Building Fluency through Reader’s Theater World War I W C h a r a c t e r s o r ld W Alexis a Helmer: hospital lieutenant r I: In Flanders Fields I n F Cyril Allinson: Sergeant Major la n d e r s Robert Smith: wounded soldier F ie ld s Nurse field hospital nurse Hathaway: Dr. John Canadian doctor McCrae: Nurse Jillian: Dr. McCrae’s niece S u g a r m a n Dorothy Alexander Sugarman ■ TCM 11551 Quality Resources for Every Classroom Instant Delivery 24 Hours a Day Thank you for purchasing the following e-book –another quality product from Teacher Created Materials Publishing For more information or to purchase additional books and materials, please visit our website at: www.tcmpub.com For further information about our products and services, please e-mail us at: [email protected] To receive special offers via e-mail, please join our mailing list at: www.tcmpub.com/emailOffers 5301 Oceanus Drive Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1030 800.858.7339 FAX 714.230.7070 www.tcmpub.com World War I In Flanders Fields Dorothy Alexander Sugarman Associate Editor Creative Director World War I: Torrey Maloof Lee Aucoin Editor Illustration Manager/Designer In Flanders Fields Wendy Conklin, M.A. Timothy J. Bradley Editorial Director Cover Designer Story Summary Dona Herweck Rice Lesley Palmer Editor-in-Chief Cover Art Sharon Coan, M.S.Ed. Corbis Kryzsztof Slvsarczyk/Shutterstock, Inc. Editorial Manager The Library of Congress Gisela Lee, M.A. Dr. John McCrae is a Canadian doctor who enlists to Publisher run a field hospital during WWI. His dedication to his Rachelle Cracchiolo, M.S.Ed. country inspires his niece, Jillian, and she enlists to serve as a nurse at his hospital. The hospital staff, including a dedicated lieutenant named Alexis, struggles to keep up with the hospital’s demands. After helping and comforting a wounded soldier, Alexis leaves to get some sleep in the dugout. Unfortunately, the next morning, he is struck and killed by a German shell while trying to help another wounded soldier. Grieving the loss of Alexis, Dr. McCrae writes the famous poem, “In Flanders Fields,” and he and his staff contemplate “the war to end all wars.” Teacher Created Materials 5301 Oceanus Drive Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1030 http://www.tcmpub.com ISBN 978-1-4333-0551-1 © 2009 Teacher Created Materials, Inc. Reprinted 2013 2 33 Tips for Performing Tips for Performing Reader’s Theater Reader’s Theater (cont.) Adapted from Aaron Shepard • Don’t let your script hide your face. If you can’t see • If the audience laughs, wait for them to stop before you the audience, your script is too high. speak again. • Look up often when you speak. Don’t just look at • If someone in the audience talks, don’t pay attention. your script. • If someone walks into the room, don’t pay attention. • Talk slowly so the audience knows what you • If you make a mistake, pretend it was right. are saying. • If you drop something, try to leave it where it is until • Talk loudly so everyone can hear you. the audience is looking somewhere else. • Talk with feelings. If the character is sad, let your • If a reader forgets to read his or her part, see if you can voice be sad. If the character is surprised, let your read the part instead, make something up, or just skip voice be surprised. over it. Don’t whisper to the reader! • Stand up straight. Keep your hands and feet still. • Remember that even when you are not talking, you are still your character. 4 5 World War I: Act 1 Alexis Helmer: You learn to love the men you fight side by side In Flanders Fields with during a time of war. Your life depends on them, and their lives depend on you. They become your family. That’s the way I felt about Characters Dr. John McCrae, the leader of our battalion. Alexis Helmer Nurse Hathaway Cyril Allinson: I’m sure Dr. McCrae’s nightmares still haunt him. My nightmares still haunt me. I was the Cyril Allinson Dr. John McCrae Sergeant Major in his battalion and worked Robert Smith Nurse Jillian alongside Dr. McCrae and Lieutenant Alexis Helmer during those terrible days. Dr. McCrae referred to them as the “17 days in Hades.” Alexis Helmer: Dr. McCrae and I are both Canadian, and we Setting both love our country. What we went through together was unbearable. What we saw was unimaginable, and what we needed to do This reader’s theater takes place in various every day was impossible. I would have done anything for Dr. McCrae. hospitals during World War I. In the beginning, the scene is set at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Cyril Allinson: I know that going to war was not an easy Canada. Then, the action moves to a field hospital decision for Dr. McCrae. He is a doctor. He is in Ypres, Belgium. There is constant gunfire and a man of healing. But, he felt he owed it to his shells exploding outside, but occasionally the area country. quiets, and the staff enjoys the birds who sing in Flanders Field, a cemetery full of white crosses. 6 7 Robert Smith: I met Dr. McCrae because I was one of the Nurse Jillian: I remember my uncle running up to me in the thousands of wounded people he treated during hospital on that day. I could see he was terribly the war. worried about something. Nurse Hathaway: I worked as a nurse in that field hospital. I Dr. John McCrae: She knew Europe was on the brink of disaster, know how upset Dr. McCrae became during our but in her mind, what did that have to do with time there. He certainly had good reasons. Canada? What did that have to do with us? Robert Smith: We told one another everything during those Nurse Jillian: I had read the headlines, and I had a lot of days because we didn’t know how long we questions for him. What he said changed both would live, and we all craved close human of our lives forever. Come with me back in time contact. No one wants to be forgotten, and no and hear this story for yourself. one wants to die alone. Dr. John McCrae: I must speak with you now, Jillian. There is a Nurse Hathaway: I always wondered if Dr. McCrae was sorry that matter of grave urgency that is bound to change he made the decision to enlist. He told me how the world as we know it. Have you read the much he dreaded telling his niece, Jillian, that newspaper headlines today? Do you have any he had decided to do so. He wasn’t sure what idea of what’s happening? to say to her. He never expected the reaction he got. Nurse Jillian: I saw the newspaper headlines, Uncle. They say that a “Great War” is beginning in Europe Dr. John McCrae: I will never forget the day I told Jillian I was because of the “shot heard around the world.” going to join the war effort. I knew she would I know that the shot they are referring to is the be worried and upset by my decision, but one that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand. But believe me, I didn’t expect what happened I must tell you, I don’t understand. How could next. Jillian Turner was not just my niece. She the death of one man lead to a war? worked next to me every day as a nurse at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada. 8 9 Dr. John McCrae: That’s a good question, my dear. There is a Dr. John McCrae: That’s just the beginning, I’m afraid. Many great and terrible rivalry between the countries countries in Europe have formed alliances in Europe. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was next with their friends. They have signed treaties in line to be the king of Austro-Hungary. He promising to go to war for each other. Now, the was shot and killed during his visit to Serbia. different countries are acting on those promises Right away, the Austrians blamed his death on and are beginning to declare war. Europe is on the Serbian government. But, I think it was an the brink of disaster. At this point, things look excuse. The Austrians just wanted to declare war. very bleak. It looks like we will soon be in the war ourselves. Nurse Jillian: What do you mean, Uncle? Nurse Jillian: That’s ridiculous! Canada is so far from Europe. Why would we have to go to war Dr. John McCrae: Right after the incident, Austria sent a harsh because of Ferdinand’s death in Serbia? How ultimatum to Serbia. They blamed the Serbians did this happen? for Ferdinand’s death. Serbia did not want war. They wrote back, claiming that the government was innocent. The letter said that a private Dr. John McCrae: Think of it as a raging fire that quickly got out of citizen had performed the assassination. control. Once Germany and Austria declared war, they sent in troops to fight Serbia. Then, Russia sent in troops to protect Serbia. This Nurse Jillian: So, what you are saying is that Serbia tried to made Germany and Austria angry. They told cooperate with Austria, but it didn’t matter. Russia to stop. Russia said it would not. So, Germany and Austria declared war against Russia. Dr. John McCrae: You’re right. Austria was bent on going to war. Supported by its German ally, Austria declared war on Serbia. Nurse Jillian: But, what does that have to do with us? I still don’t understand. Nurse Jillian: That’s terrible! 10 11 Dr. John McCrae: Remember what I said about the treaties Nurse Jillian: What do you think will happen? between countries? France signed a treaty to fight with Russia. So, Germany and Austria declared war against France, too, and now Dr. John McCrae: It’s not what I think will happen. It’s what I France has asked England to join them. know will happen. With so many countries fighting in Europe, it will be a long and dangerous war. Nurse Jillian: Did England sign a treaty with France? Has England promised to join the war? Nurse Jillian: You are frightening me, Uncle. Dr. John McCrae: England hasn’t signed a treaty, so it doesn’t have to join France. But, something just Dr. John McCrae: I don’t mean to frighten you, but a great happened that changes everything. number of our people will be sent to fight. I’m afraid that many of them will be wounded or killed. I made an important decision today, Nurse Jillian: What is that? Jillian. It is a decision I knew might upset you, but I had to do it. Dr. John McCrae: Germany just attacked Belgium, and Belgium does not belong to any alliances. It is a neutral Nurse Jillian: What did you decide to do? country. This has made England angry. I guess England thinks that it can be attacked, too. So, today, England agreed to join the war effort Dr. John McCrae: I don’t feel right working at a hospital here against Austria and Germany. when many Canadians will be asked to sacrifice their lives over there. I have a duty to my country and my country needs me now. I Nurse Jillian: What does that mean for us? have decided to join the war effort. Today, I enlisted. As a doctor, I feel that I will be able to help save people on the battlefield. I hope you Dr. John McCrae: It is bad news, Jillian. Canada is a dominion understand and won’t argue. of the British Empire. When Britain is at war, Canada is also at war. 12 13 Nurse Jillian: Argue with you, Uncle? No, I’m actually Nurse Jillian: Please don’t try to dissuade me further, Uncle. moved by what you’ve said, and as always, I My mind is made up. Our country needs both think you did the right thing. I can’t stand to of us. Let’s not argue because it will just drain think of our countrymen wounded and dying in the strength we need for the mission before us. foreign lands. In fact, I’m sure that they’ll need I’m determined to join the war effort. I will nurses for the wounded soldiers. I think I will follow your lead. follow you, Uncle, and enlist as well. Dr. John McCrae: Well, if you insist on joining, I will go to the Dr. John McCrae: No, Jillian, I’m not going to let you risk your recruiting station with you. I will request that life. You could get wounded, or worse. you be assigned as one of my nurses. That way, even if I can’t protect you, at least I will be there with you. Nurse Jillian: Uncle, I can’t stay behind while this is happening. Don’t I have a duty to my country as well? Song: The Boys Who Fight for Freedom Dr. John McCrae: Jillian, please don’t do this. Nurse Jillian: As a nurse, I have taken an oath to save lives. Dr. John McCrae: You can keep your oath and still save lives in this hospital. It is far too dangerous for you. I have been assigned to the First Brigade in the Canadian Forces Artillery. My job will be to head a field hospital in Belgium in a place called Ypres. This is a place where great and terrible battles are being fought. 14 15