Marching Men - A Drama

by David Edgren

Props

4 chairs

Characters
Inventor
Narrator
4 Marching Men (MM1, 2, 3 & 4)

Set Up
Four chairs sit next to each (Dressed like toy soldiers)
other facing the audience
Inventor stands at one end of chairs

Sketch

Narrator: “Once upon a time there was an inventor who loved to create fantastic contraptions. Over his lifetime he had completed many unique inventions and had many patents to his name. As the crowning effort of his career he invented four Marching Men.”

Marching Men come in from side of stage singing, “Oh we’re marching, marching, marching. Oh we’re marching, marching, marching. Etc...” and march in a circle around the chairs and the inventor. Each time a Marching Man passes the Inventor he yells out the number of times that he has went around the chairs.
Just before they get to the number six the inventor steps into their path and faces them. When the first man reaches the inventor he halts abruptly and yells, “SIX!” The man behind him runs into his back, yells, “SIX!” and stops. The other two do the same.

Inventor: (to MM1) “You’ve been working hard. Would you like to take a rest?”


MM1: (Shouts) “I was made for marching and marching is what I shall do!” MM1 does a 45 degree soldier turn to face audience and then takes one stiff legged step forward.

Inventor: (to MM2) “You’ve been working hard. Would you like to take a rest?”

MM2: (Shouts) “I was made for marching and marching is what I shall do!” MM2 does a 45 degree soldier turn to face audience and then takes one stiff legged step forward.

Inventor: (to MM3) “You’ve been working hard. Would you like to take a rest?”

MM3: “Yes, actually I would.”

Inventor: “Please take a seat.”
MM3 sits in third chair.

Inventor: (to MM4) “You’ve been working hard. Would you like to take a rest?”

MM4: (Looks a bit confused with the situation and then resolutely shouts) “I was made for marching and marching is what I shall do!” MM4 does a 45 degree soldier turn to face audience and then takes one stiff legged step forward.


The inventor goes around behind MM3 and begins rubbing his shoulders while the other three continue marching and singing. (They should take longer to make the lap than normal and yet seem to be marching harder - lift knees higher and take smaller steps) As they pass by MM3 the inventor prods him to join the group again. He jumps into his position between MM2 and MM4. As they get to the end of the lap they each yell “SEVEN!”

The Marching Men keep marching but begin counting at “ONE!” again. The exact same scenario as above is done again until the “SEVEN!” is reached.

On the third ‘week’ as they are marching MM4 falls over dead on lap two, MM1 dies on lap three, MM2 dies just before completing lap five. MM3 continues marching until “SIX!” and then the inventor stops him.

Inventor: “You’ve been working hard. Would you like to take a rest?”

MM3: “Yes, thank you” and sits in chair.

Inventor begins rubbing MM3’s shoulders. After a few seconds MM3 turns to Inventor and speaks.

MM3: “What happened to my friends?”

Inventor: “They all ran out of stamina and their systems shut down.”

MM3: “Why didn’t you make them rest?”

Inventor: “I made all four of you to march. Rest was only a gift that I offered you. You were not required to take it, only to know that it was available. The freedom to choose was left to each of you.”

MM3: “Well, if they died, how long will I live?”

Inventor: “At the rate your going, I reckon you’ll live forever.”

Scene freezes for five seconds. All five actors leave stage together.

THE END