The Barber of Baghdad

Rosie read an interesting skit in her reading book yesterday. The story was so amusing everyone decided to act it out in the afternoon.


Once there was a poor woodcutter who owned one donkey. This donkey happened to be very cute. (The physical appearance of the donkey was not included in the original script, but I thought I should clarify it just in case).

Ali the barber offers the woodcutter 5 shekels for all the wood on his donkey's back. When the woodcutter agrees, Ali forces him to hand over his wooden pack saddle as well, since it was wooden and on the donkey's back.

The woodcutter then goes to the just and wise ruler of the land, the mighty Cala. She listens to the woodcutter's tale with sympathy (as did her servant) and whispers a plan in the woodcutter's ear.

A few days later the woodcutter returns to Ali and asks how much it will cost to shave him and his companion. Personally I think "he" should have asked for a haircut, but that is beside the point. Ali agrees to shave the woodcutter and 'his' companion. He first shaves the woodcutter. He had quite the beard going on.

However, when Ali asks to see the woodcutter's companion, he brings in his donkey! Ali is furious and refuses to even touch the beast, much less shave him.

The woodcutter returns to Cala, who summons Ali. When she asks why he refused to shave the woodcutter's companion after he had agreed to do so, Ali asks, "Who ever heard of a donkey for a companion?" Cala counters, "And who ever heard of including a pack saddle in all the wood on a donkey's back?" She then orders Ali to shave the donkey in the royal court, with all the whole crowd watching.

Ali does so, much to his embarrassment, and much to the amusement of the bystanders. Ali runs off in shame and the court cheers for the just and wise Cala. Close curtain.

There you have it, folks! The tale of the barber of Baghdad as acted by the cute donkey, the heavily bearded woodcutter, the ever conniving barber, the faithful and one earringed servant and the just and wise Cala. Until next time!