Two Tribes: A One-Act Play with Puppets by John Haman

38-minute one-act. Two tribes dwell beside each other in the woods, divided by a stream and a contentious history. Their rival villagers are forbidden to speak with each other, but the cultures share one key trait: a love of puppetry. Through this storytelling art, the tribes relate differing legends of the Mantoo, a giant race who once ruled the land, before they were driven away by the smaller, smarter...
38-minute one-act. Two tribes dwell beside each other in the woods, divided by a stream and a contentious history. Their rival villagers are forbidden to speak with each other, but the cultures share one key trait: a love of puppetry. Through this storytelling art, the tribes relate differing legends of the Mantoo, a giant race who once ruled the land, before they were driven away by the smaller, smarter tribes. But today, the Mantoo giants return, bent on destruction and revenge. So two teens from opposing tribes -- kids who carried on a forbidden childhood friendship - must unite the villages for mutual protection, and destroy the hated giants, once and for all. The play is written with high schools in mind, and is perfect for festival productions. A vibrant cast of 25-29 is needed: 3 f, 3 m, and 19-23 e.
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Two Tribes: A One-Act Play with Puppets

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Cast size 25-29 (3 f, 3 m, 19-23 e)

Tribesmen ("Human" roles)

Hera F, First Pongwat/Gold puppeteer, teen leader
Oden M, First Katsei/Black puppeteer, teen leader
Father Carpathian M, Hera's father, Pongwat chief
Pongwat Child E, the youngest or smallest kid you can find
Mother Brandeis F, Oden's mother
Mandala M, Pongwat/Gold Puppeteer 2, teen boy
S heena F, Katsei/Black Puppeteer 2, teen girl
Pongwat Gold Tribe (P1-5) E, Various ages, 5 speaking parts
Katsei Black Tribe (K1-5) E, Various ages, 5 speaking parts
Kronos E, New leader of the Pongwat

Giant Puppets*

Claude E, Man-puppet, red plaid. 3-4 puppeteers.
Patsy E, Woman- puppet yellow plaid. 3-4
puppeteers. Double with Woof-Woof.
Woof-Woof E, Big-dog puppet. Great Pyrenees mix, with one
black spot on its face over the right eye. 4
puppeteers. Double with Patsy.
The Beast E, Large scary monster puppet, longer and
seemingly bigger than the Mantoo Various ages, 6-9
actors. Doubled with principals.

*Through double-casting with humans/puppeteers, the puppets can be controlled/inhabited by
three teams totaling 13-17 of the actors. No more than three giant puppets are ever on stage at
the same time, and WOOF-WOOF and PATSY never are on together. That means that the puppets
of those three characters can each be inhabited by two groups of 3-4 puppeteers, with the same
crew performing WOOF-WOOF and PATSY. THE BEAST, then, should be handled by principals
HERA, ODEN, MANDALA, SHEENA, KRONOS , MOTHER BRANDEIS, and PONGWAT
CHILD, and any members of the PONGWAT and KATSEI tribes who are needed (depending on
your design) and not being used to inhabit CLAUDE and PATSY

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Biloxi High School, Biloxi, Miss.
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    Lakeside High School
    ,
    2020