The Sign

A  short play based on the story of that name by Simms Taback

              NARRATORS:  Written in black ink--
              ACTIVE  PLAYERS:  Written in red ink—
              GROUP READINGS: Written in green ink.
              SIGNS: Written in blue ink.

Part 1:             I wonder if you know what a kibitzer is.
                         If you know,  mazel tov.
                         If you don’t know, we will tell you.

Part 2:               A kibitzer tells another person what to
                          do, when it is none of his or her  business.

Part 3:               This story is about a man who was given advice
                          from kibitzers.
                          

Part 4:           The man’s name is Motke.
                          Motke owned a store.
                          He sold fish in his store.
                          One day, Motke had an idea.

Part 5 : ( Motke)  I think I will hang a sign outside my store.
              
CHILDREN  SAY AS A GROUP

             Motke has a little store.
          He’s selling fish each day.
          He  said “ I’ll hang a sign outside.”
         “I think that it will say.”

 

            Child holds up the sign:

...............................FRESH FISH                  
...............................SOLD HERE
...................................DAILY

 

Part 6:  So Motke made the sign and hung it above the door to his
              store.

 

                         
Part 7:      Before long, a kibitzer came along.
                 He looked at the sign.
                Then he gave Motke some advice.

 

Part 8) kibitzer 1 ( a boy)  “Motke, why do you have the word      
                              ‘Fresh’ in the sign?  Would you sell spoiled
                               fish?  I ask you!
               
CHILDREN SAY AS A GROUP

                      A kibitzer came by and saw
                       A sign above the door.
                       Take out Fresh, you’d never sell,
                        Spoiled fish in your store.

 

Part 5: Motke: You are right.

Part 9:  So Motke  painted out the word “Fresh.”
                    Now the sign said: 

                   

              FISH SOLD HERE DAILY.   

 

 

Part 10:  Soon , another kibitzer came along.
                    She had some advice for Motke too.

 

Part 11 : Kibitzer 3 –( a girl)  Motke, you have a  fish store.
                      You sell  the fish in your store.
                       You do not give the fish away.
                       Take out the word “sold.”

 

CHILDREN SAY AS A GROUP

                   A kibitzer came by and saw,
                   A sign above the door.
                   Take out “sold,” of course we know,
                   What’s happening in your store.

 MOTKE Part 5:  You are right.
             I will paint out the word ‘sold.’

Part 12:  Now the sign said:

               


                               

 

                 FISH HERE DAILY

 

.

 
Part 13:  Soon another kibitzer came along.
                    He looked at the sign, and guess what!
                     He had some good advice for Motke.

 

 Part 14: Kibitzer 3:  Motke, why do you have the word 'HERE'
......................................................... in your sign? Of course you sell the fish HERE.
....................................................... You are not selling it over THERE!

 

CHILDREN SAY AS A GROUP


                     A kibitzer came by and saw
                     The sign above the door.
                      Take out HERE, it’s here, not there,
                      That’s where you have your store.

 

Part 5: Motke:  You are so right.
               I will paint out the word HERE.

         

Part 15  :  Now the sign said:
 


               

 

                       FISH DAILY.

 

 

Part 16: Before long another kibitzer came along.
                    She looked at the sign.
                    She had advice for Motke too.
                               
  Part 17 (girl) Kibitzer 4
                      Motke,  your store is open 6 days a week.
                     It is closed on shabbat. So why do you have
                      the word DAILY in the sign?

 

CHILDREN SAY AS A GROUP

                         A kibitzer came by and saw,
                         The sign above the door.
                         Take out “daily”  we all know
                         Which days you’re in your store.

 

 

Part 5: Motke:  You are so right.
            I will paint out the word “DAILY.”

Part 18:   Now the sign over the door to Motke’s
                         store said:

 

                            

FISH

 

 

Part 19:   Soon  another kibitzer came along
                  and  he started to laugh.

Part 20: (boy)  Kibitzer 5:  Motke, that is a useless sign.
                     We can smell the fish a mile away.
                     There is no need to have a sign to
                      tell us what is in the store.

CHILDREN SAY AS A GROUP

                     A kibitzer came by and saw,
                     The sign above the door.
                     “That sign is silly, we can smell,
                     The fish inside your store.”

Part 5: Motke--   How true. I will take the sign down.

 

Part 21:  Business was now slow for Motke.
                 A kibitzer came along with some advice.

 

Part 22: (girl)Kibitzer 6:
                  Motke,  not so many people are coming into
                    your store to buy fish.
                    Why don’t you put up a sign above the door to
                    your store.

 Part 5: Motke: What a good idea. I think I will.
           
Part 23: The new sign said:

 
              .......... FRESH FISH SOLD HERE
                            DAILY,
               EXCEPT ON SHABBAT.

 

           
Part 24:  Motke put up  his new sign.
               Guess what! Business picked up.
               Soon a kibitzer came by and  saw the sign.

Part 25: kibitzer 7: “Motke, why do you have the word      
                              ‘Fresh’ in the sign.  Would you sell spoiled fish?
                               I ask you!

 

GROUP:   OH NO, NOT AGAIN!

 

 

CHILDREN SAY AS A GROUP

               Don’t listen to  the  kibitzers,
               They aren’t always right.
                So, If you see one coming,  it
                   Is best,
                STAY OUT OF SIGHT.

               

 


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