His exploits, his capture and subsequent heroic escape, his recapture, his death and what happened thenceforth.
This is an original juvenile theatre intended for production on a toy theatre although it would also work with puppets. You can download character sheets at the following links:
CAST
SCENE 1 - The streets of London
[Woman getting out of a sedan and two gentlemen in conversation.]
WOMAN
Help! Murder! I've been robbed. Who will protect me.
[enter Wilde]
WILDE
What's this. Another street robbery not done by one of my lads. There is only one person would have had the nerve to do this.
[Shouts) People of London. For too long you have suffered at the hands of that foul miscreant Jack Sheppard. Be it known that I Jonathan Wilde, thieftaker of all England, will soon bring him to heel.
[Wilde exits]
STRAN 1
Tell me sir. Who is this thieftaker?
STRAN 2
That sir is Jonathan Wilde. As to whether he is a thieftaker I know not but be assured he is the greatest rogue in all England.
STRAN 1
And Jack Sheppard?
STRAN 2
Why another rogue but a merrier one. Some say they are sworn enemies all for the love of a woman. But here he comes now....
[enter Jack]
JACK - [singing]
Jack Sheppard is me name and stealing is me game
and if I see your wallet I will squeeze yer'
To me it's all the same cos it helps increase my fame
I'll even try to pinch the Mona Lisa
My eye. What a day it is. My pockets are filled with other peoples cash and I have the love of a good woman. Oh where is she. [calls] Bess! Where are you me love? Ah well there's nothing for it but to wait for her at the Cook Tavern. She'll turn up sooner or later.
[Jack exits -curtain]
SCENE 2 - Another part of London
[Enter Moll Tearsheet on horseback]
MOLL
Bess. Bess.
[enter Bess]
BESS
Who calls? Oh tis you Moll. I thought twer Jack.
MOLL
Bess, Jack has been taken at the Cook Tavern.
BESS
Taken?
MOLL
Yes by that villain Wilde. Your lover is in Newgate at this very moment.
BESS
Quickly Moll, take me. I must go to him.
SCENE 3 - The walls of Newgate
[enter Bess]
BESS
Beyond these walls my lover lies
Condemned to die is he
Sweet angels listen to my cries
and pray this cannot be
[exit]
[scenery raised to reveal ... ]
SCENE 4 - the interior of Newgate. Jack behind bars strapped to a chair
[enter Bess]
BESS
Oh Jack. My heart aches to see you so.
JACK
Cheer up lass. There isn't a prison built that will hold Jack
Sheppard.
[enter Wilde]
WILDE
A touching scene. Two lovers, soon to be parted. Don't worry Bess. I'll look after you when he's gone.
BESS
If you look after me you'll wake up with a knife at your throat.
WILDE
That's the spirit. That's what I like.
[Wilde moves forward, brick wall down. Remove Moll and Jack]
Let's leave them shall we my children. There's no escape you know.
[sings]
The charge has been laid
The bell it has rang
A judgement's been made
Jack Sheppard's to hang
[laughs]
Oh I can't resist it my children. One more look....
[wall scenery up - the prison cell is empty]
Gawd he's gone. Quick summon the watch. Jack Sheppard has escaped.
[exit - curtain]
SCENE 5 - London
[ enter Jack and Bess all dressed up]
JACK
This is the life eh Bess?
BESS
Jack we must get away from here. It's not safe.
JACK
Not safe?. Everyone loves Jack Sheppard. Ballad singers write songs in praise of my name.
BESS
Jonathan Wilde will not sing till you are buried in the ground.
JACK
Alright my love. We'll go away from here.
BESS
You mean it?
JACK
Course I do. As soon as we've had one final drink at the Cock Tavern to say goodbye to all our friends.
[exit]
[Wilde enters]
WILDE
They say a fool never learns. Enjoy your moment Jack Sheppard. Soon you will be mine again.
[exit]
[curtain]
SCENE 6 - Newgate
[Jack Sheppard once more in chains. Bess with him.]
BESS
Oh Jack we should have left when we could. Then I would not have had to witness you in chains once more.
JACK
What these little things. They won't hold me long.
[enter Wilde]
WILDE
Long enough to hold you until you have to dance the Tyburn jig.
JACK
I've escaped before. I will again.
WILDE
Not with me watching you. I shall sit next to you all night with two loaded pistols by my side. Let's see you try then.
[curtain]
SCENE 7 -Tyburn
[Jack Sheppard is hanging. Bess is kneeling in front of him, wringing her hands. A crowd has passes as if they are Japanese tourists.]
TOURISTS
On your left the hanged body of Jack Sheppard, famed villain and example to all of us that crime does not pay. Below him Edgeworth Bess in her widow's weeds.
[exit tourists]
BESS
Never more shall words be spoken
Because of this my heart is broken
Never more shall words be said
Because you see my lover's dead
[curtain]
SCENE 8 - Hell
[enter Jack Sheppard]
JACK
Well this is a rum place and no mistake.
[enter Swift Nick, the Devil]
JACK
Strewth it's Old Nick hisself
NICK
Come now Jack the lad
Admit you've had your day
The life you led was bad
and now you've got to pay
JACK
I suppose there's no more left to say.
NICK
Not really. You've just got to accept your lot. That's all anybody's got.
JACK
Do you always talk in rhyme?
NICK
Not all of the time
and now to your crime
Oh Jack you did not learn
so now you have to burn.
JACK
Things don't look too good do they? An eternity being roasted by a rhyming devil. My eye. Ah well, goodbye.
[curtain]
SCENE 9 - Heaven
[enter Jack Sheppard]
JACK
You didn't think I'd stay down there did you? There's no place can hold me. So I came up to heaven. Picked the lock of the pearly gates didn't I.
So this is heaven eh? Nice garden ..... but it needs something.
[scenery - angels descending]
My eye. that's more like it. I think I'm going to like it here.
[sings]
Jack Sheppard is me name and thieving was me game
and I increased my fame year by year
There's plenty I can tell cos I've seen both Heaven and Hell
Now with the angels I shall dwell
over here
[curtain]
THE END
