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Checkmate - Chess in the Classroom | Educational Chess Activites for Students

Back to Lesson 4

 

Checkmate 

Skits

 

The Princess Bride

by Joseph, Thomas, Laura, and Diana

 

Setting:  an English village called Stonebridge in the year 1512

Characters:

Princess Gwen

King George

Queen Victoria

Prince John

Prince William

Prince Charles

Wizard

Servant

Music: from the Medieval Times web page plays in the background.

 

 

Scene 1 - The royal palace of King George

Scenery: The stage is set with two thrones.

(King George and Queen Victoria are seated on their thrones in the royal throne room).

King: Madam, our beautiful daughter, Princess Gwen, is nigh upon seventeen years. It is time for her to marry.

Queen: Yes, my liege, we must find a suitable bridegroom for our lovely Gwen. What qualities should the bridegroom possess?

King: It is important for him to be clever and wise. The prince that our daughter marries shall one day rule a kingdom. Her must rule wisely.

Queen: What about qualities such as strength and courage?

King: My queen, strength and courage are needed in our son-in-law. But it most important that the prince who marries our Gwen is clever and wise. We do not wish a son-in-law who will squander away our fortune or make bad decisions and decrees that result in the loss of our kingdom.

(speaking to servant) Summon my royal wizard.

Servant: Oh royal wizard of Stonebridge.

(The royal wizard enters)

Wizard: Your majesties, how may be of service?

King:  Good sir, it is time to find a proper suitor for the hand of Princess Gwen. How shall we determine which suitors are clever and wise? It is your duty to devise a method of determining the cleverness of the suitors who will wish to marry the lovely Princess Gwen.

Wizard: I shall consult my crystal ball? Aha, we shall have a joust. Surely, it takes a clever squire to win a joust. Your highness shall knight the squire and he shall marry Princess Gwen.

Queen: No, no, no! That will not do. A joust merely tests strength and courage. What plan have you to determine a suitor's wisdom and cleverness?

Wizard: I shall consult my crystal ball again. Aha! I have it. We shall hold a chess tournament. Surely, it takes a wise and clever man who can use the best strategies to win a chess tournament.

King: So let it be. Devise a plan to spread the word to all of the eligible princes in our kingdom to come to the castle in a fortnight for the royal chess tournament.

Wizard: I shall do so. My trusty parrot shall fly across the kingdom with this decree, "All who choose to vie for the hand of the lovely Princess Gwen, meet at the castle of Stonebridge in one fortnight."

(The parrot flies out the throne room window). Curtain closes.

 

 

Scene 2 - The royal throne room

Scenery: The stage is set with three thrones, a bridge table and two chairs.

(The King, Queen, and Princess Gwen sit upon their thrones).

Servant: Your royal majesties, the suitors enter anon.

(Prince John enters and bows before the royal family).

Prince John: Your royal majesties. I have traveled long and far. I wish to compete for the hand of Princess Gwen.

King:  Grammercy. How now good prince? What be thy tide?

Prince John: I am called Prince John.

King: Be seated at the chess table.

(Prince William enters and bows before the royal family).

Prince William: Your majesties. I have traveled long and far. I wish to compete for the hand of Princess Gwen.

King: Good day. Hail and well met. What be thy tide?

Prince William: I am Prince William.

King: Be seated at the chess table.

Prince John: Good day, my lord. Prepare to lose.

Prince William: Good day, my good man. I shall prepare to win.

(The two princes have a mock chess game. Each opponent announces his chess moves).

Prince William: (announces triumphantly) I have won. I have proven my wisdom and cleverness!

Prince John: Fare thee well. I must away.

Princess Gwen: (addresses Prince William) Hail and well done. Prithee, approach my throne so that I may look upon you.

Prince William: (approaches and kneels before the princess) Do I please you, my princess?

Princess Gwen: Aye.

King: Prince William, you must now compete against Prince Charles for my daughter's hand.

Servant: Prince Charles arrives.

Prince Charles: Good day, your majesties. I have traveled long and far to compete for the hand of the princess.

King: Good morrow, good sir. Be seated at the chess table.

Prince Charles: I shall have the princess's hand. Prepare to lose.

Prince William: I shall prepare to win, good fellow.

(The two princes have a mock chess game. Each opponent announces his chess moves).

Prince William: (announces triumphantly) I have won. I have proven my wisdom and cleverness! Now I shall have the hand of Princess Gwen. (William bows before the king and queen). May I have the honor of marrying the beautiful Princess Gwen?

King and Queen: Well done, good fellow! You may marry the princess.

Prince William: (bowing before Princess Gwen) My lovely princess. Would you accept my marriage offer?

Princess Gwen: You are truly wise and clever. I shall be your bride.

King and Queen: Welcome to our royal family.

(The curtain closes with the sound of wedding bells ringing).

 

 

The Lord Of The Land

by Man li, Jacob, Myeshia, and Andrea

Setting: Perth , a kingdom in rural England. It is the year 1215.

Characters:

Lord Manfred

Lord Rowland

Lady Elizabeth

Lady Mary

Squire John

Bishop Thomas

Town Crier

Jousting Judge

Crowd

Music: Music from a Camelot Street Village plays in the background.

 

Scene 1 -The manor of Lord Manfred

Scenery: The stage is set with a table and chairs around it. Plates and bowls of food are on the table.

(Lord Manfred and Lady Elizabeth are seated at the breakfast table eating their pottage. The town crier enters, holding a scroll).

Town Crier: Pardon me, your lordship. Pardon me, your ladyship. I bring a document from the castle at Perth.

Lord Manfred: Good morrow. Hand it to me, my good man.

(The crier hands Lord Manfred the scroll and exits).

Lady Elizabeth: Prithee read it aloud, dear husband.

Lord Manfred: A notice from the hand of the royal solicitor of Perth. To all lords of Perth. We are saddened by the demise of our good King Reggie. As you know, good King Reggie, died, leaving no heirs to the throne and therefore we have no king to protect us. We shall therefore, have to hold a joust to find the braves and most daring of lords to become our next king. A royal joust shall be held at the castle fields on the dawn of the day of the next new moon. All wishing to compete, report to the joust with your armor, lances and seconds.

Lady Elizabeth: I do wish so much to be Queen of Perth. Oh, husband, you must compete in the joust.

Lord Manfred: Yes, good wife, I shall compete.

Scene 2 - The manor of Lord Rowland

Scenery - The stage is set with a table and chairs around it. Plates and bowls of food are on the table.

(Lord Rowland and Lady Mary are seated at the dinner table eating their leg of mutton. The town crier enters, holding a scroll.

own Crier: Pardon me, your lordship. Pardon me, your ladyship. I bring a document from the castle at Perth.

Lord Rowland: Prithee, give it here, man.

(The crier hands Lord Manfred the scroll and exits).

Lady Mary: Oh good sir, pray, read it aloud.

Lord Rowland: A notice from the hand of the royal solicitor of Perth. To all lords of Perth. We are saddened by the demise of our good King Reggie. As you know, good King Reggie, died, leaving no heirs to the throne and therefore we have no king to protect us. We shall therefore, have to hold a joust to find the braves and most daring of lords to become our next king. A royal joust shall be held at the castle fields on the dawn of the day of the next new moon. All wishing to compete, report to the joust with your armor, lances and seconds.

Lady Mary: I do wish so much to be Queen of Perth. Oh, husband, you must compete in the joust.

Lord Rowland: Yes, good wife, I shall compete.

Scene 3 - The castle jousting field

(The crowd is seated on benches or chairs as if in an arena. The jousting judge is on stage. Lord Rowland and Lord Manfred enter, holding their lances). Hobby horses are positioned on either side of the stage. The crowd cheers).

Lord Manfred: So you wish to be king, good Rowland.

Lord Rowland, Aye, and I shall!

Lord Manfred: You shall have to run through me first!

Lord Rowland: Aye, and I shall.

Jousting Judge: On your mounts. Get to your positions, good lords.

(Lord Rowland and Lord Manfred mount their horses, position their lances, and face each other from opposite sides of the stage).

Jousting Judge: Let the joust begin!

(The two jousters gallop towards each other. Lord Manfred is knocked off his horse. The crowd cheers).

Jousting Judge: Sir Rowland wins. Long live the new king, King Rowland.

(Lord Rowland removes his gauntlet to raise his hand in victory and reveals a crown shaped birthmark).

Bishop: (The bishop comes forth and holds up Lord Rowland's hand to examine the birthmark). The royal birthmark! This is the true heir to the throne. Long live King Rowland! (The bishop places the royal crown on Rowland's head).

Crowd: Long live King Rowland!

 

Back to Lesson 4

 

 

 

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