Read the play The King of Sharks: Scene 1

Princess is swimming in the ocean, singing.

Narrator: Once, long ago, there lived a beautiful princess on the island of Hawai'i. She loved the ocean, and every morning, she swam in the warm water. While she swam, she sang songs about her love for the deep, blue water and her gratitude for the gentle waves.

Princess: Oh, how I love the ocean. I never want to live anywhere else. If I could not see the beauty of the blue water or hear the sound of the waves, my heart would break.

Princess sees a huge shark fin approaching. Frightened, she swims for shore.

Narrator: One day, the king of the sharks heard the princess's song. Enchanted by her voice and her love for the ocean, he decided that he must meet her. Seeing how frightened she was of his true form, the shark king transformed himself into a human, with a magical cloak of scales in all the colors of the sea.

Princess watches in amazement as a prince in a cloak of many-colored scales steps out of the water and offers her his hand.

Shark King: Dearest Princess, I am so pleased to finally meet you. I have heard your songs many times, and I, too, love the ocean. It is my home.

Princess: Please, come with me to meet my family. They will be amazed to see you.

Exit princess and shark king.

Scene 2

Princess sits by a deep pool on the beach. Large home built into a cliff face is behind her. She holds a baby on her lap. In the pool, a large shark circles.

Narrator: After some time, the shark king and the princess were married. They lived together happily, and they had a son. Sadly, the enchantment that made the shark king human could not last forever.

Shark king emerges from the pool in human form. He removes his cloak and lays it at the princess's feet.

Shark King: My dearest one, I must return home to the ocean now. I will leave this magical cloak for our son. Whenever he wears it, he will be safe from all harm. One day, he will come to find me in his true home, under the waves.

Shark king jumps back into the pool and disappears down into its depths. The princess wraps the baby in the cloak.

What is the theme of scenes 1 and 2 of the play The King of Sharks?

Select one:
a. Appearances can be deceiving.
b. Cloaks provide vital protection.
c. Enchantements do not last forever.
d. Singing is a lovely form of expression.