Shivering on Stage Written By: Stella

Character Page
(This is the character page, and it lists the characters in the play, and who plays them...)

William Herschel-Leo
Caroline Herschel-Stella
Father-Rus
Mother-Rus
Little Dancer-Tert
Telescope Customer-Rus
Goverment Official-Rus
Astronomer Friend-Rus
Narrator-Mater



Narrator: Our play today is called- Shivering on Stage. This is a true story about a brother and sister. This brother and sister would stumble upon one of the most important things in our universe.
William and Caroline Herschel lived in Germany. It was the eighteenth century. They were not alone in their family of 8. Their father diligently homeschooled them.
(Seated at a table, father in a chair, surrounded with books and papers. William and Caroline seated and doing their schoolwork.)
Caroline: “Father?”
Father: “Yes Caroline?”
Caroline: “What is this note? I forget? Is it a quarter note?”
Father: “Yes my daughter.”
Caroline: “Thank you!”
William: “Father! I’ve finished my math sheet.”
Father: “Alright son, bring it here.”
Narrator: As the children grew up, their minds grew, and they weren’t satisfied with their small home in Germany. William left and went to England to become a musician, walking in his father’s footsteps. Caroline continued to live at the house.
(Mother seated in a chair. Caroline walks up to her.)
Caroline: “Look what I’ve brought in Mother! It’s a letter from Will! He says that he is coming back! He doesn’t say when though, hmm, I wonder why?”
Mother: “Daughter! Don’t get too excited! Did you finish in the kitchen?”
Caroline: “Yes Mother. Oh Mother! I wish that I could be in his place! I wish that I was better and fit in. It is hard because I miss Father too… Him being on his trip and all. I wish that I could go to…”
William: “Hello- anybody home?”
Caroline: “Will! Oh how we have missed you! I have been wishing that I could be in your place! Oh, what is England like? Do you like it?”
William: “One question at a time! I am coming home for a little visit, England is wonderful, and there are many wonderful people there. Here, I have a gift for you. Go up to your room and open it! I have to talk a moment with Mother.”
William: “Mother. I have a proposition to make. Please hear me out and don’t say anything till I am finished saying what I have to say. I have been thinking that it is high time that Caroline should be beyond the kitchen, and this house. You know how she longs to go outside into the world and I hate to see her held back. I would like to take her to England with me. I have a good place as a musician there. It would all work out. Please say yes?”
Mother: “Son, you know that I can’t say yes. Your sister isn’t pretty enough to fit in. Ever since the fever came, she didn’t grow beyond 4 ft. 3. She is only fit to be a servant. She won’t ever marry.”
William: “Mother. Just for a time. She needs to go beyond this house.”
Mother: “Son, I don’t approve. You know that I can’t say yes. I can’t refuse you though, so I am just staying out of this. I will be greatly displeased if you go though.”
William: “Mother, this is a decision that I have thought over well, and I can’t have anything else stopping me. I need to do this.”
(Mother looks at her son for a while, and then walks off.)
Narrator: Even though William was upsetting his mother, he told Caroline about his plan. After staying a couple days, they both left for England.
(William playing instrument with Caroline. Little Dancer does a dance. Audience claps.)
William: “Thank you, thank you!”
(William and Caroline walk off the stage and start walking home.)
Caroline: “Oh Will! This is so exciting! I have never enjoyed myself more.”
William: “I’m glad! Now I have to go to my shop, I am going to sell some more telescopes.”
Caroline: “I better go back to house. I have to make dinner. Good luck!”
(Caroline goes off stage- William stays on and goes to his shop.)
Telescope Customer: “Sir, do I understand that you sell telescopes?”
William: “Yes sir, I do. They are highly approved of, I can guarantee!”
Telescope Customer: “Alright. I’ll take one. If I like it then I will come back and get some more.
William: “Thank you sir!”
Narrator: “The next day…”
(Telescope Customer hurries over to William. William is in his shop.)
Telescope Customer: “Wonderful! I’ll take 20!”
William: “Thank you sir! Here you are!”
Narrator: Yes, William was successful in his telescope industry! Caroline wasn’t left out however. Every evening the brother and sister would study the sky…”
(William and Caroline in a lab studying the sky.)
William: “Caroline, what would I do without you? You know how to set the telescope strait better than I ever could, and you are so good at studying! You fit in much better here than in our house.”
Caroline: “Thank you Will!”
William: “I think that I have figured out how to make this telescope more powerful. It works much better now.”
Caroline: “You are very good at lenses. You know Will, I think that we make a great team!”
William: “As do I!”
Narrator: “William and Caroline worked hard, and studied a lot. They were amateur astronomers! But something was about to happen that Caroline thought might interfere with their work…
Caroline: “Will, it’s not fair! Everything was wonderful, and you had to wreck it!”
William: “Caroline, you don’t understand, I think that you will really like her. She will be a wonderful sister-in-law for you, and wife for me!”
Caroline: “No! We were a great team! Now you’ll be too busy for me, and for astronomy!”
Narrator: “William and Caroline were back to normal, and were about to stumble upon something wonderful. It happened one quiet evening. William and Caroline were working hard, as usual.”
William: “Caroline! Look at this! What is it?”
Caroline: “It might be a comet?”
William: “But it is shaped like a disk!”
Caroline: “It couldn’t be another planet?”
William: “A planet, I didn’t think of that.”
Narrator: William and Caroline marked it down in their charts. They rushed over to their friend’s house, and much to their surprise…
Astronomer Friend: William! Caroline! You have just discovered… a planet!!!!”
Caroline: “Surely you’re mistaken?”
Astronomer Friend: “No! It is a planet! Oh, let us notify the government officials tomorrow morning, EARLY!
Narrator: William and Caroline were highly commended by the government officials, and they received large sums of money. They also had a meeting in England held in their honor.
Goverment Official: William and Caroline Herschel, you have made a great discovery. We have an offer that we hope that you will accept. We have met with everyone, and we have agreed to pay you to become full time astronomers. Will you accept?”
William and Caroline: “Yes sir! That is what we desire most!”
Goverment Official: “Good! Everyone give a cheer for, William and Caroline Herschel!”
(Mother walks up.)
Caroline: “Mother!”
(Hugs Mother.)
Mother: “Your father wished with all of his heart to come, but he couldn’t. I came instead. Caroline, I admit that I didn’t think that much would come of you, but oh, how I was wrong! You are such a wonderful daughter and I am proud of you and your brother!”
Caroline: “Thank you Mother!”
Narrator: William and Caroline went on in their study of astronomy. William found two of Saturn’s moons, and Caroline found many comets. Who would have thought that this homeschooling brother and sister would make such a difference in astronomy? This is the end of this story, but who can tell, will you be in the next one?

Written By: Stella
Directed By: Stella and Rus
Narrated By: Mater