"The Necklace" Reader's Theater, Maupassant's Classic Short Story

The Necklace is a cautionary tale written in 1884 by French writer Guy de Maupassant. It tells about a young woman who, despite having a very comfortable life, is discontent. Her desire to appear wealthier than she actually is comes at a great cost. The play was originally published in Read Aloud Plays: Classic Short Stories (Scholastic 2010). What makes it unique is that it’s told from the perspective of an aloof, French-speaking cat (Maupassant) and his goofy sidekick (Flaubert). Scholastic also published other “aged-up” versions (meaning they had me re-write it without the Disney-treatment), but this version remains among my most well-liked plays, even among older students. It’s a great story to talk about irony, plot, and moral. It includes parts for eight actors, and is best-suited for grades 4 through 8 as reader’s theater, radio drama/podcast, or short stage performance. It includes a bubble test and embedded discussion prompts.