Jabberwocky-Play Script

The poem, “Jabberwocky” was included in Lewis Carroll’s 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

In this hilarious re-telling of the poem, all the fantasy creatures come to life as they act out the famous poem.

Excerpt from the play:

CHARACTERS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE):

Humpty Dumpty
Tove 1
Tove 2
Borogrove 1
Borogrove 2
Mome
Jabberwocky
Son
Jubjub Bird
Bandersnatch

At rise, the TOVES and BOROGROVES are standing on-stage, as though they are near a pond. Cricket sounds can be playing if desired.

TOVE 1
It’s brillig.

TOVE 2
Really, really brillig.
The TOVES start doing a weird wavy dance, and never stop doing it after this point.

BOROGROVE 1
What—what are you doing, Toves?

TOVE 1
Gyring!

TOVE 1 busts a new dance move.

TOVE 2
And gimbling! Freak out!

TOVE 2 starts a new dance. The BOROGROVES begin to get very sad. They cry and distress about the TOVES’ dancing.

TOVE 2
Aww, don’t go all mimsy on us, Borogrove.

BOROGROVE 2 (crying)
Stop gyring!

BOROGROVE 1 (very upset)
No more gimbling!

HUMPTY DUMPTY enters carrying a clipboard and looks around, upset.

HUMPTY DUMPTY
Quiet! Quiet on the set. It’s almost showtime.

HUMPTY DUMPTY points to the audience, but doesn’t look at them.

HUMPTY DUMPTY
There’s a fullish, youngish, semi-alertish house full of people out there semi-enthusiastic about watching your sorry performance.
to the house.