INTRODUCTION

The act play ‘CARE FOR MOTHER EARTH’ is set in a traditional Naga village surrounded by
dense forests and pristine rivers. The story is inspired by Naga folklore, reflecting the deep
connection between the Naga people and their natural surroundings. The play focuses on the
relationship between humans and nature, exploring theme of environmental stewardship,
community responsibility and the consequences of neglecting mother earth. The play features a
wise village elder, a mischievous young boy and several villagers, who learned valuable lessons
about caring for the natural environment.

With the guidance of the wise elder Awo Shomi, a series of humorous encounters unfold that
changes the villagers perspective, this one act play brings a heartfelt message about the
importance of respecting and caring for nature.

CHARACTERS

 Awo Shomi: an elderly village story teller whose voice carries the wisdom of generation
 Kasa: a headstrong young boy who loves mischief.
 Lily: a compassionate young woman
 Afo: an elderly old village woman
 Muko: a jolly hungry villager with a knack for clumsy antics
 Thrapu: the stern village head deeply concerned about forest
 Group of villagers: 1-5 persons
 Spirit of Mother Earth: a mystical presence who appears when the forest and the nature
is in danger
 Handmaidens: spirits that accompanies and serves the spirit of mother earth (3-4
persons)
ACT PLAY
The stage opens to a bustling evening scene in the village square. Villagers set around a
crackling fire. The aroma of cooked rice wafts through the air. Awo Shomi, the village elder sets
in the centre with the villagers preparing to share one of his famous tales.

AWO SHOMI: (clearing his throat) gather around children and listen well. Tonight I, tell the
tale of the forest that we call home, the forest that gives us life, but lately, I fear the forest is
troubled…..long ago, before our ancestors built their homes the land was pure and sacred. The
rivers flowed like silver snakes, and the trees stood tall, reaching for the sky. The spirit of mother
earth blessed us with all we needed, but lately, I have seen the forest cry and the rivers murmur
in pain……(the actor can even add his own words however with the sediments of traditional
tone)

The villagers lean in a closer, intrigued, Kasa however is perched on a nearby corner away
from the group, half listening as he tries to intimate a bird call.

KASA: (whispering loudly to himself) koktui koktui who needs a boring stories when you can
spent a good time alone (giggles mischievously)

LILY: Kasa come here before the evil spirits comes to possess you, they love to haunt those who
loves to stay alone.

(A strange rustling sound in the bushes behind him scared he jumped up and join the
group, the villagers laughs and Kasa with a mischievous grin comes and joins the group)

MUKO: (laughing) chicken heart kasa even the rustling of the leaves could give you a mini
heart attack. (all villagers laughs at kasa)

KASA: phah! I’ll rather fight a evil spirit than listen to another one of these boring awo shomi
stories about curses and spirits.

Awo shomi not to hear kasa’s comment continues his story

AWO SHOMI: long ago the forest was young, the spirit of mother earth watched over every
tree, every leaves, every river, she loved those who cared for her, but those who were greedy
well…, they learned the hard way.

MUKO: (dramatically) Awo Shomi was ittrue that once, a man who cut down too many trs turns
into a monkey? I think I see his grand children swinging around in the jungle these days!

(the crowd erupts into laughter and kasa always quick to jumps in and adds his own joke)

KASA: Muko if he was anything like you he probably ate all the bananas first
(more laughter, Awo Shomi smiles but quickly turns serious)

AWO SHOMI: (with a deep breath) children, laugh all you want but even jokes carry seeds of
truth, the forest is angry. Just yesterday I found many trees cut down and no saplings were
planted in their place. This is not our way.

THRAPU: (sternly) Kasa, it was you weren’t it? I saw you and your friends wondering the
forest with axe bigger than yourself.

KASA: (defensively) can we not cut down trees? What’s a tree here and there are so many!

While he was speaking strong winds blows, the atmosphere becomes tense and mysterious.
The villagers look around confused and nervous.

AFO: the forest feels alive tonight

KASA: (scared) what’s happening

TRAPU: (anxious and curious) why did the environment around us changes so suddenly.

AWO SHOMI : (wondering) have I told you? Umm… I haven’t, but this is so strange! When I
was a small child like you, the spirit of mother earth once appeared before our ancestors and this
is exactly the signs of her coming. I think she is here again.

The spirit of mother earth a beautiful yet formidable figure appears from the shadows, her
presence commanding and ethereal surrounding by her handmaidens with incense and
natural entities

SPIRIT OF MOTHER EARTH: (in a commanding echoing voice) you who take and take,
listen to my words. You forget that the forest breathes for you, the rivers and the birds sings for
you, you forget that when you hurt the earth you hurt the spirit of mother earth.

The entire villager is wide eyed and silent. The spirit moves around gracefully among them
and kasa wide eyed stumbles scared

SPIRIT OF MOTHER EARTH: and who dares to speak lightly of my children, the trees? Who
among you forgets that every leaf has a song, every branch a story.

All the villagers’ looks at kasa, and kasa looks confused looking around

KASA: (stammering) I-I didn’t mean to- uh! I mean, I was just!

MUKO: (half whispering to kasa but loudly enough to hear) HOI! Quick you monkey, propose
and apologize to her; maybe she will leave us alone! Fast…..

A repple of nervous laughter breaks the tension, but the spirit remains silent an serious
SPIRIT OF MOTHER EARTH: your jokes are many, but your actions are few. Know this; if
you do not respect the forest, your village will find itself barren and cold, like a tree without
roots, where the rivers no longer flow and trees no longer grow, nor birds sings. Let this be a
warning to you all.

A gust of wind swept through and the spirit vanishes as she quickly appeared, silence falls
over the group- all eyes on Kasa.

AWO SHOMI: (softly and breaking the silence) you see, Kasa, the forest hears everything, it
gives, but it can also take away. Will you wait for it to take away, or will you give back while
there is still time.

MUKO: see you stupid big head monkey, see what just happened and what you just did…

KASA looks around, seeing the concern on everyone’s faces. He finally understands the
gravity of the situation

AFO: (in a solemn tone) let me tell you something, children. Many moons ago, in a village not
far away from here, the people thought like Kasa. They took more than they could use, one rainy
season the rains came heavier than ever before. The trees that once held the soil together were
gone; the land could not hold the earth and began to slide. A great flood came down from the
mountain, carrying away their crops, their home….their lives.

The villagers grow silent as they listen intensely. Kasa curious edge closer and speaks up

KASA: (softly) and the people...what happen to them?

AFO: (with a sight0 many were lost. The river swept away everything they had, some fled but
they could never rebuild what was taken. The village was left in ruins, swallowed by the land
they had once taken for granted. And some said they saw the spirit of mother earth hovering in
the sky around the village.

A heavy silence falls over the group. The crackling of the fire seems louder as everyone
imagines the destruction the old woman described

AWO SHOMI: that is the consequence of forgetting our bond with mother earth. When we take
too much, we invite her wart. But if we care for her she will care for us in return.

KASA; (humbly) I I didn’t know. I am sorry. I’ll make it right, from tomorrow onwards ill start
planting trees and if I cut down one ill plant five more seeds and that’s a promise, but I am happy
that Muko didn’t get a heart attack…..

The villagers burst into laughter

LILY: (encouraging) and we will help you, kasa. We won’t let our village suffer the same fate.
THARPU: (resolute) from now on as the head of the village I declare we will care for the forest
as it cares for us. Not just in words but in deeds. And we will plant five seeds if we cut down one
tree.

AWO SHOMI: (rising slowly looking up at the sky) the moon is watching over us, like an old
friend lightning our paths and the stars they are the ancestors, shining their wisdom upon us. Its
time, my children to rest. The night calls us back to our homes, to dream under the protection of
the forest, but remember tomorrow, when the sun rises, we shall rise too, with strength in our
hearts and seeds in our hands. Now let us sleep for tomorrow we wake up as keepers of the earth.

(CURTAIN FALLS)

MORAL OF THE PLAY

The play teaches us that the earth is not merely a resource to be exploited but a living entity that
deserves dour respect and care. If we continue to act selfishly and harm the environment, we will
suffer the consequences. However, if we learn to live in harmony with nature and take only ehat
we need, the earth will continue to provide for us and future generation. It is a call to all to
recognize our role in preserving and nurturing the planet we call home.