REP Insight
Birmingham Repertory Theatre presents
By Dodie Smith.
Adapted for the stage by Debbie Isitt.
Contents
- Synopsis
- Creative Challenges for KS2:
Literacy and Drama Focus:
101 Word/Sentence Story Challenge
Lost Dog Interview and Poster
Heroes and Villains Character Work
Art and Design Focus:
Be the Designer
Creative Kennels
Maths and Geography Focus:
Mapping the Puppies Journey
Missing Puppy Co-ordinates
Dalmatians Maths Bingo
Dalmatian Fact Sheet and Working Dogs
Dog Breed Word Search
- Useful contacts for schools
101 Word Synopsis
Dalmatians Pongo and Missus fall in love and so do their humans, Mr and Mrs Dearly. They are all excited when they discover Missus is expecting puppies. Cruella De-Vil believes a Dalmatian fur coat would be the height of fashion but the puppies are NOT FOR SALE! Missus gives birth and the puppies are ‘dog-napped’ by Cruella and her evil accomplices. Pongo, Missus and Perdita (a Dalmatian who has lost her own puppies) set out to rescue their children. They face many dangers but eventually the dogs triumph and all 101 of them are welcomed home by Mr and Mrs Dearly.
Literacy Challenges
101 Word Stories
Can you create your own concise story using one of the following titles? Try to make it exactly 101 words?
The Time-travelling Dog
Ghost Dog
The Mystery of the Blue Dalmatian
The Puppy Who Wanted to Fly
The Day it Rained Dogs
Lucky, the Luckiest Puppy on Earth
101 Sentence Stories
Do you need more of a challenge? Instead of 101 words, try 101 sentences using the titles above!
Competition!
Do you want to be in with a chance of winning a family ticket (two adults, two children) to Birmingham REP’s 101 Dalmatians? Enter your finished story into a competition by emailing your final version (101 words or sentences) to . Please make the email subject title: 101 Story Competition. Make sure you include your name, age, and the contact email address and phone number of a parent, guardian or teacher.
Deadline for entries: Friday 27th October 2017
Lost Dog Interview
In 101 Dalmatians, Mr and Mrs Dearly lose their Dalmatians. They are asked to give an interview by the local television company describing their dogs and how they went missing.
Drama activity: Split into small groups of 2-4 children. Half of the children will be the interviewers who will need to decide on some suitable questions to ask Mr and/or Mrs Dearly.
Example questions:
- When did you last see your dogs?
- Do you have any idea where your dogs might be?
- If you could speak to your dogs right now, what would you tell them?
Challenge: Get children to film each other’s interviews and create their own TV news broadcast. This can be done on most free movie making software. They could create other news headlines, background music, and photographs of the dogs.
Lost Dog Poster
Mr and Mrs Dearly are missing their dogs and appeal to the public for help. Can you create your own ‘Missing Dogs’ poster for them?
There is an example below of what you might want to include, although do use your own ideas too.
Missing Dogs!
Pongo and Missus went missing on Thursday 8th July at 4pm
Drama Activity
Heroes and Villains Character Work
Conscience Alley
Sit or stand the children in two lines facing each other with a gap down the middle. Explain to the children you are going to give them a character and a scenario from the play, for example, Cruella De-Vil when she first sees the Dalmatians, Pongo and Missus. You will then select a child to be the character of Cruella and they will walk down the alley trying to display with their body how that character is feeling. You could even pick children to pretend to be the dogs at the other end so the child playing Cruella has something to aim for. The other children in the two lines will take it in turns to speak aloud the character’s thoughts as the actor passes them. For example, they could say ‘I want that dog!’ ‘It’s coat is beautiful.’ ‘Black and white are my favourite colours!’
List of Characters and Scenarios from 101 Dalmatians:
- Mrs Dearly seeing Cruella for the first time since school. She has always really admired her.
- Mr Dearly seeing Cruella for the first time and being disgusted by her appearance.
- Mr and Mrs Dearly leaving Cruella’s house after being fed too much spicy pepper.
- Pongo when he discovers Missus is having puppies.
- Pongo and Missus when they realise their puppies have been kidnapped.
- Mr and Mrs Dearly on the way to the police station to report Pongo and Missus have also gone missing.
- Patch (one of the puppies) after being kidnapped and taken to Hell Hall.
- Jasper and Saul Baddun when they realise the puppies have escaped.
- Cruella when she finds out the puppies have escaped.
- Mr and Mrs Dearly when 101 Dalmatians appear on Christmas day.
Role on the Wall
Choose a character and write down as many adjectives you can to describe them. Discuss what emotions and feelings those characters have in the play. If you want to challenge the children, draw the outline of the character and write on the inside feelings only the character experiences and round the outside things that are facts.
Freeze Frames/Still Images
Split the children into pairs and give them a key moment from the play. Give the children thirty seconds to create this moment as a frozen picture. When you freeze them, you should be able to tell whether their character is a villain or a hero.
Villains in the play are Cruella De-vil and the Baddun Brothers, possibly Horace Horace De-vil too.
Heroes are any of the animals and Mr and Mrs Dearly
Key Moments:
- Mrs Dearly and Cruella bumping into each other on the street
- The Baddun Brothers kidnapping puppies
- Pongo and Missus setting out to rescue the puppies
- Jasper Baddun trying to get Perdita out of the way so he can take the puppies
- Mr Dearly and Pongo walking in the park
- Cruella and Pongo meeting for the first time
- The Baddun Brothers chasing the puppies
- Saul Baddun catching Lucky the puppy
Voice
Using the following sentences from the play, experiment with saying them in the different ways listed below. Have fun trying Cruella’s sentence in a gentle tone and Missis’ sentence aggressively! Discuss which are more suitable for the villain, Cruella, and which are more suitable for the hero, Missis.
Cruella’s sentence:
‘I’ll get my Dalmatian coat if I have to skin those dear little puppies alive myself!’
Missis’ sentence:
‘Where’s Perdita? We can’t leave her Pongo!’
Ways in which the children can say the above lines:
- Gently
- Nervously
- Aggressively
- Urgently
- Excitedly
- Bashfully
- Sweetly
- Hysterically
- Calmly
- Stressfully
- Woefully
- Stubbornly
- Fearfully
Script Extract
Now the children have experimented with what makes a villain and what makes a hero, use the following extracts of script for the children to have a go at acting out a hero or villain.
Tips for using a script:
- Allow the children to read through the script first; ideally do this as a class and cover any words children are struggling to read.
- Model an example of what you expect by performing a small section of the script yourself with another teacher/TA.
- Encourage children to think about performing to their audience. Tell them to avoid talking with their backs to the audience
- Encourage children to speak loudly, projecting their voice.
- Explain that stage directions are in italics. They are to be performed by the actor but not read aloud. It may be worth explaining that the children do not need to say the characters names before speaking either. This may sound simple but it saves any children being embarrassed!
- If children are struggling, give them just a small section of the script.
- If children need a challenge, encourage them to try different roles or consider experimenting with different tones of voice and emotions.
Script Extract 1
Characters:
Cruella De-Vil
Mr Dearly
Mrs Dearly
Brief summary:
The puppies have just been born. Cruella (a villain) is desperate to see them but Mr and Mrs Dearly (the heroes) are trying to protect the dogs from her.
CRUELLA: Where are they? I want to see them – I have to see them!
MRS D: Really Cruella, they’re in the basket but please keep your voice down – they shouldn’t be disturbed so soon
CRUELLA PEERS AT THE PUPPIES
CRUELLA: AUGGHHHHH! Yuk – Bleugh! What are they?! Mongrels! All of them Mongrels! You idiots! His Missis has obviously been playing away from home! They look like little white pigs – I don’t want a pigskin coat – a mongrel cloak – I want Dalmatian!
MRS D: They are Dalmatians
CRUELLA: Don’t insult my intelligence! These puppies have no spots!
MRS D: Ah well – Dalmatians don’t get their spots until they’re a few weeks old
CRUELLA: Rubbish! Lies! Drown them all!
MRS D: Drown our puppies?!
CRUELLA: It’s easy, quite simple, no trouble at all. I’ve drowned dozens and dozens of my cat’s kittens – straight down the toilet one flush and they’re gone!
MRS D: How horrid
CRUELLA SQUINTS AT THE PUPPIES THOUGHTFULLY
CRUELLA: You sure these little piglets are Dalmatians?
MRS D: Quite sure
CRUELLA: Little daaaaarlings – come to mummykins
MR D: Don’t you go near those puppies
CRUELLA: I only want to peek before I buy
MRS D: Buy?
CRUELLA: How long before they can leave the mother?
BOTH: They’re not for sale!
CRUELLA: Not for sale?
MR D: That’s right
CRUELLA: Come come – what are you going to do with them?
MR D: Keep them of course
CRUELLA: Keep fifteen puppies? In this funny little house – don’t be ridiculous
MR D: We’ll manage
CRUELLA: You’re positively tapped. Here Anita dear let me write you a cheque – maybe you can talk some sense into this poor specimen you were forced to marry
MRS D: Forced to marry?
CRUELLA: Well it must have been difficult to find someone who was willing - I understand perfectly – you had no option but to
accept a simpleton
MRS D: How dare you
CRUELLA: Oh spare me the protestations! You’ve always been a sad uptight boring prissy missy. I’m offering you a way out – a new life – you could go anywhere with this money – give him up or take him with you but for Gods sake seize the day and get away – LIVE – you funny little goody knickers – do
something with your miserable life!
MRS D: Get out!
CRUELLA: Beg pardon?
MRS D: Get out of my house before I throw you out!!
CRUELLA: Fine but let me tell you – all of you – I always get what I want in the end – always!!!
SHE EXITS AND MRS DEARLY SLAMS THE DOOR
Script Extract 2
Characters:
Perdita
Missus
Pongo
Brief Summary:
All three dogs are heroes in our story and they are setting out to rescue the puppies.
SCENE NINETEEN
LIGHTS CHANGE TO THE KITCHEN WHERE PERDITA WAITS EXPECTANTLY. PONGO AND MISSIS BURST IN
PERDITA: Well – any news? Please let there be news!
PONGO: They’ve been found
PERDITA: Oh thank God
PONGO: As far as we know they’re all alive but locked up in a deserted house in Suffolk
PERDITA: Suffolk? That’s miles away!
PONGO: Missis and I are going tonight
PERDITA: I’ll come with you
PONGO: No – you’re still not strong enough to make the journey
MISSIS: And the Dearly’s will be very upset when they find me and Pongo gone. You’ll have to stay and comfort them Perdita – it’s a very important role
PERDITA: But what if my puppies are with them?
PONGO: If they’re there – we’ll bring them home
PERDITA NODS HER HEAD RELUCTANTLY
PONGO: Ready Missis?
MISSIS: Ready
PERDITA: I’ll be thinking of you every second
MISSIS: If anything should happen to us – you’ll stay with our pets?
PERDITA: You know I will
PONGO: We’ll be back – and so will the pups – come on Missis – to the rescue!
MUSIC. PONGO AND MISSIS DASH OFF VALIANTLY INTO THE NIGHT
PERDITA: Good luck – keep safe – I’ll miss you both.
PERDITA HANGS HER HEAD IN SORROW AND LIMPS AROUND FEELING HELPLESS AND USELESS. SHE PACES UP AND DOWN, FRUSTRATION GROWING INSIDE HER
Wait for me!!
AND SHE LIMPS OUT AFTER THEM
Script Extract 3
Characters:
Jasper Baddun
Saul Baddun
Brief Summary:
Cruella has just appeared to the Baddun Brothers over their television set. The two villains are currently at Hell Hall in Suffolk looking after the puppies.
JASPER: Blimey – how does she do that?
SAUL: Maybe she owns the TV station or something – she’s got enough money
JASPER: Gave me a blummin heart attack – and they give me the creeps staring at me with their puppy eyes
SAUL: Well what else do you want them to stare with. Some of them are shaking – look – she’s scared the pants off them an all!
JASPER: Well I ain’t interested in them am I?
SAUL: You heard what her ladyship said – we’ve got to look after them – feed them up
JASPER: I ain’t feeding scores of puppies
SAUL: But she just told us
JASPER: Well she ain’t gonna know is she?
SAUL: But you can’t starve ‘em to death
JASPER: She wants ‘em killed don’t she?
SAUL: But she wants the coats to grow – not wither away to nothing
JASPER: If she don’t like the way I work then she can do it herself. They’re all the same these toffs – get everybody else to do their dirty work for them
SAUL: Oh I get it
JASPER: What?
SAUL: You haven’t got the guts
JASPER: What you on about?
SAUL: I bet you couldn’t kill one of them puppies if your life depended on it
JASPER: Course I could – they’re only animals
SAUL: Well go on then
JASPER: What?
SAUL: Kill one
JASPER: What now?
SAUL: Why not? She won’t miss one – call it a practice run
JASPER: Why should I?
SAUL: To prove that you can do it!
JASPER: I could do it no problem
SAUL: Bet you can’t
JASPER: Alright then – how much?
SAUL: Fifty quid
JASPER: You’re on
THE PUPPIES ARE QUAKING IN THE CORNER.
SAUL: Now which one do you want – that one?
HE POINTS TO A PUP WHO DIVES UNDER THE OTHERS IN TERROR.
Or this one?
THE PUP GROWLS AND BARKS BUT THEN DIVES INTO THE PILE WITH THE OTHER ONE.
SAUL: No- no – I know – this one!
AND SAUL BENDS OVER TO PICK UP THE TINIEST PUP WHO YELPS AND YELPS AND YELPS
Now then – how you gonna do it?
JASPER: Fifty nicker you say? Alrightee
JASPER PICKS UP A HEAVY METAL BAR FROM UNDERNEATH THE CHAIR AND HOLDS IT OVER HIS HEAD MENACINGLY. ALL THE PUPPIES TURN THEIR HEADS AWAY IN FRIGHT AND THEIR TAILS GO LIMP TUCKED AWAY BEHIND THEIR LEGS AND THEY SHAKE. THE PUPPY IN SAUL’S ARMS FREEZES IN FEAR. SUDDENLY MUSIC FROM THE TV MAKES THE BADDUN’S TURN TOWARDS IT. IT IS THE THEME TUNE FOR THE NATIONAL LOTTERY LIVE. SAUL DROPS THE PUPPY, JASPER DROPS THE CROW BAR. THEY BOTH JOIN IN WITH THE THEME TUNE SINGING LOUDLY AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP THE LADDERS TO THEIR SEATS. THE PUPPY DASHES BACK INTO THE PILE WHERE IT DISAPPEARS.
SAUL: This could be our lucky night Jasper – I can feel it in my Water
JASPER: Have you got the tickets?
SAUL: No you’ve got them
JASPER: No I haven’t – you’ve got them
SAUL: Bet ya I haven’t
JASPER: Bet ya you have
SAUL: How much?
BOTH MEN PERFORM GYMNASTICS TRYING TO SEARCH THEIR POCKETS FROM 20 FEET IN THE AIR. EVENTUALLY THEY BOTH PULL OUT A TICKET.
SAUL: What numbers are on that one?
JASPER: None of your business
SAUL: I don’t remember choosing these numbers
JASPER: Well you must have done – your pocket – your ticket
SAUL: Nah – these definitely aren’t my numbers
JASPER: Alright then – swap ya
JASPER LEANS ACROSS TOWARDS SAUL WAVING HIS TICKET – SAUL LEANS TOWARDS JASPER WAVING HIS. THEY EACH TRY TO REACH THE OTHERS TICKETS BUT EVEN AT FULL STRETCH THEY CAN’T QUITE DO IT. THEY BOTH DROP THE TICKETS AND WATCH THEM FLUTTER TO THE FLOOR.
BOTH: You idiot!
THE PUPPIES START SHAKING AND QUAKING AS SAUL MAKES HIS WAY DOWN THE LADDER ONCE MORE
JASPER: Oh leave them there – we’ll write the numbers down and get the tickets after
SAUL: Alright – alright
SAUL TAKES HIS SEAT.
1
Be the Designer…
Cruella De-Vil only wants to wear animal fur. Thankfully, in the UK it is illegal to kill an animal for its fur. Maybe there is still hope for Cruella; do you think you can design her some clothing that does not use animal fur but still looks equally fashionable?
Decide which materials you are going to use and why? Remember, Cruella likes to be up-to-date with latest fashions so either create something new or use current popular fabrics, such as silk, cotton or denim. Ask your teacher or a parent whether they can show you examples of the materials.