My Theatre Academy
Presents
The Jungle Book
Performance Date: Sat 26th November 2016
Adapted by Tom Page
MTA Jungle Book: List of Characters
Narrator 1
Narrator 2
Narrator 3
Bagheera
Akela
Mystic Paw
White Moon
Wild Claw
Ancient Fang
Loyal Fire
Scarred Hunter
Graceful Shadow
Mowgli
Kaa 1
Kaa 2
Kaa 3
Baloo
King Louie
Curious George
Rafiki
King Kong
Ringo Starr
George Harrison
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Shere Khan
2
NARRATOR 1
Many strange legends are told of these Jungles of India, but none so strange as the story of a
young boy called Mowgli…
NARRATOR 2
It all began when the silence of the Jungle was broken by an unfamiliar sound…
NARRATOR 3
It was the sound of something very rarely heard in the jungle… It was a mancub!
NARRATOR 1
And it was found by a panther, named, Bagheera….
Enter Bagheera, with basket holding a little baby
NARRATOR 2
He took the little boy to the leader of the pack of wolves, Akela…..
Bagheera meets Akela (head wolf) in centre and gives him the basket then they both exit
NARRATOR 3
They would look after him and protect him from those that hated man….
NARRATOR 1
The wolves taught Mowgli the ways of the jungle.
NARRATOR 2
But they couldn’t keep him safe forever.
NARRATOR 3
10 years later, bad news began spreading through the trees.
The Narrators disperse and behind them, the wolf pack assembles.
AKELA
I’ve assembled (gathered?) you all here to tell you that Shere Khan is on his way back to this part
of the jungle!
MYSTIC PAW
Shere Khan?! How?
WHITE MOON
I thought he was dead!
WILD CLAW
Why would he want to come back here?
AKELA
He’s heard about the mancub!
ANCIENT FANG
Mowgli? But he’s one of us!
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LOYAL FIRE
There’s no way we can look after him anymore!
SCARRED HUNTER
The pack isn't strong enough to hold off Shere Khan!
GRACEFUL SHADOW
We’ll have to take him back to the man village.
AKELA
No! I’m not breaking up the pack. It’s too dangerous.
Enter Bagheera
BAGHEERA
Maybe I could help? I’d have him back to the man village in no time.
AKELA
Are you sure Bagheera? Shere Khan will kill you too if he sees you with him!
BAGHEERA
It’s the only option Akela, I’ll be back in a few days.
MOWGLI
Wait! I don’t want to go! You can’t make me.
AKELA
It’s the safest option. Good Bye Mowgli.
Wolves leave.
MOWGLI
This is so unfair. I want to go back home.
BAGHEERA
How many times Mowgli, it’s not safe! Shere Khan will kill you!
MOWGLI
Then we’ll just explain to him thatBAGHEERA
No. There will be no explaining. Now let’s get some rest here, we have a big day ahead of us.
MOWGLI
But I can cope on my own!
BAGHEERA
Just get some rest.
MOWGLI
Fine!
Bagheera goes to sleep. Mowgli stays awake. Suddenly there’s a ‘HISSS’ Enter chain of KAA’s
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KAA 1
Ssssay now, what have we here?
KAA 2
It’ssss a Man Cub!
KAA 3
A delicioussss Man Cub!
MOWGLI
Leave me alone!
BAGHEERA (sleepy)
No I won’t, now go to sleep.
KAA 1
Yessss, go to ssssleep.
Kaa begins to surround Mowgli
MOWGLI
Errr, Bagheera!
BAGHERA (sleepy)
No more arguing, we’ll talk in the morning.
KAA 2
Hahaha, he won’t be here in the morning!
BAGHEERA (waking up)
What?! Kaa! Get off of him!
Bagheera ‘paws’ Kaa on the head
KAA 1
Owww, my ssinusssessss…
KAA 2
You’ve just made a seriousss missstake
KAA 3
A very serious missstake.
Kaa leaves.
BAGHEERA
So you can cope on your own, huh?
MOWGLI
Yeh! He just caught me off guard.
BAGHEERA
Whatever you say Man Cub. Now let’s carry on and get you to the village.
5
As Mowgli and Bagheera walk around, enter Baloo singing (scatting) until he notices everyone is
watching.
BALOO
Well what have we got here?
BAGHEERA
Oh here comes trouble!
BALOO
Hey! Baggy my old pal, how are ya? Say - who’s your Man Cub?
BAGHEERA
This is Mowgli, I’m taking him back to the Man Village.
BALOO
The Man Village? Whatever for??? He can stay with us, a friend of Baggy’s, is a friend of mine!
BAGHEERA
No. Shere Khan has returned, it is the only place he’ll be safe.
BALOO
Nonsense! That little pussy cat! What have you got to be scared of him for?
MOWGLI
I’m not scared of no tiger!
BALOO
That’s the attitude kid, you just gotta be more like a bear. How’s your growl?
MOWGLI
My what?
BALOO
Your growl. You know, your roar. Let’s hear it!
Mowgli roars, very weakly.
BALOO
Hmmm, could be better, try again. But this time, go real deep down. Right in your belly. Like this…
Huge roar (probably FX)
MOWGLI
Wow, that’s awesome!
BALOO
Tell me about it kid!
MOWGLI
I want to stay with you Baloo, I don’t want to go to the Man Village.
BAGHEERA
But it’s not safe!
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BALOO (mocking him)
Ooo but it’s not safe… Hey lighten Baggy, this kid’s safe with me. I can teach him how to be a
bear.
MOWGLI
You’d do that for me?
BALOO
Why sure!
MOWGLI
Then what do I have to do?
Cue “Bare Necessities”…
BALOO
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That bring the bare necessities of life
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
Now when you pick a paw-paw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big paw-paw
Have I given you a clue ?
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
7
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
With just the bare necessities of life (added to fit track)
*Towards the end of the song, a group of monkeys enter and infiltrate the dance. Baloo and
Bagheera don’t notice them take Mowgli away by the end of the song*
Baloo proudly takes all the applause, not aware of Mowgli’s disappearance. Bagheera realises…
BAGHEERA
Errr Baloo…
BALOO
One second Baggy, just let me soak up the applause.
BAGHEERA
Baloo this isn’t good….
BALOO
What are you talking about? It’s fantastic. I hit every note, struck every dance move. Let me enjoy
my moment in the spotlight.
BAGHEERA
Baloo! Mowgli has gone!!
BALOO
What?! How?
BAGHEERA
One minute he was here, the next he was gone!
BALOO
This is bad! This is very bad!
BAGHEERA
But who could have taken him?! Shere Khan isn’t due for a few more days!
BALOO
Oh damn…
BAGHEERA
What? Baloo what is it???
BALOO
I bet it was those pesky monkeys, I’ve heard that they’ve been hanging around these parts for a
few weeks now.
BAGHEERA
Where did you hear that?
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BALOO
On the ape vine….
BAGHEERA
This is not a time for jokes Baloo. If you’re right, they’ll have taken him to Louie’s place! Quick let’s
go rescue him!
They exit one side, whilst monkeys reenter with Mowgli bringing him to King Louie
GEORGE
We got him Louie!
RAFIKI
Yeah, all on our own.
KONG
The dumb bear and the kitten didn’t even put up a fight.
LOUIE
Excellent! Well done! How are you Man Cub?
MOWGLI
Who are you?! Let me go! Take me back to Baloo and Bagheera!
LOUIE
But they’ll take you back to the Man Village, if you want to stay in the jungle, I’ll be able to help you.
MOWGLI
How? What are you going to do.
LOUIE
I can help you Man Cub, I just need you to do something for me in return.
MOWGLI
What? What is it? I’d do anything to stay in the jungle.
LOUIE
Then let me explain it to you. But with music.
Cue “King of the Swingers”…
LOUIE
Now I'm the king of the swingers, the jungle V.I.P
I reached the top and had to stop
And that's what bothering me
I want to be a man, man-cub, and stroll right into town
And be just like those other men
I'm tired of monkeying around
Ooh-bi-doo, I wan'na be like you
I want to walk like you, talk like you, too
You see it's true, an ape like me
Can learn to be like human, too
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Now don't try to kid me, man-cub, I'll make a deal with you
What I desire is man's red fire to make my dreams come true
So give me the secret, man-cub, clue me what to do
Give me the power of man's red flower so I can be like you
Ooh-oo-ooo, (ooh-bi-doo) I wan'na be like you (hup-be-doo-be-doo-wah)
I want to walk like you, talk like you, too-oo-oo
You see it's true, (shoo-bi-doo) someone like me-ee-ee (shoo-bi-doo-bi-doo-ee)
Can learn to be like someone like me,
Can learn to be like someone like you,
Can learn to be like someone like me-ee…Yeah!
(clipped to fit track)
*Like before, the song is infiltrated but by Baloo and Bagheera this time. They join in the dance, but
Baloo gets carried away and continues to sing once the song ends and gets noticed*
*BALOO…..
Shoobi-bah-n-bah-n-bah-n-baaaaaahhh…
KONG
Hey! It’s Baloo the bear!
GEORGE
Someone grab him!
RAFIKI
I’ll get him for you Louie!!
MOWGLI
Baloo you came to save me!
LOUIE
Too late kid, you’re one of us now.
BALOO
Not if we can help it.
Baloo and Bagheera pull one side of Mowgli whilst the Monkeys and Louie pull the other… Lots of
shouting ‘Get off of him!’ “He’s mine” “give him back” etc….
Finally Baloo once again does a huge roar (FX) - everyone scared.
BALOO
I thought that’d do it! Now you leave Mowgli here alone! He’s coming back with us. Now go on, get
out of here! Don’t make me do it again!
Monkeys run off
MOWGLI
I knew you’d both come back to save me!
BALOO
Don’t worry about it kid. It was nothing.
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BAGHEERA
Mowgli this is further proof that you’re just not safe on your own in the jungle.
MOWGLI
But I don’t need to be on my own. I could stay with you two.
BAGHEERA
You’re too much of a burden Mowgli, I’m sorry. We need to take you back to the Man Village.
MOWGLI
You’d have me, wouldn’t you Baloo? You’d look after me??
BALOO
Sure I will, kid. Now get some rest, we’ll talk about it in the morning.
MOWGLI
Thank you Baloo.
Mowgli goes to sleep. Baloo + Bagheera walk downstage and talk quietly.
BAGHEERA
Now Baloo listen to me. This is getting serious we need to take him back tomorrow!
BALOO
But Baggy, I could adopt the kid!
BAGHEERA
Baloo, listen, birds of a feather should flock together. You wouldn’t marry a panther would you?
BALOO
Why I don’t know! Come to think of it, I’ve never been asked.
BAGHEERA
Oh be serious for once Baloo!
BALOO
Stop worrying, I can take care of him.
BAGHEERA
Like you did when the monkeys took him?!
BALOO
Oh come on, that was kind of your fault too.
BAGHEERA
Sooner or later Mowgli will meet Shere Khan and with one swipe, he’ll be dead.
BALOO
I can’t be having that!
BAGHEERA
Then do the right thing! Take him back to the Man Village tomorrow!
BALOO
Fine, if that’s how it is to be.
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BAGHEERA
Well go on then.
BALOO
Oh boy… Mowgli… Mowgli… Wake up.
MOWGLI
Hey Baloo
BALOO
Hey kid, get up, we got a long walk ahead of us.
MOWGLI
Cool, lets go.
BALOO
Hey wait Mowgli. There’s something I gotta tell ya.
MOWGLI
What is it Baloo, what are you gonna teach me today? More roaring?
BALOO
No, not exactly
MOWGLI
Then what? How to collect honey?
BALOO
Mowgli listen, I’ve got to take you back to the man village!
MOWGLI
The Man Village?! No one ever listens to me! Just leave me alone!!
He runs off
BALOO
Mowgli wait! Come back! You can’t run off like this.
Vultures enter the other side as Baloo exits. Vultures as the Beatles, all look very bored and
confused as to what to do.
RINGO
Hey George, what we gonna do?
GEORGE
I dunno, what do you wanna do?
Pause
JOHN
I’ve got it! Let’s fly over to the east side of the jungle, there’s always some pickings over there.
RINGO
Oh come off it, things are right dead all over.
12
GEORGE
Hey - you wish they were!
They laugh
PAUL
Very funny.
Pause
RINGO
So what we gonna do.
GEORGE
I dunno, what do you wanna do?
Enter Mowgli
RINGO
Look mate, first I say what we gonna do, then you say i dunno what do you wanna do, then i say
what we gonna do, you say what you wanna do, what we gonna do, what you wanna - lets do
something!!
GEORGE
Ok.. (pause) …what do you wanna do?
RINGO
Oh Blimey… there you go again. The same thing again!
Pause
JOHN
I’ve got it! This time I’ve really got it!!
RINGO
You’ve got it?
JOHN
Yeh.
RINGO
So what we gonna do??
PAUL
Hold it lads, looks like we’ve got something coming our way.
JOHN
Looks like a tasty bunch of bones!
Pause
RINGO
So what we gonna do?
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GEORGE
I don’t know, what do y… hey! don’t start that again!
PAUL
Hey kid, what,s up with you?
MOWGLI
Just leave me alone
JOHN
Owhhh kid you look like you haven’t a friend in the world.
MOWGLI
I haven’t. No one wants me around.
RINGO
Hey, we know how you feel.
GEORGE
Yeah, no one wants us around either.
MOWGLI
I need to go.
RINGO
Hey don’t go kid. Everyone’s got to have friends! We could be yours.!
Cue “You’ve got a Friend in me”…
VULTURES
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me
Yeah, you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
If you've got troubles, I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
Cause you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them will ever love you
The way I do, it's me and you
14
Boy, and as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You're gonna see it's our destiny
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
Enter Shere Khan clapping
SHERE KHAN
Bravo Bravo! An extraordinary performance, and thank you for saving my dinner.
GEORGE (very scared)
Thank you your highness, the pleasure was all ours.
Pause
SHERE KHAN
Boo!
VULTURES
Ahhh!!!!!! Run Kid run!
MOWGLI
I don’t need to run. I’m not afraid of a pussy cat!
SHERE KHAN
Ah Man Cub. I’m pleased to eat you.
GEORGE
Hahahah! Pleased to ‘eat you. Get it? …Sorry.
SHERE KHAN
Be quiet bird. Tell me man cub, are you not scared of me?
MOWGLI
No. Why should I be?
SHERE KHAN
Perhaps I should explain…
Cue “Roar - Katy Perry”…
SHERE KHAN
I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sit quietly, agree politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything
15
[Pre-Chorus:]
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up (HEY!)
Get ready 'cause I've had enough
I see it all, I see it now
[Chorus:]
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
You're gonna hear me roar… (1m 31s at cut)
MOWGLI
Very good, but I know someone with a bigger, better roar than you’ll ever have.
SHERE KHAN
That may be, but there’s no one to save you now.
BALOO
Hold it right there!
MOWGLI
Baloo!!!
SHERE KHAN
Oh fantastic, the main course has arrived.
BALOO
Not today Shere Khan, this whole jungle is against you.
SHERE KHAN
We’ll see about that.
Shere Khan goes to attack Baloo, they have a stand off. They grapple and Baloo gets a scratch to
the nose and falls down.
MOWGLI
Balooo!!!!!
SHERE KHAN
Oh what a shame, it looks like no one is going to save you now Man Cub.
RINGO
Here Mowgli take this, fire is the only thing that can defeat Shere Khan.
Mowgli with firestick in hand now has a stand off with Shere Khan, they miss each other twice,
before Mowgli lands a blow with the stick onto Shere Khan, who screams in pain and runs off.
16
BAGHEERA
You did it Mowgli!
MOWGLI
No I didn’t, Baloo is dead! He died trying to save me! It’s all my fault.
Everyone bows their heads. Mowgli sits in front of Baloo crying, after a short pause, Baloo
suddenly sneezes really loudly.
MOWGLI
Baloo?! You’re alive!!
BALOO
Of course I’m alive, it’s only a scratch! I knew you could do it on your own. You’re a bear like me
remember! Now come on, no more being sad.
BAGHEERA
I agree, Shere Khan is gone and never coming back! We should celebrate.
BALOO
I’m glad you said that Baggy, because I know the perfect song for a party…
Cue Finale “Bare Necessities”…
ALL
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That bring the bare necessities of life
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree
To make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
Now when you pick a paw-paw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware
Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw
17
When you pick a pear
Try to use the claw
But you don't need to use the claw
When you pick a pear of the big paw-paw
Have I given you a clue ?
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They'll come to you!
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
That's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life
With just the bare necessities of life (added to fit track)
YEAH!
The End!
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