"AHDOOLO!" THE STORY OF MATTHEW HENSON

Teachers may use this material and adapt it to fit their curriculum needs.

SCENE FOUR:

NARRATOR THREE: One might picture that with the low temperatures near the North Pole, the ice there must be thick, hard and smooth. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The movement of currents under the icepack cause constant changes in it's surface. Small, steep mountains of ice, called "pressure ridges" well up blocking the path that Henson and Peary traveled.

NARRATOR ONE: ( This scene calls for the corn flake cereal to be used. The cereal should be placed on each member of the audiences chairs before they arrive.) Please take out your bags of cereal and squeeze them to crush the cereal. The sound you are hearing and feeling now, is how the ice felt under Henson's and Peary's feet as they traveled across the pitted and rutted Arctic in their pursuit. (Give the audience a few minutes to experience the sensation / simulation). (At this time Henson and Peary should be walking in slow motion headed for the Pole).

NARRATOR TWO: Once while trying to conquer more ground, Peary's feet became badly frostbitten, and he was unable to walk. Henson strapped Peary to his sled and in only 11 days brought him back to headquarters 250 miles away to the safety of a doctor. The doctor was forced to cut off all but the big toe on each of Peary's feet. ( This scene is where Henson and Peary stop walking in slow motion. Peary falls to the floor and shouts for Matt. Matt comes to the rescue and holds Peary's hand and assures him they will reach the Pole and he will deliver him to safety.)

NARRATOR FIVE: Matthew Alexander Henson saved Robert E. Peary's life on many occasions!

NARRATOR THREE: Despite this set back, Peary was determined to stay in the Arctic. Peary could not abandon his dream forever, and neither could Henson. ( Peary is still lying on the floor and Henson is kneeling beside him holding his hand) PEARY:  Matthew, you are invaluable to me. You are my greatest, most skillful assistant! Together, we will Go all the way. I can't make it without you. I thank you for saving my life! (At this point, Henson helps Peary on his sledge.)

SCENE FIVE:

NARRATOR FOUR: On March 01, 1909, Henson pointed his sledge North and under Peary's orders, started breaking the trail across the icepack toward the pole. Each man took one special possession...for Matt it was his bible. ( This scene is where Matt is beside his sledge and reaches in his pouch and pulls out his bible and shares it with Peary)

NARRATOR TWO: Each sledge carried 450 ponds of supplies, enough pemmican, biscuits, tea and a stove alcohol to last the driver and team for fifty days. ( This is where Matt and Peary get on their sledge with the Eskimos and motion as if they are driving their dogs and moving on toward the Pole).

NARRATOR THREE: Each of the American explorers knew that all of them would not be able to Go all the way with Peary to the Pole. The plan called for each of them to Go so far along the path, then cache the supplies it was carrying to be used by the other teams Going closer to the Pole. However, Peary had stated in the beginning that Henson would Go all the way. Perhaps this was to fulfill a promise to Henson Peary had made when Henson saved his life in Greenland years aGo, but more likely it was because Henson was simply the best and most skillful of Peary's assistants. His loyalty and dependability had proven over twenty years of exploration together!.( While this part is being narrated, Henson and Peary are motioning their arms as if still driving their sledge towards the Pole).

NARRATOR FOUR: As mentioned earlier in the play, five Americans accompanied Peary, Henson and the Eskimos on this expedition. Take a look at this chart we created to show when and where those five brave men began to turn back to headquarters. (This scene calls for an overhead projector to be used with the two sailor boys standing at attention on both sides to pay / show respect for these brave American explorers that had to turn back. A student explains the degrees of latitude and longitude and at which point each explorer turned back)

NARRATOR FIVE: A degree of latitude is divided into 60 minutes. Each degree equals about 60 nautical miles or 69 statute land miles 111km. Latitude lines run across like the rungs of a ladder, longitude lines are long and run from pole to pole. On March 26, at 86 degrees 38 minutes, Macmillan and Goodsell turn back. On April 01, at 87 degrees 46 minutes, Borup and Bartlett turn back. Now it was Henson and Peary against the Arctic as it had been for 18 years.

NARRATOR ONE: Henson and Peary had only 153 miles to Go, 40 strong fresh dogs, the four bravest Eskimos and a brilliant sparkling snow highway lit by a sun never set. ( At this point, Henson and Peary begin to chant... AHDOOLO, AHDOOLO, AHDOOLO, AHDOOLO... Keep chanting for about 2 minutes and let the audience absorb the chanting and get into the thrill of the hunt!).

Teachers Page | Curriculum | Scene One | Scene Two | Scene Three | Scene 4 & 5 | Scene 6 | Scene 7 | Cast of characters & Props