Corn Pollination
A One Act Play
By
Carol M.
Cast of Characters
Corn…………………………….….A sweet corn stalk
Tassel……………………………….A simple tassel at the top of a corn stalk
Silk………………………………… The silk on an ear of corn
Bee………………………………… A simple honeybee
Wind………………………………..A gentle summer breeze
TIME: Summer
SETTING: A garden
ACT ONE
SCENE1
(We see a patch of sweet corn growing in a garden)
CORN
Look at me, I am a corn plant. I swear, I grow an inch or more a day. I sure want to be knee high be the Fourth of July. In fact, with this good weather and this good dirt, I bet I can be thigh high by the Fourth of July. I just need to concentrate on growing.
(Light fades and a tiny bunny scurries across the stage to show the passage of time)
SCENE 2
(The corn is now tall and has a tassel on top and a tiny ear with silk forming.)
CORN
Wow. I sure am tall and look what I have on top. Tassels!
TASSEL
You should see the view from up here. It is marvelous. I can see over the fence. I can see the sky. I can see birds flying around.
SILK
Down here I can’t see nothing. Why am I even here?
(Light fades and another bunny hops across the sage.)
SCENE 3
(The lights come back up in the garden, and we see the Corn just as tall as ever.)
CORN
Hey, guess what I just figured out, Tassel.
TASSEL
Tell me, Corn, what did you just figure out?
CORN
I just figured out that you have pollen, Tassel, and if you send some pollen down to Silk, she’ll grow a great big ear of sweet corn and that’s what’s supposed to happen.
SILK
Yes! That’s what I need. I need some pollen. Send some pollen down here, Tassel.
TASSEL
Um, I don’t know how to do that. Do we need bees?
(Just then a bee flies by)
BEE
You don’t need us bees, Tassel. You need the wind!
(Light fades again.)
SCENE 4
(The lights come back up and we see the Corn swaying in a cool summer breeze.)
CORN
Oh, this swaying. I feel kind of sick.
TASSEL
You feel sick? You ought to be up here. I’m losing all my pollen in this wind. I can’t hold onto it any longer.
WIND
Yes, I’m sending the pollen down to the silk.
SILK
Weeeee. I’m pollinated. Oh, this is awesome. I am going to be the best ear of sweet corn ever. Keep sending that pollen, Wind!
(Light gradually fades as the corn continues to sway in the breeze .)
THE END
And that’s how corn is pollinated.
I notice the ear of corn never made an appearance. He gets eaten at the end, so that would make this play a tragedy–for the corn. Not for the gardener, of course.
So simply explained, but I am going to have to look at before the ear corn plants more closely to see that the tassel and silk are already there. The things I never think of.
Clapping. Corn is a class act. ~~Dee
I have never grown corn, but love to eat it!
Ahem! You forgot to mention that this is an adults only post…….