Butterfly in the Tomato Plant by Tara Meddaugh: New 30-second children's dramatic monologue
If you’re looking for a short children’s monologue with a dramatic bent, consider my monologue, Butterfly in the Tomato Plant. It is a challenge to perform (or write) a monologue which shows arc and range in 30 seconds but rewarding to explore. In Butterfly in the Tomato Plant, Nicole observes an injured butterfly, bullied by the same children who had bullied her the previous day (they ripped her backpack and now they have ripped the butterfly’s wings). She reflects on her own desire to have wings and escape bullies, but then realizes the butterfly’s wings did not end up saving it. She decides to take the butterfly home to care for it in a windowsill plant she has been nurturing herself.
While sometimes a person who is bullied may continue the cycle by bullying someone else who appears less threatening, it is heartening when those who are bullied find the strength to break the cycle—when they might find someone less threatening, and encourage them, build them up, support and strengthen them (and in so doing, strengthen themselves). To all of those children who face bullying, you may feel alone, but know that you are not. Know also, that I, for one, admire you and your courage. Rise above the cycle, stay strong and know your experiences today may lead to helping someone else tomorrow (or maybe even some great theater!). Love to all of you!
Butterfly in the Tomato Plant was originally Commissioned by American Pageants.
(Click here for other monologues dealing with the topic of bullying)
EXCERPT BELOW
_____________________
NICOLE
Oh…
Little Butterfly…
They ripped your wing…
Didn’t they? Those kids…
They’re in my class but they are not nice kids. They ripped my bag yesterday too. My mom sewed it up, but you can still see the hole. I thought if I had wings—END OF EXCERPT
Click below for the complete digital copy of the 30-second monologue, Butterfly in the Tomato Plant.