Six Canterbury Tales
by Eberle Thomas and Barbara Redmond

Play script.

Originally comissioned by Florida's Asolo Touring Theatre for high school performance, here is a lively comic adventure in which the characters tell and perform freely adapted versions of Chaucer's beloved "Wife of Bath's Tale," "Clerk's Tale," "Friar's Tale," "Manciple's Tale," "Franklin's Tale," and the "Pardoner's Tale."

Single set.

14th Century dress.

Cast of 4 men, 2 women.

Four pilgrims on their way to Canterbury have arrived at the Tabard Inn on a rainy evening in April 1385.

They are a Wife of Bath, a Nun, a Knight, and Geofreey Chaucer.

They are joined by two new arrivals who introduce themselves as a Miller and as a Plowman.

Over supper the Wife of Bath suggests that they should entertain each other by telling their favorite stories.

They proceed to do so, and the results are by turn amusing, moving, and revealing of the six characters... so revealing that the two latecomers are exposed as thieves.

One of the lawbreakers is driven from the Inn; the other is offered a measure of forgiveness and accepted as a pilgrim.

A favorite with high school actors and audience.