They Eat Sunshine, Not Zebras by Dara Murphy - Theatrefolk

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They Eat Sunshine, Not Zebras

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

They Eat Sunshine, Not Zebras

by Dara Murphy

Nothing stands in the way of the green grass. Until they wake up one morning to see a yellow dandelion in their midst.

 About 25 minutes

Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks

 11
11 Any Gender

Simple set

 30 pages

Comedy

Average Producer Rating:

Reviews from Past Producers

The field believes in uniformity. Lovely rows of blades all the same height. Lovely rows of blades exhibiting standard behaviour of green grassness.

Nothing stands in the way of their orderly life. Until they wake up one morning to see a yellow dandelion in their midst. Sunny (that’s the dandelion) is bright and warm and just wants to be friends. The field wants nothing to do with her nonstandard, non-green ways.

A dandelion will turn their orderly way of life upside-down. A dandelion must be destroyed. Isn’t that what you do when something is different?

Free Classroom Study Guide

Click here to read production tips for this play.

11 Characters
11 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.

SUNNY [A] 117 lines
A dandelion
BROWN [A] 40 lines
The oldest
GRASS ONE [A] 24 lines
Knowing
GRASS TWO [A] 31 lines
Simple
GRASS THREE [A] 74 lines
Sunny’s neighbour
GRASS FOUR [A] 32 lines
Follower
GRASS FIVE [A] 44 lines
Negative
GRASS SIX [A] 41 lines
Motherly
GRASS SEVEN [A] 33 lines
Ideas
GRASS EIGHT [A] 54 lines
Grumpy
GRASS NINE [A] 27 lines
Clueless

Subgenres
Avant-garde Farce

Settings
Present day

Dress
Contemporary costumes Fantasy costumes Simple costumes

Audience
All audiences

Features
Gender neutral cast Character study Physical comedy Music Variable gender breakdown Student directors

Set
Simple set Exterior set

Themes
Individuality Obedience Peer pressure Self-image

Cross-Curricular Uses
Social studies

Other uses
Audition material Class work Competition Scene work

Multimedia

The Green Grass Grows All Around (p. 8)

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.

We accept orders worldwide using the following payment methods:
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.

A vignette play is a collection of short scenes on a theme. You'll love working with the variety and flexibility of the scenes. Your actors will love the fast pace and fun characters.

There's more. Every Theatrefolk vignette play holds the unexpected. A showcase monologue. A dramatic moment. A change in form. A left turn.

Ideal for classwork, competitions, and more!

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