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“In A Garden In China”
THE STORY OF
THE WILLOW
PATTERN PLATE
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A musical play for young actors, singers and dancers
Theme: Money does not buy happiness
Price includes script, CD, free melody-line score, and a free licence for non-profitable use on one educational site (up to 3 performances)
Scripts and songs may be amended to suit your children. Great parts for boys as well as girls. The purchaser may make copies of any of the materials
for non-profitable use. For all commercial use, please email first.
© Copyright Magic Parrot Productions
14 Bolton Close Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2JG, England
Website: http://www.magicparrot.com
email: fgreen14@btopenworld.com Tel 020 8397 2569 Fax: 020 8397 3350
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Synopsis/ Teacher’s Notes
Target Age Range: 7-11 yrs. Cast: Flexible. Needs a minimum of 20 children including singers and dancers.
Easy to stage and costume. The script is supported by 4 attractive songs (with vocals and without vocals.)
Plus 2 instrumental pieces for dance/movement. Duration approx 30-35 mins. A shorter version is also supplied
on the CD, for a simpler assembly.
THE STORY: Koong-Se is the beautiful daughter of a wealthy Chinese mandarin. He wants her to marry a
rich husband, but she has no interest in money and she does not approve of arranged marriages. He insists
that she meets some rich young men but she finds them all vain and boring. Instead, she falls in love with
Chang who is merely a gardener. A wistful song “In a Garden in China” is performed as the lovers meet in
the scented moonlit garden. The mandarin is outraged when he discovers they have been meeting in secret.
He banishes Chang from the palace and confines his daughter. His guards oversee her and (optionally) give
a martial arts display then taunt her with the song “Checking up on You”. A myriad of garden spirits visit
her, and perform a gentle dance routine during the song ”All Her Lifetime.” During her confinement, the
mandarin arranges her wedding, but the lovers escape. They are hunted down, and trapped in a small
pagoda. The pagoda is set on fire and the lovers perish, but the garden spirits turn them into immortal white
birds. The play ends with a very popular bouncy song “The Selfish Mandarin” which recaps the story and
features a fiery dance. The play also includes incidental music for dance and movement. The script is on the
CD so you can customize it easily. A melody-line score is also supplied on the CD.
Cast:
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Mandarin (a rich fat Chinese nobleman) ………………………………
Koong-Se (his lovely daughter) ……………………………………..
Chang (the gardener) ………………………………………………..
Narrator 1...................................................... Narrator 2 ……………………………………..
4 guards (1,2,3 and 4) ……………………………………………………………….
4 Rich Men ……………………………………………………………
Warrior general and warriors…………………………………….………………………………
White Dove…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Other Garden “spirits” (dancers in white, with white ribbons tied to wrists- portraying doves
and lovebirds) ………………………………………
Flames (dancers dressed in orange, yellow and red with coloured streamers tied to wrists)
Assorted Servants and Guests at Wedding Party ……………………………..
Servant with Fortune Cookies ………………………………………………..
Singers..............................................................
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Suggested Props:
• Fortune Cookies- simply wrap some plain sweet biscuits in foil with a message.
(Do not use authentic Chinese fortune cookies unless you are certain they do not
contain allergens such as nuts –or unsuitable messages!)
• Coloured streamers / ribbons
• Samurai swords for warriors, spears or swords for guards
• Screen to represent a small Chinese house
• Optional: Two large decorated doves on sticks, willow tree to hide behind
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CD LISTING
TRACK 1: In a Garden in China (with vocals)
TRACK 2: Checking Up on You (with vocals)
TRACK 3: Spirits Music
TRACK 4: All her Lifetime (with vocals)
TRACK 5: Warrior Music
TRACK 6: The Selfish Mandarin (with vocals)
TRACK 7: In a Garden in China (no vocals)
TRACK 8: Checking Up on You (no vocals)
TRACK 9: Spirits Music
TRACK 10: All her Lifetime (no vocals)
TRACK 11: Warrior Music
TRACK 12: The Selfish Mandarin (no vocals)
In a Garden in China
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Narrator 1: Our play tells the story of the willow pattern plate.(shows picture of willow pattern) We
do not know for sure how the Willow Pattern came to this country, but about four hundred years ago
ships went to China to buy tea and spices- and Chinese pottery often came back here. Our potters
liked the designs on the Chinese pottery and they started to produce their own Chinese-style goods.
They made plates, cups, bowls, jugs and teapots. The designs were of willow trees, bridges,
pagodas, boats and birds. The story of the willow pattern comes from these designs.
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(Enter Mandarin, grandly, with 4 guards and servant who is holding a plate of fortune cookies.
Guards and servant stand at opposite sides of the stage.)
Narrator 2: Once, long ago in Ancient China there lived a Mandarin. Mandarins were rich public
officials who governed the provinces of China. The mandarin was a rich, selfish, powerful man. His
wealth should have brought him a warm heart and happiness. But no. He was so greedy he wanted
more and more money because he wanted to be the richest man in the land.
He had a beautiful daughter named Koong-Se. The mandarin wanted her to be married as soon as
possible. He wanted her to marry a rich man so that she would bring even more wealth into the
family. Here comes Koong-Se now. (Enter Koong-Se.)
Mandarin: Ah! Greetings, daughter! It is time for you to marry. I have arranged for you to meet some
eligible young men. They are wealthy and important. You must choose one of them to be your
husband.
Koong-Se: Oh, but father! I don’t want a husband! I am happy to be a single girl! Why would I want
to be married?
Mandarin: Silly child! You cannot stay single forever! You must marry a rich man at once and have a
family of your own.
Koong-Se: (sadly) If you say so, father! But father- will I be allowed to choose the man I will marry?
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Mandarin: It is a father’s right to arrange his daughter’s marriage. But of course I shall be lenient and
allow you to choose the most suitable husband. (aside) The richest one, of course! The richest one!
Narrator 2: So the mandarin went away (exit Mandarin, guards and servant) and sent some rich
young men to meet her. They had lots of money, but Koong-Se found them all very boring!
Rich man 1: (entering) See how much money I have! I can buy you jewellery and beautiful clothes.
I can buy you a farm with rice fields and oxen to pull the plough. Will you marry me?
Rich man 2: (entering, pushing him aside) I have more money than him! I can buy you a pagoda
and a wonderful garden with a lake and a pagoda! Don’t marry him! Choose me! Choose me!
Rich man 3: (entering, pushing them aside) Those two are poor in comparison to me. Look at my
fine clothes. I am richer than both of them put together! I can buy you a palace and diamonds! I am
the perfect choice! I would make a good husband. Marry me!
Rich man 4: (entering, pushing them aside) My clothes are made from the finest silk that money
can buy! I am so rich I can buy you half of this city! Ignore those three fellows! If you marry me you
will be rich and famous. Give me your hand in marriage!
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Koong-Se: I don’t care about your money! Oh! What shall I do? Perhaps this fortune cookie will tell
me what to do! (Takes a fortune cookie from the servant’s plate, reads it and repeats it several
times “Follow your heart and do not be ruled by others” ) Very well! I don’t want to marry any of
you! So go away, all of you! (Exit rich men, grumbling.)
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Narrator 1: The rich men went away. Koong-Se was left alone. She did not want to marry any of the
rich men. As she pondered her situation, she noticed a handsome young man working in the garden.
(enter Chang)
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Koong-Se: Hello! Who are you?
Chang: (Bows) My lady, my name is Chang. I am employed by your honourable father. I am the
palace gardener.
Koong-Se: I have loved this amazing garden since I was a child. Please show me the work you do.
Chang: With pleasure, my lady. This garden is my pride and joy. Every year, the lotus blossom
brings its delicate colours and the jasmine brings its wonderful perfume.
Koong-Se: Can I help you to look after the garden?
Chang: (bows) Oh, yes! Thank you! It would be such an honour to tend to the garden with such a
beautiful lady! (Exit Koong-Se and Chang, happily)
Narrator 2: So Koong-Se helped Chang in the garden every day. Together they grew lemons,
peaches, beans, ginger, primroses, magnolias, and sunflowers. They loved to stand on the bridge
over the pool and watch the koi carp darting among the water lilies. They became very good friends
and eventually they fell in love. They wanted to marry, so Koong-Se went to speak to her father.
(Enter Mandarin, guard, servant and Koong-Se)
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Koong-Se: Father, father. Good news! At last I have found the man I wish to marry!
Mandarin: I am most pleased, daughter! Is he a nobleman? (Koong-Se shakes her head) A
lawyer? A doctor? A dentist? A politician? No? Oh, he must be a rich merchant. Hmmm…Please
bring him in so I may meet him! (Enter Chang)
Mandarin: (In a rage) Chang! Are you serious? You wish to marry my daughter? You? A common
servant ? Marry my daughter? How dare you! My daughter cannot possibly marry a poor servant like
you! Leave my palace at once. You must never see my daughter again. (Exit all)
Narrator 1: But Koong-Se and her lover could not bear to be parted. Every evening, when the
emperor was asleep, they met in secret in the moonlit garden, under the willow tree. (Koong-Se and
Chang enter during the song)
**********SONG: CD TRACK 1 : In a Garden in China ************Backing Track 7
In a garden in China long long ago
In a garden in China where the sweet lotus grows
Two lovers met in the soft moonlight glow
In a garden in China long long ago
She was a princess. He was just poor.
Her father said "You will see him no more!"
She didn't listen she loved him so!
They met in secret under the willow
In a garden in China long long ago (Repeat)
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(Towards the end of the song, the mandarin and his 4 guards enter and creep furtively around
the stage “looking” for the two lovers who are hiding under the willow tree.)
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Narrator 2: The Mandarin became suspicious and he felt sure that he daughter was disobeying him.
Together with his guards he made a thorough search of the garden.
Mandarin: (to audience) I suspect that my daughter is meeting that worthless gardener in secret.
Have you seen my daughter and Chang anywhere?
Audience: No!
Mandarin: (to audience) What do you mean, “No?” Do not lie to me! I will have you put to death by
my sword! (to guards) Find them! Find them at once! Search everywhere. They are hiding in this
garden somewhere- I am certain of it!
Guards: Yes, my Lord! (Guards search everywhere, including the auditorium)
Guard 1: We can’t find them, My Lord!
Guard 2: They must be hiding in the plants and trees!
Guard 3: There are so many hiding places, my Lord! Shall we chop down all the plants and flowers?
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Mandarin: Yes! Hack the garden to pieces if you must! Hack the garden to pieces! (They start to
chop)
(Daughter and Chang reveal themselves)
Chang: Sir! Master! Stop! Stop! Do not destroy my lifetime’s work! This garden is so very very
precious! I beg you! Do not chop the garden down.
Mandarin: (catching the lovers) Aha! So! We have caught you! You have been meeting in secret,
haven’t you? (to daughter) How dare you disobey me! This worthless servant is not good enough for
you! (to Chang) You are banished from this land! Go! Go! Before I have you executed! Guards!
Take him away! (Guards 1 and 2 take him away offstage) (to daughter) And you! You will be
locked away until I find you a suitable husband! (Guards 3 and 4 lock her away in a corner of the
stage)
Guard 3: Do not try to escape! We will watch you like a hawk to make sure you obey your father.
Guard 4 : We will check on you every hour of the day. There is no escape.
Guard 1: (Returning) Chang is being escorted out of the city. (To daughter) You will never ever see
him again!
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Guard 2 (Returning) You must do whatever your father says. You will spend some time in prison.
We will be checking up on you.
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T ON YOU ************ Backing Track 8
************* SONG: CD TRACK 2: CHECKING
UP
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Song led by guards
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You
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spend some time in prison
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you will not listen
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You will do whatever your father says!
You will stay indoors all day Do not try to run away!
You will do whatever your father says
We're checking up on you And everything you do.
To stop all this playing around!
We're checking up on you and everything you do
Till your new husband is found.
No more sunshine No more freedom
You will learn to be obedient!
Carry out your father's plan! Marry a rich young man!
Carry out your father's plan! Marry a rich young man!
(Exit guards and Mandarin)
Narrator 1: So Koong-Se was all alone and locked away. She became sadder and sadder as each
day passed. She missed Chang so much, she thought her heart would break.
(Enter garden spirits) The only visitors she had were the spirits of the air…..white lovebirds, and
pure white doves.
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******************** CD TRACK 3: Spirits Music *********************** Backing Track 9
White Dove and Garden spirits dance gracefully on stage.
At the end of the song they retire rear of stage in frozen stances
END OF PREVIEW
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