leave on time.
The Hare and the Tortoise are a testimony of this...
LION
Oh non!!! Pas le passé!! Je veux une histoire moderne!!
Oh no! Not the past! I want a modern history!
SERVANT
Pardon pardon!
FONTAINE
Dans le futur…
In the future ...
(servant walks past with sign and says: en 2014 apres Christ, Fable Moderne)
4

5. ACT 1: LE LIEVRE ET LA TORTUE
SCENE 1
BISON
Bonjour Messieurs Dames, Bonjour Votre Majesté!
Bienvenue au Tour de France! (jingle)
Voici les deux compétiteurs pour le Tour de France: Monsieur Lièvre (woolf
whistles) et Monsieur Tortue (booes)
Hello Gentlemen Ladies, Hello Your Majesty!
Welcome to the Tour de France! (Jingle)
The two competitors for the Tour de France: Mr. Hare (woolf whistles) and Mr. Turtle
(booes)
M. LIEVRE
Bonjour! Je m'appelle Monsieur Lièvre! Je suis très très rapide! Je vais gagner!!
Hello! My name is Mr. Hare! I am very very fast! I am going to win!
M. TORTUE
Bonjour! Je m'appelle Monsieur Tortue! Je ne suis pas rapide, mais je vais
gagner!!
Hello! My name is Mr. Turtle! I'm not fast, but I will win!
M. LIEVRE
Toi?? Gagner?? Tu veux rire!! (smirks)
You? Win? Are you kidding! (Smirks)
M.TORTUE
Mais oui!! Tu vas voir!
But yes! You'll see!
BISON
Et voici le départ!! Attention…. Prêt… Partez! (gun sound) (departure from
Lille)
And here is the start!.... Ready ...Steady… Go!
(servant holds sign and says: à Lille)
MME LIEVRE
Attendez, attendez!! Il pleut!! Lièvre, tu as oublié ton parapluie!!
Wait, wait! It's raining! Hare, you forgot your umbrella!
(meanwhile Tortoise starts cycling)
M.LIEVRE (tries cycling with the umbrella)
Euuuhh… Merci ma chérie!
Euuuhh ... Thanks sweetie!
(starts cycling and overtakes the Tortoise)
5

6. SCENE 2
BISON (on flipchart with map of France)
Le Lièvre et La Tortue ont commencé! Le Lièvre est là, la Tortue est ici!! À
Rennes, il y a du vent.
The Hare and The Tortoise have started! The Hare is here, the Turtle is there! In
Rennes, it is windy.
(servant holds sign and says: à Rennes)
MME LIEVRE
Attendez, attendez!! Lièvre, tu as oublié ton anorak!!
Wait, wait! Hare, you forgot your anorak!
M.LIEVRE
Euuuuh… Merci ma chérie!
(struggles to put anorak on, Tortoise is getting nearer and takes over)
M.TORTUE
Bip bip ! Bonjour Monsieur Lièvre!! Lentement, mais sûrement!!
Beep beep! Hello Mr. Hare! Slowly but surely!
M.LIEVRE (pulls a face and misses the direction)
Euuuh… Excusez- moi, Nice, c'est quelle direction??
Uh ... sorry, which direction is Nice?
Compere Herisson:
C'est à gauche!
It is left!
(Lièvre turns left)
Compere Mouton:
Non non, c'est à droite!!
No no, it is right!
(Lièvre turns right)
Compere Canard:
Non non non, c'est tout droit!!
No no no, it’s straight on!
(Lièvre looks confused)
Directions song sung by all
Ou est, ou est.. ou est Nice s’il vous plait ?
Tournez a gauche, tournez a droite, aller tout droit et vous voilà !
6

7. SCENE 3
BISON
Newflash!! La Tortue est à Nice!! Le Lièvre est… (confused spot on the screen)
là, non, ici, non ici… Il est perdu!!
(Servant holds sign and says: à Nice)
À Nice, il fait chaud!! (Lièvre overtakes Tortue at the city sign)
Newflash! The turtle is in Nice! The Hare is ... (confused spot on the screen) here, no
there…. no there ... He is lost!
In Nice, it's hot!
MME LIEVRE:
Attendez attendez! Lièvre, tu as oublié ta crème solaire!!
Wait wait! Hare, you forgot your sunscreen!
M.LIEVRE
Euuuuhhh… Merci ma chérie! (Mme Lièvre dabs a lot of sun cream on M.
Lievre's face)
Ahhh, enfin à Nice!! (cycles past a café)
Ahhh, finally in Nice!
COMPERE HERISSON
Hé peuchère!! Bonjour Lièvre!
Hey mate! Hello Hare!
COMPERE MOUTON
Hé, Lièvre!! Tu veux un pastis??
Hey, Hare! Would you like a pastis?
COMPERE CANARD
Viens boire un pastis avec nous, c'est délicieux!
Come and drink a pastis with us, it's delicious!
M.LIEVRE
Euuuh… Oui, il fait chaud!!! Garçon! Trois pastis s'il vous plait!
Uh ... Yes, it's hot! Garcon! Three pastis please!
(Compères and Lièvre sit down at a café, servant serves them a pastis)
M.LIEVRE
Euuuhh, je vais faire une sieste!!
Euuuhh, I'll take a nap!
(Lièvre lies down and has a sleep, Tortoise goes past him)
M.TORTUE (whispering so as not to wake up Lievre)
Bonjour, Monsieur Lièvre!! Lentement, mais sûrement!!
Hello, Mr. Hare! Slowly but surely!
7

8. SCENE 4
BISON (shakes Lièvre to wake him up)
Lièvre lièvre, réveille-toi!!
Newsflash! La Tortue est à Lyon! Le Lièvre est toujours à Nice!! À Lyon, il
neige!
Hare hare, wake up!
Newsflash! Turtle is in Lyon! Hare is always nice! In Lyon, it's snowing!
LIEVRE
Le vélo est trop lent!! Je vais prendre la moto!! (motorbike noises)
The bike is too slow! I'll take the bike! (Motorbike noises)
(Lièvre arrives in Lyon. Servant holds sign: Lyon)
MME LIEVRE
Attendez attendez!! Lièvre, tu as oublié ton bonnet!!
Wait wait! Hare, you forgot your hat!
(puts the hat on Lievre's head, covering his eyes so he gets all tangled up with his
anorak and umbrella, falls over and needs to walk instead)
M.LIEVRE
(getting angry) Euhhhhhh…. Merci ma chérie!
Pas de vélo, pas de moto, mais à pied maintenant!!!
Euhhhhhh .... Thank you darling!
No bike, no bike but on foot now!
SCENE 5
(servant holds sign: Lille)
Tortoise arrives, wearing a yellow shirt.
M.TORTUE
Oui!!!!! J'ai gagné!!!! Lentement, mais sûrement!!
Yes!! I won!! Slowly but surely!
M.LIEVRE arrives afterwards, all breathless.
M. TORTUE
Bonjour, Monsieur Lièvre!!
BISON
Voici les résultats du Tour de France: La Tortue a gagné!!!
Bravo la Tortue!! (Cheers from crowd and Bison gives medal to Tortoise)
Here are the results of the Tour de France: The Tortoise won!
Congratulations Turtle!
ALL (song on the melody of Frere Jacques)
Et la morale de cette fable,
Qu’est-ce que c’est ? Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
Rien ne sert de courir
8

9. Rien ne sert de courir,
il faut partir à temps!!
il faut partir à temps!!
And the moral of this fable,
What is it? What is it?
There is no point in running
There is no point in running,
you must start on time!
you must start on time!
9

10. ACT 2 : LE CORBEAU ET LE RENARD
SCENE 1
LA FONTAINE
Voilà la Fable du Lièvre et de la Tortue!!
So this was the fable of the Hare and the Tortoise!
SERVANT
Bravo bravo La Fontaine!!! Encore encore!!!
La Fontaine bravo bravo! Again, again!
(both La Fontaine and Lion look at him bemused)
LA FONTAINE
Encore une fable Votre Majesté ??
Another fable Your Majesty?
LION
Oui, s’il te plait La Fontaine!
LA FONTAINE
Voici maintenant la fable du Renard et du Corbeau…
Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché,
Tenait en son bec un fromage…
Here is the fable of the Fox and the Raven ...
Master Crow perched on a tree,
Held in its beak a cheese ...
SCENE 2
CORBEAU (comes in with a hand mirror)
Bonjour! Je suis le corbeau! Je suis noir, je suis beau et… j'adore le fromage!
Voici mon beau manteau noir, regardez!! (chorus admires)
Voici mes belles chaussures noires, regardez!! (chorus admires)
Voici mon beau t-shirt noir, regardez!! (chorus admires)
Voici mon beau pantalon noir, regardez!! (chorus admires)
(admires himself in the mirror)
Hello! I am the raven! I'm black, I'm beautiful ... and I love cheese!
Here is my beautiful black coat, look! (Chorus admire)
Here are my beautiful black shoes, look! (Chorus admire)
Here is my beautiful black t-shirt, look! (Chorus admire)
Here is my beautiful black trousers, look! (Chorus admire)
RENARD (from a corner of the room)
Sniff sniff!!! Miammmmmmmmmm!!! Je sens…. Un fromage!!!
Miaaaaaammmm!! J'adore le fromage!! C'est… (sniffs again) un (sniffs)
delicieux camembert!!! Un camembert…. (sniffs) President!! J'adore le
camembert Président!!
(looks around the room to find the camembert - finds an old pair of shoes, sniffs
it and decides this is not it, then spots the crow)
Ahhhhh!!! Voici le fromage et le corbeau!!!
10

11. Ohhh le corbeau est horrible !! Mais j’adore le fromage !!
(approaches the crow)
Bonjour Maitre Corbeau !!
(crow does not answer, absorbed by his reflection in the mirror)
Maitre Corbeau, vous êtes beau!!!!
(fox is now getting the crow’s attention)
Vous êtes magnifique!!
Mais votre manteau noir, vos chaussures noires, votre t-shirt noir, votre
pantalon noir… c’est triste ! Il vous faut des couleurs !! Il vous faut Monsieur
Haute Couture !!
Sniff sniff! Yuuuuuuuum! I smell .... A cheese! Yuuuuum! I love cheese! This is ...
(sniffs again) a (sniff) delicious camembert! A camembert .... (Sniffs) President! I
love the President Camembert!
(Looks around the room to find the Camembert - Finds old pair of shoes, sniffs it and
agrees this is not it, then spots the crow)
Ahhhhh! Here's the cheese and the crow!
Ohhh the crow is horrible! But I love cheese!
(Approaches the crow)
Hello Master Raven!
(Crow Does not answer, Absorbed by his reflection in the mirror)
Master Raven, you are beautiful!!
(Fox is now getting the crow's attention)
You are gorgeous!
But your black coat, your black shoes, your black shirt, your black trousers ... you
look so sad! You need some colours! You need Mr. Haute Couture!
(claps his hands and Mr Haute Couture arrives)
SCENE 3
HAUTE COUTURE
Bonjour !! Je suis Monsieur Haute Couture et j’adore les vêtements !
Oh la là !! Noir, noir, noir, noir !! C’est triste!!
Hello! I am Mr. Couture and I love fashion!
Oh my dear! Black, black, black, black! It's so sad!
RENARD
Oui, je voudrais des couleurs !!
Yes, I would like some color!
HAUTE COUTURE (brings some more colourful clothes and servant carries full
size mirror)
Voici…
Un magnifique t-shirt… rouge!
Here is...
A beautiful red shirt !
RENARD
Oh la la Corbeau, vous êtes beau!!
Oh, Raven, you are beautiful!
11

12. (crow admires himself in the mirror, fox tries to steal the cheese unsuccessfully)
H.C.
Voici…
Un superbe pantalon… vert!
Here are...
Some beautiful green trousers !
RENARD
Oh la la Corbeau, vous êtes beau !!
Oh, Raven, you are beautiful!
(crow admires himself in the mirror, fox tries to steal the cheese unsuccessfully)
H.C.
Voici…
De magnifiques chaussures… jaunes!
Here are...
Some beautiful yellow shoes !
RENARD
Oh la la Corbeau, vous êtes beau !!
(crow admires himself in the mirror, fox tries to steal the cheese unsuccessfully)
H.C.
Et finalement voici…
Un superbe manteau… rose!
And finally here is...
A beautiful pink coat !
RENARD
Oh la la Corbeau, vous êtes beau !! Vous êtes super hyper mega beau !!
Oh, Raven, you are beautiful! You are super hyper mega nice!
(crow admires himself in the mirror, fox tries to steal the cheese unsuccessfully)
Corbeau, tu es le plus beau. (makes the audience repeat it with him, crow gets
more and more flattered)
CORBEAU (elated)
Je suis le plus beau!! (drops the cheese – fox grabs the cheese)
I am the most beautiful!
ALL (song on the melody of Frère Jacques)
Et la morale de cette fable,
Qu’est-ce que c’est ? Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
N’ écoute pas la flatterie,
N’écoute pas la flatterie,
Ca n’vaut pas un fromage
Ça n’vaut pas un fromage.
And the moral of this fable,
What is it? What is it?
Do not listen to flattery,
12

13. Do not listen to flattery,
It’s not worth a cheese,
It’s not worth a cheese,
SCENE 4
LION (eating some cheese)
Mmmh… Moi aussi j’adore le fromage! Et quelle drôle de fable !! (laughter)
Hmm ... I also love the cheese! And what a funny story! (Laughter)
SERVANT
Encore une, La Fontaine !!
One more, La Fontaine!
LA FONTAINE
La Cigale et La Fourmi
La cigale ayant chanté tout l'é té ,
Se trouva fort dé pourvue quand la bise fut venue…
The Grasshopper and the Ant
The Grasshopper having sung all summer,
Found herself wanting when the north wind came ..
13

14. ACT 4 : LA CIGALE ET LA FOURMI
SCENE 1
(servant walks in with sign and says : EN JUIN, music can be heard in the
background and glasses clinging)
CIGALE (walks in playing music)
Ahhhhh!! J’adore l’é té , il fait beau, il fait chaud! C’est fantastique!!
Tiens, je vais faire une fête! Je vais inviter mes amis !! (gets his mobile phone
out)
Allo ?? Fourmi ?? Ça va ??
Ahhhhh! I love the summer, the weather is nice, it's hot! This is fantastic!
Here, I'll have a party! I will invite my friends! (Gets his mobile phone out)
Hello?? Ant? Are you??
FOURMI (in the audience)
Salut Cigale !! Oui, ça va très bien !
Cicada hello! Yes, all is well!
CIGALE
J’organise une fête ce soir. Tu viens ?
I organize a party tonight. You coming?
FOURMI
Ah non, je suis dé solé ! Ce soir, je travaille Cigale !
Oh no, I'm sorry! Tonight, I am working Cigale!
CIGALE
Pffff… Tu travailles ?? C’est nul ! Au revoir Fourmi!
(makes new phonecall) Allo Lé zard ?? Ça va ?
Pfff ... you working? It sucks! Goodbye!
(Makes New phonecall) Allo Lizard? How are you?
LEZARD (in the audience)
Salut Cigale !! Oui, ça va très bien!
CIGALE
J’organise une fête ce soir. Tu viens ?
I am organising a party tonight. Are you coming?
LEZARD
Oh, une fête, oui, j’adore !! À quelle heure ??
Oh, a party, yes, I love it! At what time?
CIGALE
À huit heures. À ce soir !!
At eight o'clock. See you tonight!
(new phone call)
Allo Moustique ?? Ça va??
14

15. MOUSTIQUE (in the audience)
Zzzzz Salut Cigale. Oui, ça va très bien!
CIGALE
J’organise une fête ce soir. Tu viens ?
MOUSTIQUE
Oh, une fête, oui, j’adore !! À quelle heure ??
CIGALE
À huit heures. À ce soir !!
SCENE 2
Miming party scene : animals all have a good time, music, lights, dance…
SCENE 3
(servant walks in with sign and says: EN JUILLET)
LEZARD (in the audience)
Salut Cigale !! C'est l'é té , il fait beau, il fait chaud!! On va jouer au foot ??
Hello Cicada! It's the summer, it's nice, it's hot! Will we play football?
CIGALE
Euuhhhh…. Oui !
LEZARD
À quelle heure ??
CIGALE
Euuuh… À cinq heures. À ce soir !!
Tiens, je vais inviter Fourmi!! (gets his mobile phone out)
Allo ?? Fourmi ?? Ça va ??
Uh ... At five o'clock. See you tonight!
Here, I'll invite Ant! (Gets his mobile phone out)
Hello?? Ant? How are you??
FOURMI (in the audience)
Salut Cigale !! Oui, ça va très bien !
CIGALE
Tu viens jouer au foot?
You want to play football?
FOURMI
Ah non, je suis dé solé ! Je travaille Cigale !
CIGALE
Pffff… Tu travailles ?? C’est nul ! Au revoir Fourmi!
(noise of football, cheers, whistle…)
15

16. SCENE 4
(servant walks in with sign EN AOUT)
MOUSTIQUE (in the audience)
Salut Cigale !! C'est l'é té , il fait beau, il fait chaud!! On va chanter un karaoké ??
Cicada hello! It's summer, it's nice, it's hot! We'll sing a karaoke?
CIGALE
Euuhhhh…. Oui !
MOUSTIQUE
A quelle heure ??
CIGALE
Euuuh… À huit heures. À ce soir !!
Tiens, je vais inviter Fourmi encore!! (gets his mobile phone out)
Allo ?? Fourmi ?? Ça va ??
Uh ... eight o'clock. See you tonight!
Here, I'll invite Ant again!
FOURMI (in the audience)
Salut Cigale !! Oui, ça va très bien !
CIGALE
Tu viens chanter un karaoké ?
Do you want to sing a karaoke?
FOURMI
Ah non, je suis dé solé ! Ce soir, je travaille Cigale !
CIGALE
Pffff… Tu travailles ?? C’est nul ! Au revoir Fourmi!
SCENE 5
Miming party scene : animals all have a good time, music, lights, danse…
SCENE 6
(servant walks in with sign EN SEPTEMBRE)
CIGALE
Brrrr…. Il fait froid maintenant!! J’achèterai bien un chocolat chaud… mais je
n’ai plus d’argent !
Ah, j’ai une idé e !! Je vais té lé phoner à mon ami Moustique. Allo Moustique?
Brrrr .... It's cold now! Well I would quite like a hot chocolate ... but I have no more
money!
Ah, I have an idea! I'll call my friend Mosquito. Hello Mosquito?
MOUSTIQUE
Allo Cigale! Ça va?
16

17. CIGALE
Ça va mal! J'ai froid!!
Things are bad! I'm cold!
MOUSTIQUE
Ah! Quel dommage!!
Ah! What a pity!
CIGALE
Tu as de l'argent pour un chocolat chaud??
Do you have money for a hot chocolate?
MOUSTIQUE
Ah non! Je suis dé solé Cigale, je n'ai pas d'argent!! Tu veux jouer au foot ?
Oh no! I'm sorry Cigale, I have no money! Do you want to play football?
CIGALE
Non, je ne veux pas. J’ai froid ! Au revoir!!
No, I do not want. I'm cold! Goodbye!
CIGALE
Ah mince alors!! Je vais té lé phoner à mon ami Lé zard. Allo Lé zard?
Oh damn! I'll call my friend Lizard. Hello Lizard?
LEZARD
Allo Cigale! Ça va?
CIGALE
Ça va mal! J'ai froid!!
LEZARD
Ah! Quel dommage!!
CIGALE
Tu as de l'argent pour un chocolat chaud??
LEZARD
Ah non! Je suis dé solé Cigale, je n'ai pas d'argent!! Tu veux chanter au karakoe
ce soir ?
Oh no! I'm sorry Cigale, I have no money! Do you want to sing a karaoke tonight?
CIGALE
Non, j’ai froid !! Au revoir!!
CIGALE
Ah mince alors!! Je vais té lé phoner à mon ami Fourmi. Allo Fourmi? (extremely
sweet voice)
Oh damn! I'll call my friend Ant. Hello Ant?
17

18. FOURMI
Allo Cigale! Ça va?
CIGALE
Ça va mal! J'ai froid!!
FOURMI (with sarcasm)
Ah! Quel dommage!! Mon pauvre!!
Ah! What a pity! My poor!
CIGALE
Tu as de l'argent pour un chocolat chaud??
FOURMI
Oui j'ai de l'argent…
Yes I have money ...
CIGALE
Peux-tu me prêter un peu d'argent s’il te plait??
Can you lend me some money please?
FOURMI
Ah non!
CIGALE
Avec 10 pourcent d'inté rêt s’il te plait??
With 10 percent interest?
FOURMI
Ah non!
CIGALE
Euuuhhh…. Quinze pourcent s’il te plait??
Euuuhhh .... Fifteen percent?
FOURMI
Non!
CIGALE
Vingt pourcent s’il te plait?? S'il te plait s'il te plait Fourmi!!!
Twenty percent? Please please Ant!
FOURMI
Non non et non!!
Moi, j'ai travaillé cet é té , mais toi qu'as-tu fait cet é té ??
No no and no!
I've worked this summer, but you what have you done this summer?
18

19. CIGALE
Cet été?? Ben, j'ai…. fait une fête…
This summer? Well, I .... had a party ...
FOURMI
Oui, mais as-tu travaillé ?
Yes, but have you worked?
CIGALE
Non, mais j’ai joué au foot…
No, but I played football ...
FOURMI
Et as-tu travaillé ?
And have you worked?
CIGALE
Non, mais j'ai chanté le karaoké!!
No, but I sang a karaoke!
FOURMI
Tu as chanté ? Et bien, danse maintenant!
You sang? Well, you can dance now!
CIGALE (danses and sings trying to warm up)
ALL (song on the melody of Frère Jacques)
Et la morale de cette fable,
Qu’est-ce que c’est ? Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
C’est bien beau de chanter
C’est bien beau de danser
Il faut aussi travailler
Il faut aussi travailler
And the moral of this fable,
What is it? What is it?
It's fine to sing
It is great to dance
We must also work
We must also work
19

20. ACT 5 : LA GRENOUILLE ET LE BŒUF
SCENE 1
(servant asleep, lion nudges him)
LION
Écoute! Travaille! J’ai faim, fais-moi un festin! (servant runs around trying to
please the lion who meanwhile falls asleep)
Listen! Work! I'm hungry, give me a treat!
SERVANT
(comes back with food to the sleepy lion. Takes his crown.)
Je veux être roi à la place du roi!!
La Fontaine, raconte-moi une histoire!
I want to be king instead of the king!
La Fontaine, tell me a story!
LA FONTAINE
Oui, bien sur votre… Majesté… C’est l’histoire du bœuf et de la grenouille…
Une grenouille vit un boeuf
Qui lui sembla de belle taille…
Yes, of course ... your Majesty ...
This is the story of the ox and the frog ...
A frog saw an ox
Which seemed of a good size ...
SCENE 2
Bœuf comes on stage, James Bond style (James Bond theme tune played)
BOEUF
Bonjour! Je m’appelle Boeuf, Jean Boeuf! Je suis très beau, je suis grand, je suis
très fort (lifts weight). Regardez mes muscles ! (takes a phonecall)
Hello! My name is Beef, John Beef! I am beautiful, I'm tall, I'm very strong (lifts
weight). Look at my muscles!
FANS appear asking for autographs, amongst which Petite Grenouille
Un autographe Monsieur Boeuf, s’il vous plait!!
Mr. Beef an autograph, please!
(Bœuf signs autograph, amongst the audience as well and to Petite Grenouille
who faints. Compères Herisson and Mouton help to put her back on her feet.)
GRENOUILLE
Il est tellement beau, grand et fort !! Je voudrais être comme Jean Bœuf !!
He’s so beautiful, big and strong! I want to be like John Beef!
COMPERE HERISSON
Toi ?? Comme Jean Bœuf ?
Mais tu es petit…
20

21. You? As Jean Beef?
But you're small ...
COMPERE MOUTON
…et faible et moche !! (smirks)
And weak ... and ugly! (Smirks)
COMPERE CANARD
Tu n’es qu’une petite grenouille !
You're just a little frog!
GRENOUILLE
Non, je ne m’appelle plus Petite Grenouille. Maintenant je suis Hercule, Hercule
Grenouille !! Dans deux semaines, je serai comme Jean Bœuf : beau, grand et
fort !!
No, I am not called Little Frog. Now I'm Hercules, Hercules Frog! In two weeks I will
be like Jean Beef: beautiful, big and strong!
(both Comperes leave the stage laughing)
SCENE 3
GYM INSTRUCTOR (training and stretching)
Et un, deux, trois, quatre…
GRENOUILLE
Bonjour Monsieur l’Instructeur de Gym. (shows a picture of James Bond). Je
voudrais être beau, grand et fort comme Jean Boeuf!
Hello Mister Gym Instructor. (Shows a picture of James Bond). I want to be
handsome, tall and strong as John Beef!
INSTR
Ah oui ?? Et bien, c’est très facile ! Il faut faire….
Des pompes (makes him do some press-ups)
Un deux trois quatre
Il faut… courir (makes him run) vite vite, plus vite
Il faut… sauter (makes him jump) en haut, en bas, en haut, en bas
Il faut… faire de la musculation (gives him some weights that make Grenouille
fall on the floor)
Oh yeah? Well, it's easy! We must do ....
Press-ups (HIM Makes Some do press-ups)
One two three four
You have to run ... (Makes Him Run) faster Faster, faster
You have to ... jump (jump Makes HIM) up, down, up, down
You have to ... do weight training (weights Gives HIM That Make Some fall on the
floor
GRENOUILLE
Euh… oui oui!! Merci!!
Phew ! C’est difficile d’être comme Jean Bœuf !! (touches his muscles)
21

22. Mais regardez ! Je suis deja fort !!
Uh ... yes yes! Thank you!
Phew! It's hard to be like Jean Beef! (Key historical muscles)
But look! I'm already strong!
INSTR
C’est l’entraînement !! Maintenant, il faut manger beaucoup (takes him to
restaurant)
It's all the training! Now, you must eat a lot (Takes Him to restaurant)
SCENE 4
CHEF
Bonjour ! Voici la carte du jour.
Hello! Here's the menu of the day.
GRENOUILLE
Merci. Je voudrais… un steak avec des frites…
Thank you. I would like ... a steak with fries ...
CHEF (writes order and is about to walk away)
Oui…
GRENOUILLE
Et… (chef walks back)
Des pâtes a la sauce tomate….
And ... Pasta with tomato sauce....
CHEF (writes order and is about to walk away)
Oui…
GRENOUILLE
Et… (chef walks back)
Une pizza ….
And ... A pizza ....
CHEF (writes order and is about to walk away)
Oui…
GRENOUILLE
Et… (chef walks back, more and more frustrated)
…. Donnez-moi tout le menu !!
And ....... Give me the whole menu!
CHEF
Pardon ?? Tout le menu ??
Sorry? The all the menu?
GRENOUILLE
22

23. Oui, je veux être grand et fort et beau comme John Bœuf !
Yes, I want to be big and strong and handsome like John Beef!
CHEF
Ah ! (understanding) Voulez-vous aussi des cuisses de grenouille ?
Ah! (Understanding) Would you also like some frog legs?
GRENOUILLE
Quoi ?? Des cuisses de grenouille ?? Quelle horreur !! Non merci !!
What?? Frog legs? How horrible! No thank you!
CHEF
Et pour vous Monsieur??
And for you sir??
INSTRUCTEUR
Pour moi… Euuhhh.. Une salade niçoise s’il vous plait ! Je fais un régime!
Euuhhh .. for me ... A salad nicoise please! I'm on a diet!
GRENOUILLE
(Chef disappears with order, Grenouille puts a napkin around his neck)
Après ce repas, je vais être aussi beau, grand et fort comme John Boeuf!!
After this meal, I'll be as handsome, tall and strong as John Beef!
CHEF (comes back with a lot of dishes)
Voilà!! C’est tout le menu! Bon appétit Messieurs !
Here you are! This is the whole menu! Gentlemen enjoy your meal!
GRENOUILLE
Merci !
(speeding up music – or song on food – whilst Grenouille is eating more and
more. Instructeur is helping out to put a pillow on Grenouille’s stomach to
pretend it is growing. Grenouille is now clearly struggling to eat more. Chewing
mimes… Music speeds up more until… Grenouille pops in the dark – ballon
filled with confettis)
ALL (song on the melody of Frere Jacques)
Et la morale de cette fable,
Qu’est-ce que c’est ? Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
Accepte toi comme tu es
Accepte toi comme tu es
Tu es unique
Tu es unique
And the moral of this fable,
What is it? What is it?
Accept yourself you as you are
Accept yourself you as you are
You are unique
You are unique
23

24. SCENE 5
Servant on stage, admiring all the confettis. Looks at La Fontaine and quietly
puts the crown back on the head of the sleeping Lion. Servant and La Fontaine
giggle and leave the stage.
24