The Emperor's New Clothes or Five Beans for Jack

This plays needs 11 principals; extras; and, various simple settings. Tom "Tink" Bell is the town crier, not a "boo hoo" crier, but a "yoo hoo" crier. Unfortunately he's prone to making mistakes, and when he accidentally announces that celebrations for the Emperor Persimmon the Twelfth's birthday will take place every Friday, sure enough the emperor insists that is what must happen. Soon the town is on the brink of bankruptcy from the cost of all the festivities, and two tricksters, Sly and Wily, have convinced the emperor to spend even more money on a new outfit that they claim only very intelligent and powerful people can see. Sly and Wily have also tricked Jack into parting with his beloved cow in exchange for five "magic" beans, but can Jack save the town by retrieving the gold at the top of the beanstalk? And what will happen when the emperor appears in his brand new "birthday suit"? David Foxton's play for children merges two popular pantomimes with hilarious results and plenty of audience participation. This casting includes: Tom Bell, the town crier, known to all as "Tink"; Aloysisus Sly, a rogue and confidence trickster, partner to Wily; Cressida Wilhelmina Wily, a rogue and confidence trickster, partner to Sly; Abigail Bell, Tink's long suffering daughter; Abacus, the Treasurer to the Court; Lord Chamberlain; Guard Captain; Emperor Persimmon, our Emperor; Empress Petronella, Emperor's wife; Jack, the young man of Beanstalk fame; Jack's Mother; 2 Attendants; and, Courtiers, Guards, Fashion Models and stage hands.