2017–18 Season presented by

Book by Sarah Brandt Music and Lyrics by Stephen James Neale Directed by suki peters

contents 2 The Country Mouse and the City Mouse 3 Setting the Scene • Who’s Who? 4 What’s the Story? 5 Words to the Wise 6 Information and Activities by Sarah Brandt Music and Lyrics by Stephen James Neale Directed by Suki Peters

Musical Director Stephen James Neale Scenic Designer Scott Loebl Costume Designer Garth Dunbar Stage Manager J.M. Bock* Director of Education Marsha Coplon Associate Director of Education Sarah Brandt Education Programs Associate brian Coats

The Company

Aaron Orion Baker* reGINALD Charlie Barron* dUTCH, SPIKE, MITTENS Lana Dvorak* ANNABELLE, COSETTE

Jeanitta Perkins* bILLIE Financial assistance for this theatre has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; the Arts Council, a state agency; the Arts and *Member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. Education Council of Greater St. Louis; and the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission.

2 setting the scene

Traveling to a new place can certainly be a scary thing, especially a place that is so different from home. When people speak in a different way, look unlike you and other people you’ve met, and find enjoyment in different things, it is easy to feel out of place. This feeling of isolation, or the feeling of being alone, can make you feel scared or nervous, which can lead to anger or possibly even jumping to the wrong conclusions. Characters in The Country Mouse and the City Mouse find themselves in very strange places, completely different from the homes that they know. They have a hard time making sense of their new surroundings, and they experience some problems because of that. Will their friendships be able to survive when they have so many different opinions and ideas about what is normal and what is weird?

who's who

Billie, a country mouse, is very Spike is a scary cat who lives with the excited to show her visiting cousin same humans as Reginald. around her home. Reginald’s friend, Cosette, is a Her cousin, Reginald, is a city mouse pageant hamster who loves fancy who is very unfamiliar with life in the clothes and things. country. Mittens, an alley cat, is a free spirit Billie’s best friend, Dutch, is a bunny and a friend to everyone. He helps his who loves fishing. friends avoid Spike. Annabelle, a skunk, is another of Billie’s country friends.

3 what's the story?

Billie, a mouse, is spending the day Billie and Reginald arrive at Billie’s with her best friend, Dutch, a bunny. In home. Reginald thinks it’s small and is their opinion, there is nothing better shocked that he will be sleeping on the than a day in the country, fishing in the couch. Billie shows him the sunset out lake under the shining sun. Dutch has her window, and Reginald is surprised just caught a big minnow, and wants to that she has a beautiful view like this go fishing again the next day, but Billie every day. tells him that her cousin is visiting from The next morning, Reginald is still fast the city. Their friend Annabelle, a skunk, asleep. When Dutch and Annabelle joins them as they head home. arrive, they wake him up with loud noises. Billie and her friends convince Reginald to explore the country, and they all head out for the day. Reginald brings a lot of supplies with him and complains quite a bit, but Billie and her friends are enjoying the day. When they arrive at the pond, Dutch teaches Reginald to fish and Reginald catches a really large minnow, bigger than the one Dutch caught the day before. After fishing, Reginald shares some snacks from the city with everyone, and then they go for a hike. Reginald seems to be allergic to the flowers near the trail and gets stung by a bee. They all have to take cover from a hawk in the sky. Reginald is very Billie’s cousin, Reginald, arrives from unhappy and decides that he wants to the city. She introduces him to her go back to the city. He says some mean friends, and Reginald does not seem things to Annabelle and Dutch, and happy to meet Annabelle. He is also then leaves. Billie is upset, and she tired from traveling. When Annabelle follows Reginald back to her house. hears that Reginald is from the city, she They talk, and Reginald convinces Billie is concerned, as she has heard that it is Please feel free to to go back to the city with him. terrible. Reginald tells them that it is adapt these materials the greatest place on Earth, leading to When they arrive in the city, Billie is to suit your classroom a disagreement. Billie and Reginald go overwhelmed by the big cars and needs and reproduce home. Annabelle and Dutch agree to noises and all of the people. They them for future use. show Reginald how great the country is arrived at Reginald’s house, where he the next day. lives with humans. Spike, the human’s

4 pet cat, chases them into a mouse hole. Reginald’s friend, Cosette, a pageant hamster, arrives. Billie has never seen a hamster before, and Cosette invites them up to her suite. Mittens, a vegetarian alley cat, arrives and joins them. He is one of Reginald’s friends. On their way upstairs, they find a mousetrap, and Billie learns that some humans kill mice. She also discovers that Cosette lives in a cage. All of her suspicions about the city are found to be true. Out the window, she sees the skyline and thinks the city is beautiful as it lights up at night. Then the humans come home, and Billie feels very country and apologize to his cousin. In unsafe. She decides that she wants to the country, Billie is telling Annabelle go home. Reginald and Billie get into a and Dutch about the city. Reginald fight, saying a lot of terrible things, and arrives and he and Billie make up, each Billie leaves. realizing that they were wrong about The next morning, Mittens and Cosette some things they said. Reginald invites find out that Billie has gone. Mittens Annabelle and Dutch to the city, and and Reginald have a talk, and Reginald Billie tells Reginald that he should bring decides that he should go back to the his friends to the country. words to the wise

To Sanitize something is to make it Gouda is a popular type of cheese. clean. When something is Curried it has If something is Primitive, it only has a been flavored with a hot spice sauce. very basic level of comfort. If you are Partial to something, it To get your bearings means to be means that you have a preference to aware of your surroundings and your that thing. place in them. “Sacre bleu” is a French expression Famished means you are extremely of surprise. hungry. “Oui” means “Yes” in French. Perrier is a natural mineral water of “Au revoir” means “Goodbye” in high quality. French.

5 The Great Outdoors Want to experience the joys of country living, just like Billie and her friends? Well, you can! The United States National Park Service protects areas of land in the United States. This means that no one can build on these lands, protecting their wildlife and making them perfect destinations for a country-style getaway. Each state has its own park service, and the Missouri Park Service maintains 89 state parks and state historic sites. Here are a few state parks that you and your family can visit to learn more about Billie’s life away from the city and humans.

Weston Bend State Park If you live near Kansas City, or take a trip Right in the middle of Missouri is this there with your family, you might want to exciting state park. On top of a large hill visit Weston Bend State Park. This park sits a stone castle (or at least what offers picnic sites for those visiting for a remains of it)! The rest of the park day trip and camping sites for those features fishing locations, as well as wanting to stay for a while. It has hiking hiking trails that take you past caves, trails, bike trails and a playground. Most bridges, lakes and springs. The views of importantly, if you’re anything like Dutch, Missouri nature are incredible as well. this park has excellent fishing spots, and amazing views of the . You can be like Reginald and take a trip Elephant Rocks State Park into the country to explore the great This park gets its interesting name from outdoors! However, you want to make the giant, old boulders that stand end- sure you’re prepared for an adventure in to-end in the park, like a train of red the country. Reginald brought a lot of circus elephants. There are even things supplies with him when he came to visit carved into the rocks by 19th century Billie, but they weren’t always the things miners who worked the area! This park he needed. Make a preparation list for a also features nice trails for biking and great adventure in the great outdoors. walking. If you’re visiting the southeast Think about all the things you might region of Missouri, you may want to need, and what you should probably check it out! leave at home.

Castlewood State Park If you live a little closer to St. Louis and the eastern part of Missouri, you may know about . It has so much to see and do! You can go fishing or take a trip down the Meramec River on a canoe. There are hiking and biking trails for all ages and skill-levels, and it is one of the best mountain biking locations in the St. Louis area. You would have no problem finding adventure in this park!

6 Cities that Never Sleep Missouri may have a lot of areas that would make Billie, Annabelle and Dutch very happy, but it also features some amazing cities that Reginald and Cosette wouldn’t mind visiting! Here are some major cities that you could visit to experience the joys of city living.

St. Louis Kansas City St. Louis is a major Midwest city in the On the opposite site of Missouri is the United States, and a great destination for largest city in the state, Kansas City. This those traveling to the eastern part of city also has a lot to see and do, Missouri. If you’re a sports fan, you might including theme parks and a zoo. There come to the city for a Cardinals baseball are parks and places to eat, and they game at Busch Stadium or a Blues have a lot of businesses in the city, too. hockey game at the Scottrade Center. If There are professional sports teams – like you like animals, you may visit the the Chiefs football team – and sporting St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park, which is also ventures for all ages. The city is home to home to an art museum, a theatre, a a lot of museums, each showcasing a science museum, and walking and biking different area of interest; there are art trails! There are lots of things to see and museums, history museums, and even great food to eat as well. There is no museums for music and money. There is shortage of fun things to see and do in something for everyone in Kansas City. this city!

Kansas City St. Louis

Missouri is home to a lot of other great cities with lots of exciting sites to see and explore. Now it’s your turn: pick your favorite city (it can even be outside of Missouri) and plan a trip. Where would you go in the city, what sites would you see? If you visit with your family, where would you go with them? You be the tour guide, just like Reginald!

7 People/Places/Things–The Country Billie and Reginald have very different homes, each full of very different people, places and things. Make a list of these differences under each category. Think about what the characters in the play do in each location.

What sort of jobs could people have in the country?

What places can you visit in the country?

What activities can you do in the country?

Can you think of anything else you might find in the country? Write your ideas here!

Now, select at least one thing from each list and draw your idea of what the country might look like in the box below.

8 People/Places/Things–The City Now, make a list of people, places, and things that you might find in the city! Remember, if you get stuck, think about what the characters in the play do when they go to the city.

What sort of jobs could people have in the city?

What places can you visit in the city?

What activities can you do in the city?

Can you think of anything else you might find in the city? Write your ideas here!

Now, select at least one thing from each list and draw your idea of what the city might look like in the box below.

9 Packing for an Adventure Reginald brings a lot of things with him when he travels to the visit Billie. Answer the questions below to see just how many things he packed into his suitcase!

1. 6 Cheez-Its + 10 Turtle Chocolates =

2. 1 teddy bear + 1 picnic blanket + 4 pairs of sunglasses =

3. 1 picnic basket + 3 fans =

4. 5 water bottles + 9 carrot sticks =

5. 7 shirts + 2 shoes =

6. 3 bottles of sunscreen + 10 chili lime popcorn pieces =

7. 4 Cheez-Its + 2 carrot sticks + 6 Turtle Chocolates =

8. 1 necktie + 4 socks =

9. 7 chili lime popcorn pieces + 4 carrot sticks =

10. 4 shirts + 2 neckties + 6 socks + 1 shoe =

10 Compare/Contrast Characters All of the characters in the play find themselves separated by differences that make it hard for them to agree. However, they all become very good friends. Select two characters and think about what makes them similar and what makes them different. Write your thoughts in the Venn Diagram below.

similarities differences differences

Now, think about your own friendships. Select a friend and fill out the Venn Diagram below with some of your similarities and differences.

You

similarities differences differences

11 Fancy Dress

As a pageant hamster, Cosette has a lot of beautiful and unique costumes and dresses that she wears, and a lot of trophies and awards to show for them. Design an award-winning dress for Cosette below!