Monty Chicken's Frying Circus: Easter 2010

MONTY CHICKEN’S FRYING CIRCUS

A HopeKids LIVE Easter Sunday Skit

Written by Abraham Yeo Yeu Ann

1 Apr 2010

© 2010 Hope Church Singapore.

PREMISE

We can have a circus. Call it Monty Chicken's Frying Circus... maybe an evil ringmaster (Monty) is trying to train chickens to do some egg-related stunts... and oh, if the chickens don't meet his standards, he'll fry them and serve them at his conveniently-located-next-door CFC restaurant: Cheap Fried Chickens.

Then Easter is coming up! so the ringmaster has the idea of boosting sales by training the chickens to do an Easter skit to end in a grand chicken can-can dance... with feathers flying everywhere... in order to accomplish his crazed plans, he forces the chickens to massively increase egg productions... the chickens are exhausted.

Then... a rooster crash-lands, discovers the chickens, and tries to tell them that a better world is out there... he offers to lead them to freedom... the chickens are delighted... but a lot of cock-ups (get the joke?) happen as the chickens are too excited to perform... so Monty the crazy ringmaster gets really mad and devises a heinous plan to set his chickens in their rightful place once and for all... he sets up a HUGE frying pan... and prepares to fry all the chicken who haven't met his standard...

but at the last min the rooster steps up and offers to lay down his life for his chicken friends... the ringmaster laughs...and spares the lives of all the chickens... and proceeds to fry the rooster... and everyone is really sad... when suddenly *BOOM!* the fryer explodes and the rooster comes out very alive... the ringmaster is terrified... and thinks it's the ghost of the rooster he fried... and runs away screaming...

the rooster then tells the chickens how he escaped... he tripped over the power supply to disconnect the fryer... and also FLEW around in the fryer... and then he goes on to explain to the chickens that Easter is not about eggs... but about the resurrection of Jesus... really from the dead...

in delight the chickens all decide to set the rooster as the new ringmaster and change it to Monty Chicken's FLYING CHURCH... as they learn flying so that they can fly all over the world to tell everyone about Jesus. =D

CHARACTERS

MONTY - Egoistic, proud, yet childish. He's a slavedriver to the chicken, but a brilliant entrepreneur who concocts plans to squeeze as much as he can out of his charges. And yes, he sports the classical bushy moustache of all ringmasters the world over. He's really proud of his moustache - that if he were in a fight, he'd sacrifice his face to save his moustache.

CHEF - works at Circus Fried Chicken, also known as Cheap Fried Chicken. Think of the Chef in South Park... =P He's also the "henchman" of Monty.

AGGIE CHICKEN - most outspoken and natural leader. Has been in several conflicts with Monty, but somehow survives because of her natural wittiness

BIGGIE CHICKEN - as her name suggests, the biggest chicken. big yet gentle, she is the natural defender of the 'fluck'. All the other chickens naturally gather around her when Monty's on another ranting rampage. But she is getting old, and Monty has none-too-subtly hinted to her that her "retirement" is getting long-overdue... to retire at CFC.

CHICKY CHICKEN - innocent, childlike. but she also has a very deep insight into life and is thoughtful. sympathetic even to Monty. Thought a bit out of the world at times, her natural ingenuity proves that she's no bird-brain.

DOLLY CHICKEN - task-oriented, firm, authoritative. plenty of pluck, but can get into conflicts a lot of times due to her natural task-drivenness. Monty likes her more than the others (since she's the most productive), so she takes advantage of Monty's favoritism to persuade him to give the chickens some concessions.

ELLY CHICKEN - a freshly-bought chicken. she is quite blur a lot of times. bumbling, easily scared... she has incurred the wrath of Monty, especially when she was too scared and started pooping on Monty's freshly-polished boots. it was only the firm intercession by Aggie and Dolly that saved her from becoming the main course at CFC.

ROCKY ROOSTER - a rooster who has a great deal of charm and personality. confidence too, and a natural leader. cocky at times, but his courage and natural cheerfulness gives the chickens hope. 

COSTUMES

Ringmaster costume

Chef costume – with suspenders and chef hat…

5 chicken costumes

1 rooster costume

PROPS

Whip

Chopper

Deep Fryer

Anything that looks like hard-boiled eggs
SCENE 1

(MM: Play loud trumpet music: “tan-tan-tarraa”)

(MM: Display animated powerpoint of the title “MONTY CHICKEN’S FRYING CIRCUS!”)

(The Ringmaster, MONTY, walks to front-centrestage. At one side of the stage, there is a CHEF standing next to a counter with the sign ‘Monty’s Fried Chicken’.)

MONTY

Welcome to Monty Chicken's Frying Circus! Here, we bring you the best chicken entertainment. Chicken run, chicken dance, chicken backflip. You name it, we have it! Why do we have the best chicken performers? Because those who make it stay in the circus. Those who don't, go to the KFC next door to be fried.

(MONTY motions to CHEF who has a sadistic look on his face and is brandishing a huge chopper and frying wok.)

(Lights: Spotlight focus moves from MONTY to CHEF. Chopper is to gleam in the spotlight.)

Chicken wings, chicken drumsticks, chicken head. You name it, we have it! Without further ado, let us put our hands together to welcome MONTY CHICKEN’S FRYING CIRCUS CHICKENDALE DANCERS!

(MM: Play the Chicken Dance song.)

(CHICKENS dance frantically.)

MONTY

Faster! (cracks whip) You're out of step! (cracks whip again) You're out of tune!

CHICKENS

(panicking) Yah yah! No problem!

Chicken feet, all the way!

(They go faster and faster, turning and turning… until ELLY CHICKEN gets dizzy and topples onto the other CHICKENS.)

(MM: Music stops abruptly)

MONTY

ENOUGH!

(CHICKENS file off the stage in fear)

MONTY (con’t)

(to audience) Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for my chickens’ incompetence. And… we will be having a special fried chicken sale at the KFC next door – very soon! (storms off stage)

(Lights: Cut to black)

(A few moments of silence pass.)

(Lights: All lights are initially off. Then, a sobbing sound is heard. Spotlight shines to centrestage to reveal the very scared CHICKENS.)

ELLY

I think I did a very bad chicken dance. I don’t want to go KFC.
 

CHICKY

I am very scared also. I almost fell down. I don't want to be fried. (Starts crying loudly)
 

BIGGIE

Oh don't worry. We are here for you. (hugs and comforts ELLY and CHICKY)

(The chickens all start crying and comforting one another. Suddenly, Monty bursts into the room with a furious look on his face, whip in hand. Immediately, all the CHICKENS keep quiet.)

MONTY

Listen up! I will spare you all this time… especially YOU! (glares at ELLY, who shrieks and hides behind BIGGIE.) BUT… Easter is coming.

AGGIE

(To the other CHICKENS) I don’t like the sound of that.

MONTY

(talks to himself, rubbing hands evilly)

On Easter Day, I shall have a magnificent chicken can-can dance… the grrrrrreatest dance ever seen. And you will all be juggling eggs while they dance! I want no less than 300 eggs by this Friday!

CHICKENS

(All the CHICKENS gasp in shock.)

AGGIE

THREE HUNDRED? THIS IS MADNESS! We can’t make so many eggs! It’s only one week to Easter!

MONTY

Who cares?! If you do not lay 300 eggs by Friday, I will personally frrrrrrry you in KFC!

(MONTY storms off the stage.)
 

AGGIE

It’s not going to be a good Friday.

BIGGIE

I only lay 5 eggs a day at most. Now I am really dead!
 

CHICKY

Oh no! Some days I don't even lay eggs. What shall we do?
 

ELLY

Maybe we can make fake eggs?

DOLLY

How to fake? You fake for me to see.

(MONTY suddenly storms back on stage.)

MONTY

And for you, ELLY, you get no food for one whole week!

(MONTY storms off again.)

ELLY

Now I am really going to be the next dish at KFC. (bursts into tears)

ALL CHICKENS

Oh… boo hoo hoo… is there no hope?

(MM: Softly play “I Dreamed A Dream” music…)

(Note: Actors do not need to sing out the lyrics. It’d be nice if this could be a musical… but for practical purposes, we’ll just recite these lines out in time with the melody. Memorise them well!)

(MM: Display each stanza for each chicken on-screen)

CHICKY

I dreamed a dream in time gone by

When hope was high

And life worth living

I dreamed that love would never die

CHICKY (con’t)

I dreamed that God would be forgiving

BIGGIE

Then I was young and unafraid

And dreams were made and used and wasted

There was no ransom to be paid

No song unsung, no wine untasted

(Lights: dim low)

AGGIE

But now Monty comes at night

With his voice soft as thunder (MM: play thunder loudly)

As he tears your hopes apart

And he turns your dreams to shame

ELLY

(hopefully)

But still I dream a Saviour’ll come to me

That we will live free forever

(sadly)

But there are dreams that cannot be

And there are storms we cannot weather

DOLLY

I had a dream my life would be

So different from this hell I'm living

So different now from what it seemed

Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.

ALL CHICKENS

Deliver us

Send a shepherd to shepherd us

And deliver us to the Promised Land…

(Suddenly, ROCKY ROOSTER tumbles onto front-centrestage from the side, giving the CHICKEN a shock. He lands on the ground, knocked out. CHICKENS all crowd around ROCKY, who takes a while to regain consciousness. When ROCKY wakes up, he is dazed.)

(MM: Play crash and glass tinkling sound)

(Lights: Turn back to full brightness. Spotlight to focus on ROCKY ROOSTER as he tumbles onto stage.)

ROCKY

(groggily) Ooooh… where am I?
 

(Lights: Cut to black.)
SCENE 3

(Lights: Fade in from black.)

ALL CHICKENS

Look! He’s awake again!

ROCKY

(groggily) Ooooh… where am I?

DOLLY

(dryly) Hell.

ROCKY

(gasps) Awwwwkkk! Hell? Am I dead? What have I done to deserve being sent to hell?! Oh God, forgive me! I knew I shouldn’t have stolen Ms. Piggy’s corn! It was only just one corn! Have mercy on me, Lord! Awwwwwk!!!

AGGIE

Dolly! (to ROCKY) Don’t be silly! This isn’t hell! This is Monty Chicken’s Frying Circus −

DOLLY

− which is a chicken hell. (to ROCKY) You shouldn’t have come. How did you land here?

ROCKY

(brushes himself off) Well, I’m from the neighbouring circus. I say… what day is it today?

DOLLY

Friday. And your name?

ROCKY

I’m ROCKY Rooster, the world’s greatest flying chicken!

ALL CHICKENS (except DOLLY)

FLYING?! (surprised gasp) Oh joy! Hallelujah! (they start dancing) Free at last! Free at last! ROCKY Rooster! Can you teach us to fly?! We don’t wanna fry!

ROCKY

Huh? Why are you feather dusters suddenly so excited? Can someone please explain to me what’s the meaning of all these … dancing… chickens?

AGGIE

An evil ringmaster called Monty lives here. He forces us to dance day and night, and if we do not meet his standards, he drags us off to KFC next door to be fried.

ROCKY

(jumps up, pumps out his chest and gives a superhero pose.) WHAT?! OUTRAGEOUS!

(MM: Play triumphant superhero music)

(Lights: Spotlight shines on ROCKY)

As long as I am alive, I will not allow evil to have its way. I must put a stop to this.

(All the CHICKENS look at him in awe. All, except DOLLY.)

CHICKENS (except DOLLY)

Oooooooh. Our hero! Teach us to FLY!!!

DOLLY

(standing off at one side)

Yeah. I’ll believe it when I see it.

CHICKY

(goes over to DOLLY’s side)

Dolly, please don’t be like that!

DOLLY

Why? I think you guys are putting all your eggs in one basket. Look at him! I don’t think he can fly. More likely Monty’ll catch him and he’ll fry!

CHICKY

But… but…

DOLLY

Say no more. I’ll believe it when I see ROCKY fly with my own eyes.
 

(ROCKY doesn’t hear this exchange however. He is too busy thinking.)

ROCKY

Now, we must first think of how to get out of here. The world out there is more wonderful. There is freedom, you can do what you want, nobody will fry you in KFC.
 

AGGIE

Yes! This is the life we want. Freedom! “I believe I can fly…”

ALL CHICKENS (except DOLLY)

(chants) Freedom! Freedom! Fly, not Fry!
 

(ROCKY looks nervous.)

ROCKY

Umm. Chickens, there is something I need to tell you. You were so excited to hear about me flying. Actually… that is just my nickname. I can’t fly!

ALL CHICKENS

WHAT?!

ROCKY

I’m a stunt rooster! I sit in a giant chicken cannon, and they fire it, and I fly! Get it? I can’t fly without a cannon! (MM: Show giant chicken cannon) We can’t fly on our own efforts!

DOLLY

(to CHICKY) See! Roosters always talk cock.

AGGIE

So… there’s no way to fly?

ROCKY

How to fly? You call Fed-Ex to come in and deliver you… or you use a big chicken cannon… you got?

ALL CHICKENS

(Shake their heads to say no. They look defeated.)

ROCKY

Actually, what’s stopping you guys from just walking out of here? Why not jump over the fence?

AGGIE

Electric fence. We don’t want to become fried chickens!

(MM: Play sparking electric sounds and display electric fence picture with warning sign)

ROCKY

Ok… what about the gates? (MM: show locked gates)

BIGGIE

They’re locked!

ROCKY

Hmm. That sounds bad.

ELLY

And… there’s a huge road just outside the exit! (MM: Show picture of a huge road.)

ALL CHICKENS (including ROCKY)

Uh… so what’s wrong with crossing the road?

ELLY

Because then Monty will start asking: “Why did the chickens cross the road?”!

ALL CHICKENS

…

AGGIE

Anyway, ROCKY, you see, Monty’s got us well-guarded! Save us! We don’t want to go KFC! (MM: Show CHEF with big chopper)

ROCKY

Hmm… Aha! I have an idea.

ALL CHICKENS

What’s your idea?

ROCKY

You see, you are all supposed to dance on Friday. Monty has to unlock the circus gates for the visitors. If we could escape during that time, we can all run out of the circus gates!

ALL CHICKENS

Oooooh. What a great idea!

DOLLY

But we’ll be right smack in the middle of the ring… surrounded by Monty and everyone else… how to escape?

ALL CHICKENS

Aaaaah. That’s a bad idea then.

ROCKY

Hey. I am ROCKY Rooster ok. Here’s what I can do… come come…

(We see ALL CHICKENS huddle around in a tight circle around ROCKY. They gather and whisper and plot and plan… and after a few seconds, they grin.)

ALL CHICKENS

Hahaha… great idea, Rocky! We can’t wait to see MONTY’s face...

(Lights: Fade to black)

SCENE 4

(Lights: Fade in from black.)

(MM: Fade in can-can music and MONTY’s yells.)

(The CHICKENS are dancing the can-can… or trying to. MONTY is furiously cracking his whip.)

MONTY

Faster! Faster! You think this is what? Your grandmother’s line dance?

AGGIE

Okie chickens! You heard MONTY! Up! Up! One-two! One-two!

MONTY

Faster! Faster! You guys are terrible! Tonight is the Big Show, and you are still dancing like… like… chicken feet!

DOLLY

Oei! We are chickens!

MONTY

Pah! How come you are all so distracted?

(looks at his watch and grabs his hat in dismay) OH NO! It’s time for the Big Show!

(shouts orders left and right) OPEN THE GATES! LET THE AUDIENCE IN!

(Lights: Focus spotlight on MONTY)

(MM: Play loud circus music)

MONTY

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! Today, we have just the perfect Easter skit for you! MONTY CHICKEN’S FRYING CIRCUS! Here, we bring you the best chicken entertainment. Chicken run, chicken dance, chicken backflip. You name it, we have it! Why do we have the best chicken performers? Because those who make it stay in the circus. Those who don't…

(CHEF unveils a huge GIANT DEEP CHICKEN FRYER.)

We have a GIANT DEEP CHICKEN FRYER. TURN IT ON!

CHEF

Wokay, Boss! Hohoho!

(Off the stage and among the audience, the CHICKENS look very worried.)

AGGIE

Oh no! This wasn’t in our plans. If we fail…

ALL CHICKENS

We all fry. On the spot.

ROCKY

Uh… it’s okay chickens. Let’s not chicken out now… this is our only chance. Now or Never!

(ALL CHICKENS lay their wings together and do a whoosh.)

MONTY

And now, presenting the chicken can-can!

(MM: Play drum roll with clash of cymbals)

(MM: Play loud can-can music)

(CHICKENS come dancing onto the stage. ROCKY is with them too, dancing)

MONTY

(rubs his eyes) Eh? How come there’s one more chicken?

(CHICKENS finish up their can-can dance… and they turn around and stick up their butts to the audience… but unbeknownst to MONTY, they are gathering some eggs that they’ve hidden on the stage.)

MONTY

And now, my chickens will juggle THREE HUNDRED eggs while they do the next dance… Ladies and gentlemen, breathe with awe as you see 5 chickens … ok, 6 chickens juggling THREE HUNDRED −

ROCKY

− No, MONTY… now our show begins! CHICKENS! (ALL CHICKENS line up) Ready! Aim! FIRE! (CHICKENS throw their eggs at MONTY.)

MONTY

NO!!!! Ow! Ow! Ow! Hey! HARD-boiled eggs! Rotten eggs! NO FAIR!!!

Planted members in the AUDIENCE

OOH! GREAT SHOW! C’MON! GIVE MONTY A BIG EGG!

ROCKY

Run, chickens, run!

(ALL CHICKENS run helter-skelter off the stage. But ROCKY runs in the wrong direction. He crashes into the DEEP FRYER and falls down to the ground, apparently unconscious.)

(MM: Play sound of people screaming, cows mooing, chickens clucking… glass breaking, gunshots, etc…)

MONTY

MY SHOW IS A TOTAL COCK-UP! AND YOU SHALL PAY FOR THIS!

(He brandishes his whip and whips ROCKY. ROCKY falls to the ground, and MONTY tau-poks (i.e. jump flat onto) ROCKY. He calls for CHEF to come and help him stop ROCKY… and CHEF gleefullys tau-poks both.)

MONTY

OW! I’m under you! Geddoff!

CHEF

Sorry boss! (ties up ROCKY and stands guard with his big chopper)

(MM: Fade in dramatic action music… orchestral style)

MONTY

Who are you??!! Why have my chickens escaped??? What did you do???

(In the meantime, the CHICKENS come back into the room, but still stay off-stage. They watch in horror the interrogation of ROCKY.)

ROCKY

You are a cruel and evil ringmaster. That is why the chickens left you!
 

MONTY

Nonsense! I am the master. They obey me!

ROCKY

No! They deserve to be free!
 

(MM: Action music to reach crescendo)

MONTY

You will pay for this. (to CHEF) Throw him into the giant fryer!
 

CHEF

Hokay boss!

MONTY

I knew this day would come, so I made this super fryer to fry all the chickens. But since they are gone, I have no choice but to fry you rooster. I do not mind, I have never tasted fried rooster meat before. MUAHAHA!

(MONTY and CHEF grab Rooster and throw him into the fryer. They both give evil laughs, while the CHICKENS cry and scream.)

(MM: Play splash sound)

(MM: Fade out the action music)

(Lights: Fade to dim light)

MONTY

WAHAHAHAHAHA….

CHEF

(stops laughing) Boss. That’s funny. He’s very quiet.

MONTY stops to listen.

(MM: Play the soundtrack from Passion of Christ music, the scene where Jesus is resurrected.)

(MM: Play huge boom sound)

(Lights: Focus spotlight on the DEEP FRYER)

(ROCKY slowly ascends out of the fryer, which tears apart. MONTY and CHEF stand transfixed in shock and awe.)

MONTY

It is a ghost. How can anything be alive in there?
 

CHEF

Run, Boss, RUN! RUNNNNN!!!
 

(MONTY and CHEF flee the scene.)
 

(ALL CHICKENS come running onto the stage. They are cheering.)

AGGIE

ROCKY! How did you do that?
 

BIGGIE

That was amazing. It is a miracle. 

DOLLY

What happened in there?
 

ROCKY

You see… when I crashed into the DEEP FRYER, I bumped the power supply off during the dance, so it was not hot in there.
 

ALL CHICKENS

ORHHH...

DOLLY

Thank you for saving us. You sacrificed yourself.
 

AGGIE

We will always remember this Easter. Because you gave us freedom. And you were supposed to die but you came alive. 
 

ROCKY

Well, I didn't actually die. But on Easter 2010 years ago, I know of someone who really came back to life. His name is Jesus Christ.
 

ALL CHICKENS

Oooh! Sounds like great news! Tell us!

(ROCKY goes on to talk about Jesus Christ. And then he goes on to explain to the chickens that Easter is not about eggs... but about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.)

AGGIE

I have an idea. Let’s make ROCKY our new ringmaster. 
 

BIGGIE

And we can call it MONTY CHICKEN'S FLYING CHURCH.

CHICKY

We can learn to fly, and go all around the world…

DOLLY

…to sing and dance for them…

ELLY

… so that we can tell everyone about Jesus!

ROCKY

Everyone! Three cheers and three cheers and three cheers for JESUS CHRIST! Hip hip… HOORAY! (MM: Play can-can music, shorter one)

Let’s dance!

(ALL CHICKENS performs dance, and end with a huge flourish.)

WELCOME TO MONTY CHICKEN’S FLYING CHURCH! Friends, let my team members tell you about the true meaning of EASTER…

THE END