The Happiness Shop
by Lindsay Price
Why aren't middle school students full of smiles, hugs and hi-fives? They’re too young to have problems.
About 35 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
28
6 M | 9 W | 13 Any Gender
Simple Set
43 pages
Three middle school students find themselves in an odd curiosity shop. They don’t know what it is, where they are, or how they got there. But that’s no surprise. The Happiness Shop is not like any other. It is filled with Roppets.
A Roppet is not quite a robot and not quite a puppet. A Roppet is completely happy all the time. Full of smiles, hugs and hi-fives. Isn’t that all it takes for a middle school student to be happy? They’re too young to have problems.
Blake, Melanie and Wally know that’s not true. They all have pretty big problems. But in the shop they have one question to answer and one question only: What would you do to be completely happy?
With up to 28 speaking parts and easy staging The Happiness Shop is perfect for a class project.
Characters
28
6 Men, 9 Women, 13 Any Gender
Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.
GROUP ONE:
-
Dr. D (Dompster)
[A]
62 lines
- One of two deranged Doctors.
-
Dr. Dee (Dompster)
[A]
79 lines
- Dr. D’s partner in crime.
-
Blake
[M]
32 lines
- Desires to be happy. Can he get his wish?
-
Melanie
[W]
38 lines
- Bullied by girls who were once her friends.
-
Wally
[A]
43 lines
- Sees through the façade of the Roppets.
GROUP TWO:
-
Bezmo
[A]
54 lines
- Works in The Happiness Shop.
-
Besme
[A]
45 lines
- Works in The Happiness Shop.
-
Loopy
[A]
37 lines
- Works in The Happiness Shop.
-
Roppet One (Jordan)
[W]
2 lines
- A Roppet at the shop. The show model.
GROUP THREE (Blake's Story):
- Roppets Rubrik (6) [A]
- A team of Roppets that act out memories.
-
Blake 2
[M]
16 lines
- A memory of Blake.
-
Mom
[W]
18 lines
- Blake’s mother
-
Dad
[M]
19 lines
- Blake’s father
-
Monsieur Grant
[M]
18 lines
- A teacher at Blake’s school
-
Ms. Peretti
[W]
19 lines
- Another teacher at Blake’s school
-
Depression Troll
[A]
31 lines
- That nagging voice in your head.
GROUP FOUR (Melanie's Story):
- Roppets Rafter (6)
- A team of Roppets that act out memories.
-
Melanie 2
[W]
17 lines
- A memory of Melanie.
-
Kellie
[W]
10 lines
- Ex-friend of Melanie.
-
Kensie
[W]
15 lines
- Another ex-friend of Melanie.
-
Kelsie
[W]
13 lines
- A third ex-friend of Melanie.
-
Phoenix
[M]
18 lines
- Backs Melanie up.
-
Depression Troll
[A]
31 lines
- That nagging voice in your head.
GROUP FIVE (Wally's Story):
- Roppets Rookery (7)
- A team of Roppets that act out memories.
-
Wally 2
[A]
34 lines
- A memory of Wally.
-
Demeter
[W]
14 lines
- Criticizes Wally.
-
Ajax
[M]
20 lines
- Criticizes Wally.
-
Coach Lynch
[A]
15 lines
- Wally’s coach. More understand than you might expect.
-
Depression Trolls x3
[A]
12, 10, 9 lines
- Those nagging voices in your head.
- Subgenres
- Fantasy Choral work Movement-based
- Settings
- Abstract setting
- Dress
- Contemporary costumes Fantasy costumes
- Audience
- All audiences Pre-teen Teen
- Features
- Character study Physical comedy Choral work Ensemble Movement-based Opportunity for spectacle Sound & Lighting Design Special effects Variable Cast Size Variable gender breakdown
- Set
- Simple set
- Themes
- Bullying Friendship Relationships Individuality Peer pressure Personal responsibility Self-image Happiness Adolescence Anxiety Depression Family Memory
- Cross-Curricular Uses
- Psychology
- Other uses
- Competition Class work Scene work
Prop List
brooms, rags, dusters, and buckets. two paddles attached together with thick silver wire, phone
Production Photos
Related Titles
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Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.
Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.
The Happiness Shop
by Lindsay Price
About 35 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
28
6 M | 9 W | 13 Any Gender
Simple Set
43 pages