If Animals had Their Way

By Musette Morell

What might animals say if people truly listened? In Margaret's bedroom, the familiar boundaries between child and pet begin to shift as she hears the grievances of creatures whose lives are governed by human choices. A cat, a dog and a caged canary speak of confinement, chaining, exclusion from warmth and shelter, and the frustration of having their natural needs misunderstood. Their sharply different voices turn animal welfare into an immediate dramatic question: how would human treatment feel from the animal's side? Dialogue, songs and spoken verse give this children's stage play an unusually varied theatrical language. Comic animal voices sit beside the recurring musical idea of "If Animals Had Their Way", while a ballet of kittens and puppies brings movement and playfulness to the animals' appeal for freedom, exercise, comfort and companionship. Masks, costumes, moonlight, rain and performers moving on all fours create opportunities for imaginative staging without losing sight of the central relationship between human responsibility and animal need. Margaret's growing identification with the animals invites children to consider humane care through performance rather than instruction. The contrast between a bedroom, a verandah and a bird's cage keeps freedom and confinement visibly present, while species-specific complaints show that care cannot be reduced to food or ownership alone. Blending children's animal stories with music, movement and dramatic participation, the play encourages empathy for animals and closer attention to how they communicate discomfort, dependence and the desire for natural activity. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 937841866X
• ISBN13: 9789378418662
• Release Date: February 2027
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 22 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"