Each Friday right before lunch a small group of LEAD staff perform a very special skit. The theme changes every week, but the basic idea stays the same: eating veggies is healthy for you and you can have fun while you do it!
Rotten Idea Theatre was first developed a few years ago by Youth Farm staffers Liz Schaterlee and Zoe Sommers-Haas. After taking a summer off, Lyndale LEAD decided to bring it back with the help of U of M Nutrition Intern Mollie O’Neil. Each week three of the LEAD staff take on acting roles like Weak Walter and Itchy Izzy.
Video would be so much better, but below are a few photos and the script from last Friday’s performance on potatoes.
Rahma, Nazeem, and Niani perform RIT: Potatoes with Mollie O'Neil looking on
Narrator: The Rotten Idea Theatre Proudly Presents…
Everyone: TA DAAhh (Everyone’s hands and arms go out)
Narrator: Rotten Idea Number 586 “Passing Up Potatoes”
Starring.. Lethargic Larry.
(The first character steps forward and does a quick gesture related to his/her character and/or a greeting)
Narrator: and Tummy Ache Tabitha
(The second character steps forward and does a quick gesture related to his/her character and/or a greeting)
Narrator: Scene 1: “Potatoes give you easy energy!”
Lethargic Larry enters really tired and has barely the energy to even stand up. He yawns frequently and keeps closing his eyes. Lethargic Larry questions the audience “I wonder why I am so tired? What can I do to fix this?” He gets so tired he has to sit down and nearly falls asleep.
The narrator comes up to Lethargic Larry and says “Here! Eat this Potato! It has lots of carbohydrates that are easy to digest and give you quick energy!” Lethargic Larry says “I guess I have not eaten for quite a while. So potatoes.. In the form of French fries? I like those!” The narrator responds “No, that makes potatoes unhealthy, just eating in plain roasted, or baked. You will get healthy, fast energy that way!” Lethargic Larry responds “Gross. No way!” The narrator responds “Fine suit yourself!” Lethargic Larry exits and passes out sleeping on the way out.
Everyone: TA DAAhh (Everyone’s hands and arms go out)
Narrator: Scene 2 “Potatoes keep your intestines healthy”
Tummy Ache Tabitha enters groaning about her stomach. She yells “My stomach! It hurts so bad!” She goes to the audience and says “I think it’s my intestines, how can I make it feel better? I have such a bad tummy ache!” Tummy ache Tabitha sits down defeated and grabs her stomach and continues to moan. The narrator goes up to her and offers her a potato “Here, eat this potato! It has antioxidants to keep your intestines healthy and not hurting!” Tummy Ache Tabitha replies “OOOh like a baked potato with lots of butter and cheese and sour cream and bacon and chives, and more bacon and…” The narrator
replies, “No! All that stuff make the potato unhealthy, how about a baked potato with just a little butter and some salt and pepper” Tummy Ache Tabitha replies “Ick, I only like my baked potatoes super-loaded.” The narrator replies “Ok, have a really bad tummy ache then” Tummy Ache Tabitha exits and falls over in pain grabbing her stomach.
Tummy Ache Tabitha
Everyone: TA DAAhh (Everyone’s hands and arms go out)
Narrator: Scene 3 “Yay for Potatoes!”
Lethargic Larry enters yawning and cannot keep his eyes open yelling “I’m so tired! I just be awake and full of energy again!” Tummy Ache
Tabitha enters groaning and grabbing her stomach and yells “I just want my tummy ache to go away and feel good again!” They go up to the audience and say “What can we do to feel better?” The narrator comes up to them and says “For the last time, I told you to eat a potato! It will make you both feel better!” Lethargic Larry responds “I guess I will give it a try.” He takes a bite and instantly wakes up and runs around screaming “I have energy! I have energy!”
Tummy Ache Tabitha says “Well it worked for him, I guess I will try it to.” She takes a bite and feels better at once. She says “My tummy ache is gone! I feel so good!” They both thank the narrator. The narrator responds “I told you so!” and they all walk off stage happy.
Everyone: TA DAAhh (Everyone’s hands and arms go out)