PROLOGUE

Evanston, Illinois, in the New World.

Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS When audiences ’round the globe appear,

Desiring stories of a woman’s fate,

Our playwright answereth the calling clear,

Preparing ample banquet for your plate.

This tale of lasses takes us unto school

With many shrewish girls and boyish asses,

Wherein they make mistakes and play the fool,

And learn hard lessons far beyond their classes.

To this fey story make I introduction—

Which shows us Cady Heron’s youthful age—

Her narrative unfolds in our production

In these few hours upon our simple stage.

I, prologue-like, your humble patience pray,

Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.

[Exit.