Prompt # 111: SNUFKIN
CHARACTERS
Snufkin: a free-spirited character in the Moomintroll world
Interviewer
SETTING
Two chairs in a TV talk show set
At Rise:
The Interviewer is seated and the other chair is empty.
INTERVIEWER
Good evening. Tonight our special guest is Snufkin, known to Moomintroll fans as the enigmatic, free-spirited wanderer. Snufkin spends summers with the Moomins, and when they get ready to hibernate, he goes south. What does he do in the winter, and where does he go? These are questions that—perhaps—we’ll hear the answers to. Please welcome our guest, Snufkin.
(Snufkin enters. Interviewer rises, they shake hands, sit.)
INTERVIEWER
Welcome, Snufkin. I must say it’s a delight to meet you in person. I’ve read so much about you.
SNUFKIN
I imagine.
INTERVIEWER
Well, the question tonight on everyone’s mind is: Where do you go in the winter, when the Moomins are hibernating?
SNUFKIN
Here and there.
INTERVIEWER
We all know that the coast of Finland is cold in the winter, which is why the Moomins hibernate. I assume that, not being a Moomin, you prefer a warmer climate in winter?
SNUFKIN
Yes.
INTERVIEWER
I can see that you’re not eager to reveal your secret. I expect you’d be overwhelmed with your fans if they knew where you were.
SNUFKIN
Maybe. Maybe not. It depends.
INTERVIEWER
On what?
SNUFKIN
On the fan. On where I decide to be.
INTERVIEWER
I see. Well, can you tell us what you do?
SNUFKIN
Maybe.
INTERVIEWER
Do you live in your tent? Do you fish? Do you play your mouth organ?
SNUFKIN
Yes.
INTERVIEWER
I understand that you compose new tunes on your mouth organ. Do you compose while you are in the south?
SNUFKIN
It depends.
INTERVIEWER
On what?
SNUFKIN
On the tune.
INTERVIEWER
Do you have your mouth organ with you?
SNUFKIN
Yes.
INTERVIEWER
Could you delight our audience with a tune?
SNUFKIN
Maybe. It depends.
INTERVIEWER
(Exasperated.)
On what?
SNUFKIN
Do they know how to listen?
INTERVIEWER
(To audience.)
Do you know how to listen?
AUDIENCE
Yes.
SNUFKIN
All right then.
(Takes mouth organ from his pocket and plays a tune. As he plays, the interviewer stands and begins to dance, eventually dancing down into the audience. They form a chain and dance out of the theater. Snufkin keeps playing until they are all gone, then puts his mouth organ in his pocket and exits.)
GladErrand 