By Christopher Street

A retelling of the NIMH story which combines both elements from the movie and the book and written in the form of a Shakespearian play. Kudos to the author for his poetic talent and amazing ability to mimic Shakespeare's style very accurately.

Mrs. Brisby and the Rats of NIMH

a verse play in five acts,
written, in a rather bemused vein, by Christopher Street.

If Hamlet had been an animated mouse,
Othello a pastellèd man,
If Lear spake prose with whiskered nose
And painted eyes had Pan,
My plume I'd stay, I'd pawn that day
A pencil for my pen.

~ * ~

(un-)ANNOTATED EDITION.

The Characters

The widow BRISBY, a meadow mouse
Mr. AGES, an alchemist, Brisby's gruffish confidant and friend

JEREMY, a clownish Crow
A SHREW, greatly in need of some taming
NICODEMUS, wise ruler of the Rats
JUSTIN, the Rats' Captain of the Guard
JENNER, a Rat of high regard and a villainous traitor
SULLIVAN, Jenner's lackey

PATRICK, Nicodemus' clown
The OWL, wisest of all the Animals
Brisby's children, CYNTHIA, TIMOTHY, MARTIN, and TERESA
A FARMER
A MESSENGER
The Rats' PRIEST

Various RATS

Table of Contents
Introduction

Act One

• 1.1: In which Mrs Brisby makes an important call on Mr Ages:
  her small son Timothy is deathly ill
• 1.2: In which Mrs Brisby makes a friend: Jeremy, the crow
• 1.3: In which Martin irritates the shrew and his mother, and
  we learn that the planting is coming. Spring is no longer Timmy's
  saviour, but a masquerading villain
• 1.4: In which Mrs Brisby wakes to a unsettlingly quiet day,
  and learns to value her friendship more than her fear

Act Two

• 2.1: In which Mrs Brisby arrives at the Owl's house, and is
  curiously able to persuade the indifferent Owl into action
• 2.2: In which the shrew resignedly wreaks havoc on poor
  Timothy, and Martin's good shines through
• 2.3: In which we meet Jenner and Sullivan, on their way to
  the Council Hall, and Jenner lets the audience in on a little
  secret
• 2.4: In which the Owl has told Mrs Brisby everything she
  needs to save her family; well, at least where to find everything
  she needs to save her family. She happily returns home that
  night

Act Three

• 3.1: In which the shrew is humiliated, in which Mrs Brisby
  cannot stay set in one place, and in which a new day breaks to a
  measure of promise
• 3.2: In which Mrs Brisby is confronted by Mr Ages at the
  rosebush, and in which she meets Jenner and Justin, the Captain
  of the Guard of the mysterious Rats
• 3.3: In which the Rats hold their ill-delayed council
  meeting, and Jenner opens the frothy mare's floodgates
• 3.4: In which Brisby is confronted and then comforted by
  Patrick, who doubles as Nicodemus' son and his clown
• 3.5: In which Brisby finally comes to Nicodemus' chamber and
  first hears the story of the Rats of NIMH and her husband's
  death, and Patrick strikes the first chord in the night's
  doings

Act Four

• 4.1: In which all is achatter at the Brisby home sans Mrs
  Brisby, and Martin as always speaks the loudest of all
• 4.2: In which Nicodemus, Ages, Justin, Patrick and a priest
  make a rather large request of Mrs Brisby
• 4.3: In which, much to the shrew's distress, Mrs Brisby tells
  her family of her new task, and glows with joy
• 4.4: In which Mrs Brisby braves the farmer's house and again
  learns something of great importance
• 4.5: In which Mrs Brisby returns home to find Jeremy
  encumbered with a rather heavy burden: the shrew

Act Five

• 5.1: In which Mrs Brisby tells Ages something which reveals
  the immediate necessity of Nicodemus' plan
• 5.2: In which the Rats of NIMH move Mrs Brisby's house, but
  almost do not, and in which chaotic doings ensue
• 5.3: In which Justin delivers a eulogy for Nicodemus
• 5.4: In which the play comes to an end