Disaster Prevention Puppet Theatre

"Little Pig and Wolf Build a House"

Script by Professor Koda Maki (Department of Early Childhood Care and Education, Seitoku University Junior College) in collaboration with Earthquake Research Institute of the University of Tokyo.

Supervised by Professor Koshun Yamaoka* (Nagoya University, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Research Center for Seismology, Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation) in cooperation with Sompo Japan Chikyu Club**

* This work began when Yamaoka is in Earthquake Research Institute.

** The emploee-managed volunteer organization of Sompo Japan Insurance. Chikyu means the Earth.

Theater play is admitted without permition. But copywrite belongs to Maki Koda.

* This production, which was first performed at the Yokohama Doll Museum's "Red Shoe Theatre", is a general, simplified story at the issue of earthquake resistance. Referring the well-known puppet theatre's 'Nakayoshi (Good friends)' , add a scene of hide & seek, tag or some other basic children's game at the begining of the play. You could also try staging it with flat puppets, like paper doll puppets. (Koda Maki)

The setting is a field in the forest. No special props.
Music 1. Curtain opens with the opening song.
Wolf enters stage right

 Wolf "Whoa, wait a minute... Hey, it looks like Pig isn't here yet.
Ok, I'm going to hide..."

Pig enters stage left

Pig "I wonder if there's anything fun to do... I sure wish Wolf was here."

Wolf enters stage right

Wolf "Hi there, Pig!"

Pig "Oh! Wolf! It's no fun to play alone."

Wolf "You're right. It's no fun at all."

Pig "Let's play something!"

Wolf "What do you want to play?"

Pig "Hmmm, what should we play..."

Wolf "Hmmm, how about..."

Pig "Oh no! My mom told me to build a house."

Wolf "That reminds me. My mom told me to also.
She said I have to build myself a house as I'm all grown up now."

Pig "My mom said the same thing."

Wolf "Well, it shouldn't be very difficult.
You just put up a few posts, and it's as easy as that!"

Pig "But you've got to build it right!
What will you do if there's an earthquake?"

Wolf "Oh, you're not worried about that, are you?"

Pig "Absolutely, you've got to build it right."

Wolf "Oh, it's okay. Don't worry.
I'll just go build mine real fast. Be right back."

Wolf exits stage right

Pig "I wonder if Wolf will be ok..."

Pig "Oh, what should I do... I know! I'll go ask Mr. Owl."

Pig exits stage left
Owl enters stage right

Owl "Ah, what a beautiful day... Oh, here comes Pig."

Pig enters stage left

Pig "Hello, Mr. Owl. Isn't it a pretty day?"

Owl "Yes, it's just beautiful, isn't it. Did you need me for something?"

Pig "Yes, I'm building a house. Is there anything I should be careful about?"

Owl draws a picture on the ground.

Owl "Well now, let's see...
You should put the posts up like this,
so even if there's an earthquake, you'll be fine.
And use braces here... to make a wooden criss-cross between the posts.
A big X! This is really important. Do you understand?"

Pig "Yes, I understand.
Make a wooden cross between the posts to make a big X, right?
And then I'll have a house that's strong in an earthquake."

Owl "Now, you go build a good, sturdy house, okay?"

Pig "Okay, I will."

Owl "One more thing.
Where you build your house is important too. Let me think, now...
You should go ask Mr. Mole for his advice."

Pig "Thank you very much."

Owl "Well, Pig, good luck to you."

Pig "Thank you. Good bye!"

Owl exits stage right
Mole enters from center-back stage 

Mole "Hey there, Pig. Have you been talking about me?"

Pig "Oh, hello there, Mr. Mole. I’m going to build a house.
Mr. Owl gave me some advice,
but he told me I should ask you about where the best place to build it would be."

Mole "Oh, that... of course, that's easy.
If you're going to build a house that's sturdy even in an earthquake
pick a place where the ground is hard."

Pig "A place where the ground is hard..."

Mole "Oh yeah, over there near that hill is a hard place that would be good."

Pig "Then I'll build my house over there near that hill. Thanks, Mr. Mole!"

Mole "No problem. Good luck.
That reminds me...
Wolf was building a house near the river where the ground is soft.
I told him that place was no good, but..."

Pig "I hope Wolf will be okay... Well, thank you, Mr. Mole."

Mole "Good luck to you then. You go build a good, sturdy house."

Pig "I'm going to build a good, sturdy house that's strong even in an earthquake."

Mole "I'll come see it when you're finished."

Pig "Yes, please come see it. Good bye, Mr. Mole."

Mole "Good bye!"

Mole exits stage right

Pig "Well, I guess I'll get to work."

Pig exits stage left
Wolf enters from center-back stage. He is building his house.
His house gradually arises.

Wolf "Building a house is so easy.
This ground is soft and it's so easy to set up the posts.
Easy as one-two-three! There, it's finished!"

Wolf's whole house appears.

Wolf "Great. What a nice looking house! Well, that was easy as pie."

Wolf goes inside his house.
Wolf's house goes down at back of stage.
Pig enters stage left, building his house.
Pig's house (front side) arises.

Pig "The ground here is just like Mr. Mole said.
It's really hard and stable.
Building a house is hard work,
but I'm going to build mine strong just like Mr. Owl said to. 
Yo-ho! Yo-ho!
Now, I'll put a good strong brace across here..."

Pig's whole house appears.
Flip to reverse side, a completed house.

Pig "Ah, It's finally done. I built a strong, sturdy house. I'm so happy!"

Pig goes inside his house.
Pig's house goes down at back of stage.

Music 2: Earthquake sound effects

Wolf's house comes up, shaking.

(voice only)

 Wolf "Help! I'm going to get smashed!! Oh no!"

Flip Wolf's house to reverse side, a smashed house.

Wolf "Help me! I can't get out!”

Pig enters stage left, running.

Pig "Wolf, are you okay?! I was so worried about you..."

Wolf "Oh, Pig, I can't get out! Help me!"

Pig "Okay! I’m going to give you a pull!
Yo-ho! Yo-ho! Yo-ho! Yo-ho!”

Wolf is pulled out from beneath his house.

Pig "Are you okay?"

Wolf "Oh, you saved my life! Thank you, Pig!"

Pig "That's okay, but what about you? Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?"

Wolf "Oh, seems like I'm okay. It doesn't hurt anywhere."

Pig "My house is okay.
Even in that earthquake, it didn't move a bit.
I listened to Mr. Owl and Mr. Mole's advice and built it good and sturdy.
This time, let's make a well-built house for you."

Wolf "I'll take Mr. Owl and Mr. Mole's advice
and build a strong, sturdy house that will be okay even in an earthquake."

Pig "I'll help you out, too."

Wolf "Oh, thank you!

Pig "Well, we can rest a bit at my house. Let's go."

Music 3: Ending song

As Pig and Wolf walk towards stage left

Wolf "Oh, thank you!"

Pig "Are you okay?"

Wolf "Yes, I'm fine."

       ―― Curtain ――