The Banana Peel
| Category: | Physical Comedy & Slapstick |
|---|---|
| Category: | Absurdist / Nonsense Skits |
| Props: | Banana peel (real or fake) |
| Notes: | This is a classic slapstick skit about slipping on a banana peel - but with multiple people and escalating reactions. The slips should be exaggerated and comedic. Timing is everything! |
([Person 1] enters, walking confidently across stage.)
([Banana peel] is on the ground center stage.)
([Person 1] steps on banana peel, slips, flails arms, falls down.)
[Person 1:] OW! What was that?
(Looks down, sees banana peel.)
[Person 1:] A banana peel! Who left this here?
(Stands up, rubs their rear end, walks offstage grumbling.)
(Banana peel remains on ground.)
([Person 2] enters, walking while looking at phone, not paying attention.)
([Person 2] steps on banana peel, does an even bigger slip and fall, landing on their back.)
[Person 2:] WHOA!
(Lies there for a moment, dazed.)
[Person 2:] What happened?
(Sees banana peel, picks it up angrily.)
[Person 2:] Who puts banana peels on the ground?!
(Tosses banana peel aside - but it lands back in the same spot. Exits.)
([Person 3] enters, jogging across stage.)
([Person 3] steps on banana peel, does an elaborate slip - spins around, does the splits, falls forward.)
[Person 3:] (groaning) Oooohhh...
(Slowly gets up, holding back.)
[Person 3:] That's the third time today!
(Kicks banana peel off stage, but it somehow bounces back to the same spot. Exits limping.)
([Person 4] enters - should be an adult leader, walking very carefully, looking at the ground.)
[Person 4:] (cautiously) I heard there's a dangerous banana peel around here. I'm being very careful.
(Steps over the banana peel successfully.)
[Person 4:] (proudly) Ha! I didn't slip! I'm too smart for-
(Trips over own feet while gloating, falls down even harder than the others.)
[Person 4:] OW! I didn't even step on the peel!
(Stands up, looks at banana peel accusingly.)
[Person 4:] This is your fault somehow!
(Exits shaking fist at banana peel.)
([Person 5] enters - a custodian or janitor with broom and dustpan.)
[Janitor:] I've been getting complaints about a banana peel. Time to clean this up!
(Approaches banana peel carefully, bends down to pick it up with dustpan.)
[Janitor:] Got it!
(Stands up, holding banana peel in dustpan triumphantly.)
[Janitor:] Finally! No more people slipping!
(Takes one step, trips over own broom, falls down. Banana peel flies out of dustpan and lands back in the same spot.)
[Janitor:] (from the ground) You've got to be kidding me...
([Monkey] suddenly enters, casually walks over to banana peel, picks it up, peels it, eats the banana, throws the peel over shoulder, and exits.)
(New banana peel lands in the same spot.)
([Janitor] looks at new banana peel, then at audience.)
[Janitor:] I quit.
(Stands up and exits, leaving banana peel on stage.)
(Freeze. Blackout.)