Tableaux Directions: Run off question scripts on colored paper. Cut them apart and laminate them for re-use. Run off placard re-enactor scripts on a different color of paper. Cut them apart and laminate them for re-use. Run off the audience participation scripts on a third color, and laminate them for re-use (do no separate them, the audience should chorus the sound effects as a group.) At the beginning of class, hand out the scripts to the students who will play the roles of the questioners and people in the tableaux. Give them a minute to read their part. Tell them that when you point to the person in the picture, they should act out and read their script. Hand out audience participation scripts to students who do not have a specific role.
Display placard 4. Give the class time to examine the picture. Then have your actors come up and take their place in front of the people in the picture, assuming the pose and attitude of each person insofar as practicable. For example, use a chair for the cow, donkey and wagon, to raise those people above the walkers. Use a yardstick as a prop for the man with the gun. Give the student playing the woman something to hold in their arms like the baby. For each person in the picture there is a question script and a response script. As you point to the person in the placard, the student with the question for that person should ask the question. Then the person playing the role should respond per their script. The audience should participate as scripted for each
Audience Scripts:
When the woman carrying the baby is chosen, cry like the baby.
“Waaah, Waaaah.”
When the boy on the donkey is chosen –
“Gee up there old Tom.”
When the man with the gun is chosen –
“Ka – Blam, Ka – pow.”
When the boy on the cow is chosen –
Mooo! Mooo!
When the boy with the dog is chosen –
Arf! Arf!
Actor Scripts:
Women with baby:
“I’m tired and I’m hungry and there’s no milk from that cow because she’s too tired to give any.” Still I’d rather be on the road to freedom and tired and sick than be back in Mississippi under the thumb of those white folks.
Boy on donkey (pretends to crack his whip)
It’s my turn to ride and drive and my brothers have to walk. This old mule will help us plow our farm when we get to Kansas.
Man with gun
No wolves or coyotes are gonna bother us if I can help it and later, I’ll shoot some rabbits for some supper for us all.
Man in wagon
This axe I’m bringin’ will help build our new town. We have to go somewhere away from the Ku Klux Klan and racist Jim Crow laws.
Boy with dog.
I brought my dog Spot because he can help us keep watch at night to protect us from bandits, thieves and wolves. Besides, I couldn’t leave him with that mean old man that used to be our master.
Boy on cow
We brought everything from our old farm where we were share croppers. I’m taking really good care of our cow Bossie for my mom. This cow carries us and our provisions. Later, she will provide a start for our farm and milk for my brother and me.
Actor Questions:
Women with baby:
How are you?
Boy on Donkey
Where are you going?
Man with gun
Aren’t you afraid?
Man in wagon
What are you going to do when you get to Kansas?
Boy with dog
What’s your dog’s name?
Boy on cow
You even brought your cow along, why?