The Monster That Ate 3B

by Randall Lewton

Published 1 March 1988

When the pupils of 9B (3B at the time the play was written) arrive in Italy on a cultural exchange visit, little do they realize that they are going to have to contend not only with a strange language, foreign food and a gang of Italian boys who seem intent on re- running World War II, but also a sea monster which has been terrorizing the town. With the help of their long-suffering teacher, the boys of 9B destroy the monster and even manage to reach a sort of d tente with the local youths.-Large flexible cast


In a suburban bedroom three boys Don, Bryn and Shaun, are "immersed in a world of fantasy, a world where good and evil meet in battle across a landscape of the imagination". Mean-while, on Wuldor, a parallel world, King Fruma is having a spot of bother with his wicked brother Snithan, and instructs his wizard, Dwimor, to protect his son, Prince Erfa.Large flexible cast

This take on the traditional Victorian melodrama is aimed at young performers and is a lot sillier than most other versions. Queen Victoria is just one addition to the usual list of characters. Mrs Lovett's automated pie-making machine, a riot in the madhouse at Peckham and a police chase involving most of the cast are among the many opportunities for slapstick and physical theatre. The well-known storyline is still in there somewhere but this is more 'Carry On' than Sondheim.-Large flexible cast