A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Vampire Cat of Nebeshima

Short Play, Drama  /  1w, 8m, 1any gender (youth)

A Demon Cat kills the Princess O Toyo and assumes her shape in order to suck the blood of Prince Hizen. Will Prince Hizen be able to stay awake and defend himself?

The Vampire Cat of Nebeshima

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 8m, 1any gender (youth)
  • Duration
    Duration
    30 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Adaptations (Literature), Fables/Folktales, Period
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences, Adult, Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13)

Details

Summary

The Vampire Cat of Nabeshima tells of a Demon Cat who kills the Princess O Toyo and assumes her shape in order to suck the blood of Prince Hizen. As the Prince grows weaker, the Chief Priest warns that the Prince must be being visited at night by a demon and orders guards to keep watch over the Prince at night. While the other guards fall asleep under the spell of the Demon Cat, Ito Soda manages to keep himself awake by stabbing himself in the thigh with a knife and twisting it whenever he feels the urge to sleep. By doing so, he is able to confront and slay the Demon Cat.

Published in Three Japanese Ghost Stories.

History
The Vampire Cat of Nabeshima is one of the plays in Three Japanese Ghost Stories, which premiered at The Cleveland Play House. It was directed by Leslie Swackhamer.
NARRATOR
PRINCE HIZEN
PRINCESS O TOYO - his wife
RETAIER
CAT
CHIEF COUNCILOR ISAHAYA BUZEN
GUARD
CHIEF PRIEST RUITEN
DOCTOR
  • Time Period 19th Century
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Duration 30 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $65 per performance

Scripts

Available Formats:

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Authors

David F. Eliet

David F. Eliet is a professional playwright, director, and theatre educator. He was the founding artistic director of The Perishable Theatre, director of the Cleveland Play House Lab Company and the Circle In The Square Suitcase Theatre and Acting Ensemble. He was the a co-f ...
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