Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
๐ Summary
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is a delightful and energetic children's play written by Kevin Kling, published in 1998 across 126 pages, which adapts the beloved picture book themes into a vibrant theatrical experience. The story centers around Lilly, an enthusiastic young mouse with a massive imagination, a zest for life, and an absolute adoration for her school teacher, Mr. Slinger. Lilly's world revolves around her glamorous career aspirations, her supportive family consisting of her mother, father, and baby brother Gibson, and her wonderful classroom environment where everyday learning is treated as a grand adventure. The central conflict of the play arises when Lilly acquires the ultimate treasure: a moisture-repellent, squeaking, purple plastic purse complete with working sunglasses and three shiny quarters. She is so enamored with her new possession that she simply cannot wait for designated sharing time to show it off to her classmates and her cherished teacher. Unable to contain her excitement, Lilly repeatedly interrupts classroom activities to display her purse, leading to a gentle but firm intervention by Mr. Slinger, who confiscates the purse until the end of the school day. Consumed by anger and hurt feelings, Lilly allows her frustration to overshadow her normally sunny disposition. Instead of accepting responsibility for disrupting the class, she draws a profoundly angry picture of Mr. Slinger and slips it inside his beloved purple purse before the school day concludes. When she gets home and discovers a kind note and a bag of tasty snacks from Mr. Slinger tucked inside her returned purse, Lilly experiences a wave of remorse. She realizes that her teacher is understanding, forgiving, and truly cares about her, prompting her to orchestrate a heartfelt apology. The play brilliantly explores themes of emotional regulation, impulse control, empathy, and the importance of making amends after acting out in anger. Through witty dialogue, theatrical flair tailored for young audiences, and charming characters, Kevin Kling captures the intense emotional rollercoaster of childhood. Young readers and theatergoers watch as Lilly navigates the heavy weight of regret and discovers how to mend a fractured relationship through sincerity and love. Ultimately, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse stands out as a touching and humorous exploration of forgiveness, proving that even when we make big mistakes, we can always make things right with those who care about us.
๐ฏ Key Lessons
โ๏ธ Pros & Cons
โ Pros
Captures the authentic emotional highs and lows of childhood
Engaging and humorous dialogue well-suited for young performers
Teaches valuable lessons about forgiveness and impulse control
Features memorable and lovable characters
โ ๏ธ Cons
May be too short for readers looking for an extensive novel
Requires theatrical imagination or staging to fully appreciate as a play
โ FAQ
Who wrote Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse? +
Kevin Kling wrote the play version published in 1998.
What is the format of this 1998 publication? +
It is a children's play spanning 126 pages.
Who is Lilly's favorite teacher? +
Mr. Slinger is Lilly's favorite teacher.
Why does Mr. Slinger take Lilly's purse? +
He takes it because Lilly keeps disrupting the class to show it off instead of waiting for sharing time.
How does Lilly try to make amends? +
Lilly apologizes sincerely and brings a special note and gift to show her remorse.
