by T. James Belich
| Genre: | Folk tale |
| Length: | 35 minutes |
| Total Cast: | 8 (2 women, 6 men or women) – Doubling possible |
| Set: | Minimal |
| Suggested Royalties: | $30-35 per performance |
| Performance Rights: | Contact T. James Belich at James@playwrighting.org |
Based on a folk tale from India, this story tells of a poor Brahman who learns that, truly, no good deed goes unpunished. In an act of mercy he frees a Tiger from a cage only to become destined for the starving beast's next dinner. The Brahman's pleas for his life only secure a promise from the Tiger to abide by the decision of an outside judge. In vain the Brahman searches for someone sympathetic to his cause, but he is rebuffed as a self-serving fool first by the Buffalo, then by the Sacred Fig Tree, and lastly by the Road. When a foolish Jackal offers to help, the desperate Brahman soon finds himself at wit's end explaining the situation to the dim-witted beast, his only hope of escaping the jaws of the impatient Tiger!
View full script (PDF format)
Production History
The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal was first performed by the Hodge-Podge Players in the Twin Cities, Minnesota on June 12th, 13th, and 14th, 2003. It was directed by Jaron Burdick with the following cast:
| THE FARMER | Emily Swora | |
| THE TIGER | Kevin Whitby | |
| THE HUNTER | Thomas Leeper | |
| THE BRAHMAN | Justin Adelmann | |
| THE BUFFALO | Sandy Carlson | |
| THE SACRED FIG TREE | Katherine Juul | |
| THE ROAD | Carl O'Brian | |
| THE JACKAL | Katrisa Bohne |