Castedo, Elena. Luck. B+ 1+ Five children are dissatisfied with their life in the valley and want to move to the mountains. They approach five children who live in the mountains and ask them if they will trade homes with them. The children living in the mountains quickly refuse, claiming that the breezes, extra sunshine, and beautiful view of the valley are too good to give up. After the children living in the valley offer them money and explain that the houses in the valley really are in better condition, the mountain children agree to change places with them. Soon after the exchange, the valley children who now live in the mountains decide that they would rather live in the valley after all. They approach the children they switched with and offer them money to change places one more time. The children agree, and everyone is happy-particularly those who are several dollars richer than they were before. Both children come to realize how lucky they are to live where they do. The central message of this play is that one must be happy with the conditions surrounding one; the grass may appear greener on the other side, but change will not necessarily yield happiness. The play requires a minimum of two actors and has an unlimited maximum, always divided into two groups. The technical requirements are minimal. From: Carlson, Lori Marie. Illustrated by Raúl Colón. You're On! Seven Plays in English and Spanish. Morrow Junior Books, 1999. ISBN: 0-688-16237-1. $17.00. 139 pp.
