Skits

The ABBA Skit

This play was written as part of the entertainment for an evening of a Scout Leaders training weekend. The the theme was Sweden and the obvious choice was sing something by ABBA. The wife didn’t like this idea, and neither would anyone else if they’d heard her sing, so I came up with this as an alternative.

Too add to the entertainment the audience were all given a bingo card with song titles on to mark off as the play progressed.

The song titles have been highlighted in the text.

OpenerThis is a play set in Stockholm about two star-crossed lovers.
Though the play has little else to do with Sweden the author was listening to ABBA while writing. Which may have influenced the script slightly
This is an original piece specially written and any resemblance to any play written by a certain Mr. Shakespeare is purely coincidental, honest!
Eyes down, and a prize for a full house.
NarratorAct 1, Scene 1 – Stockholm. A public place.
Enter Tybalt and Svenvolio (from different directions)
SvenvolioI will always fight those of the house of Erikson
TybaltAnd I those from the house of Johanson
Svenvolio and Tybalt fight
Enter the prince
PrinceStop this fighting at once I want to see no one under attack or I will call the soldiers. The next person who breaks the peace between the two houses will be punished by death.
Tybalt and Svenvolio stop fighting, the Prince and Tybalt leave
Enter Fernando
SvenvolioGood-morrow, cousin Fernando, what is wrong?.
FernandoI am in love, Nina, pretty ballerina. I am head over heels, my mind is in a crazy worldShould I laugh or cry?
SvenvolioYou have a hole in your soul. Fate will take a hand, let’s go.
Exit Fernando & Svenvolio
NarratorAct 1, Scene 2 – A street of Stockholm
Enter Servant
ServantI can not read, what does my master expect from me
Enter Svenvolio and Fernando
ServantI pray sir you can read, I don’t know where to take this invitation
FernandoThat I can
Fernando and Svenvolio read the servants note
FernandoThis is an invitation for Nina to a ball. Servant you wish to take this to house of Anderson
ServantThank you Sir, and I ask you to join us. At the house of Erikson, if you are not a Johanson of course.
Servant exits
FernandoSvenvolio I must go and see Nina. I will wear a mask and join the party.
Svenvolio and Fernando exit
NarratorAct 1, Scene 3 – A room in Erikson’s house
Enter Lady Erikson and Nurse Chiquita
Lady EriksonNurse Chiquita where is my daughter? Call her to me.
ChiquitaCassandra
Enter Cassandra
CassandraThat’s me.
Lady EriksonCassandra, we are going to marry you off to a count called Bjorn.
CassandraBut, I am just a girl I don’t want to marry for Money, Money, Money.
Lady EriksonLove isn’t easy.
.CassandraBut it sure is hard enough.
Exit Cassandra, Lady Erikson and Chiquita
NarratorAct 1, Scene 4 – The Erikson’s house – they ball is about to begin
Enter Erikson and Cassandra
EriksonCassandra, we will welcome the visitors on their arrival.
Enter Tybalt
CassandraGreetings cousin Tybalt
Tybalt bows then goes and talks with Erikson
Enter Fernando (in a mask)
FernandoMy lips, your hands they need to touch, you are a fine girl, may we kiss?
CassandraYou have many fine words for a stranger, go on one quick one.
Fernando kisses Cassandra
Tybalt notice it is Fernando behind the mask as he kisses Cassandra
FernandoThe time has come for me to go, So Long.
Exit quickly Fernando
Tybalt joins Cassandra
TybaltI think that was the villian Fernando Johanson
Cassandra gasps – Erikson joins Tybalt and Cassandra
CassandraI wish to catch up with my cousin Helena.
Cassandra leaves the stage calling as she goes
CassandraHey, Hey Helen-a
EriksonTybalt, find me Bjorn I wish to talk to him the way old friends do.
Tybalt leaves in one direction and Erikson the other.
NarratorAct 2, Scene 1 – The Erikson Orchard
Fernando enters
Cassandra enters on a balcony
FernandoBut, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?It is the east, and Cassandra is the sun.See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!O, that I were a glove upon that hand,That I might touch that cheek!
CassandraAy me!
FernandoShe speaks:O, speak again, bright angel eyes! For thou art as glorious to this night, being o’er my head Like an angel passing through my room
CassandraO Fernando, Fernando! Wherefore art thou Fernando?
FernandoSitting in the palm tree
CassandraLet us put aside our names of Erikson and Johanson we are but One man, One womanTake a chance on me and lay your love on me.
FernandoI do, I do, I do, I do, I do you are my love, my life.
CassandraWe shall meet again tomorrow
Cassandra exits the balcony
Fernando exits
NarratorAct 2, Scene 2 – Friar Laurence’s cell
Enter Friar Laurence
Friar LaurenceBenedictuse qui venit, hasta manana, in nomine Domini. Andante, Andante, Santa Rosa, Hosanna in excelsis.
Enter Fernando
FernandoHello Friar
Friar LaurenceWhat brings you to me so early?
FernandoI am in love, but it is maybe someone I should not.
Friar LaurencePeople need love. It is no longer Nina? What about Happy Hawaii last summer.
FernandoOur last summer in the tropical love-land
Friar LaurenceWhat about Livingstone or Elaine?
FernandoFather, I am under no disillusion it is a girl. Cassandra.
Friar LaurenceMama mia! A member of the opposite house.
Though I wonder this may bring peace to the families.
FernandoThank you Friar, I will see you tomorrow
Fernando exits
Friar LaurenceTime to see the bees I need some more Honey, Honey.
Friar Laurence exits
NarratorAct 2, Scene 3 – A street in Stockholm
Enter Svenvolio and Fernando
SvenvolioFernando you are in a dreamworld you can not have this Cassandra.
Enter Nurse Chiquita
ChiquitaWhich one of you is Fernando?
FernandoMe and I. How can I help my lady?
ChiquitaI have a message from Cassandra she can not meet you as she must prepare for her up and coming wedding to Bjorn. But when all is said and done I know Cassandra, and she will be at confession tomorrow.
Chiquita exits
SvenvolioI must leave to, I see Suzie over there, she is in a Rock & Roll Band and I want her to Rock Me before she heads off for another town, another train.
Svenvolio exits calling out as he does
SvenvolioSuzie-hang-around
Fernando exits
NarratorAct 2, Scene 4 – Friar Laurence’s Cell
Enter Friar Laurence and Fernando
Friar LaurenceSo smile the heavens upon this holy act, that after hours with sorrow chide us not!
Enter Cassandra
FernandoI’ve been waiting for you.
Friar LaurenceQuickly we go to the Chapel and I will perform the wedding ceremony where god will marry you
CassandraWon’t you perform the service?
Friar LaurenceMy child, I am but the Man in the middle.
Exit Friar Laurence, Cassandra and Fernando
NarratorAct 3, Scene 1 – A public place in Stockholm
Enter Mercutio and Tybalt from opposite places
TybaltSo if it’s not Mercutio the Johanson’s dancing queen.
MercutioI will fight you for those harsh words
Mercutio and Tybalt sword fight
Enter Fernando
TybaltTwo for the price of one.
FernandoI am not here to fight
Fernando moves between the fighters as he does Mercutio misses a parry and his stabbed
MercutioAarrgghh!!! Why did it have to be me?
Mercution staggers and dies at the edge of the stage
FernandoYou kill my brother I will kill you
TybaltHe is your brother?
FernandoWell, he was like a brother, watchoutone of us is about to die
Fernando stabs Tybalt who staggers to the edge of the stage
Enter the Prince
PrinceFernando you know the punishment, but I saw what happened and you were only avenging the death of your friend, that is the Name of the game, for this I will banish you to Waterloo
FernandoShouldn’t the city decide?
PrinceThe king has lost his crownI am the City
Exit the Prince and Fernando
NarratorAct 3, Scene 2 – The Orchard
Enter Nurse Chiquita and Cassandra
ChiquitaI have news of Fernando, I found this out when I kissed the teacher. Fernando killed Tybalt and has been banished to Waterloo.
CassandraFernando, my Super trooper, I must see him before he goes.
ChiquitaI will Put on your white sombrero and go to the Friar’s cell tonight
Exit Cassandra and Chiquita
NarratorAct 3, Scene 3 – The Orchard later that night
Enter Cassandra and Fernando from different directions
FernandoI got the message from Chiquita, I am sorry about Tybalt, I have to go away now.
CassandraKnowing Me, knowing you this is going to break our hearts. But I will be happier knowing you are alive somewhere rather than dead in the city cells.
FernandoThis is sad but maybe you can have a happy new year.
Cassandra and Fernando hug then exit in different directions
NarratorAct 4, Scene 1 – Friar Laurence’s Cell
Enter Bjorn and Friar Laurence
BjornWell Friar, as Tybalt’s death has made everyone sad Erikson has decided I can marry Cassandra earlier than planned to cheer everyone up.
Friar LaurenceI doubt it will cheer up Cassandra.
BjornOh she’ll be as good as new in no time. See you tomorrow
Exit Bjorn
Friar LaurenceI’m a marionette just doing as those who pull my strings ask.
Enter Cassandra
CassandraYou must help me Friar I can not marry that horrible man Bjorn.
Friar LaurenceWhile out in the summer night city I was given this potion. It will make every one think you are dead. I will send a message to Fernando who can come and get you when they lay you to rest.
CassandraThank you Friar
Exit Cassandra
Friar LaurenceI must go and find my Eagle
Exit Friar Laurence
Act 4, Scene 2 – Cassandra’s Room
Cassandra is laying on her bed
Enter Chiquita
ChiquitaGet up Cassandra, time to get married.
Chiquita shakes Cassandra
ChiquitaI need to send out an SOS. I think my little tiger is dead!
Chiquita runs of stage
Act 5, Scene 1 – The Erikson Tomb
Cassandra is laid out to rest
Enter Fernando
FernandoOh my poor Cassandra, they say lovers live a little longer but this is not true, you have poisoned yourself and I will now do the same.
Fernando chokes and falls to the floor as Cassandra wakes up for her final lines.
CassandraFernando, you can not die as the piper plays.I took a sleeping potion the day before you came to rescue me in the lovelight.
Cassandra holds Fernando’s dying body.
FernandoI Let the music speak.
CassandraThe King kong songIf it wasn’t for the nights maybe I could move on. Fernando you are slipping through my fingers maybe my kisses of fire can wake you.
Cassandra kisses Fernando
CassandraGimme Gimme Gimme a sign. Please live on and on and on for me and Bobby and Bobby’s brother
Fernando flops to the ground
CassandraDoes your mother know what fools we have been? The winner takes it all but on this merry-go-round we have nothing. I was gonna sing you my love songMy mamma said dance while the music still goes on. But fot me the music has stopped.
Cassandra draws out her knife and stabs her self.
CassandraBang-a-boomerang I no longer wish to dance. I have a dream
Cassandra lays down dead
Enter Erikson and Johanson
JohansonMy Son!
EriksonMy Daughter!
JohansonDum dum diddle, this is a muddle
EriksonOur children dead together. I saw it in the mirror.
Johanson bends down to pick something up
JohansonRing ring
EriksonA ring each, they must have married in secret.
JohansonVoulez Vous, we shall build a monument in their memory and if they could learn to love each other so could we
Erikson and Johanson hug
EriksonI also found this note from Fernando to Cassandra
JohansonWhat does it say
EriksonForever, and Thank you for the music.

The Cast:

At least 4 actors are needed! If more split the roles of actors 3 and 4.
The Narrator could be one of the actors or a separate person.

Actor 1: Fernando
Actor 2: Cassandra, The Prince
Actor 3: Svenvolio, Lady Erikson, Erikson, Friar Laurence, Mercutio
Actor 4: Chiquita, Tybalt, Servant, Johanson, Bjorn

Characters in each scene:
Act1 Scene 1 – Svenvolio, Tybalt, Prince, Fernando
Act 1 Scene 2 – Servant, Svenvolio, Fernando
Act 1 Scene 3 – Lady Erikson, Chiquita, Cassandra
Act 1 Scene 4 – Erikson, Cassandra, Fernando, Tybalt

Act 2 Scene 1 – Fernando, Cassandra
Act 2 Scene 2 – Friar Laurence, Fernando
Act 2 Scene 3 – Svenvolio, Fernando, Chiquita
Act 2 Scene 4 – Friar Laurence, Fernando, Cassandra

Act 3 Scene 1 – Mercutio, Fernando, Tybalt, Prince
Act 3 Scene 2 – Chiquita, Cassandra
Act 3 Scene 3 – Fernando, Cassandra

Act 4 Scene 1 – Bjorn, Friar Laurence, Cassandra
Act 4 Scene 2 – Cassandra, Chiquita

Act 5 Scene 1 – Fernando, Cassandra, Erikson, Johanson

  • A note on the image. The A.I. image creator did not like me using the word ‘skit’ I originally changed the word to ‘sketch’ which gave me a line drawing. After a few tries and either rejections (didn’t like ‘act’ either) or nothing near desired the text used for the picture was ‘romeo, juliet, abba’.

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