Acting with Animals

Twelve-year-old Jacob Mantle’s family runs a flourishing zoo. Sightseers from all over the world come and see the prodigious Abstract Animals Zoo, where the most exotic animals from the world are on display. Jacob’s father, the multi-billionaire Farrell Mantle, insists that Jacob take on the family business when he is eighteen.

“Jacob,” his father would say, “someday this menagerie will belong to you!”

There was one problem with that—Jacob wanted to be an actor! His family said it was insane, but Jacob thought it would be magnificent to stand in front of hundreds of fans and act!

The only living things on earth that supported him were the animals at the zoo; they loved to see Jacob perform. They would hoot or howl while he did his performance, but the animals couldn’t help him with what was coming up. On March 23 there would be an opening for a lead role for Broadway’s Romeo and Juliet, and Jacob would do anything to play Romeo.

To improve his Italian accent, Jacob pursued the help of the zoo’s Meremann cattle. This cow, native to Italy, drastically improved Jacob’s Italian, and after three days Jacob was ready.

On the morning of Jacob’s audition, Jacob was very apprehensive about the day ahead. Jacob’s oversized Great Dane Sweetie, who liked to eat squirrels, sensed Jacob’s fear and hopped in the van and sat on Jacob’s lap.

“Sweetie, you’re going to break my leg!” Jacob ironically said.

Sweetie replied to Jacob’s agony with a lick. After Jacob disgustedly wiped his face, he saw that they had arrived.

When Jacob first went onstage, it was going very smoothly, but when he was dancing with Juliet (the mannequin), he fell and broke her leg. When Jacob cried in agony, Sweetie galloped over stagehands, through the seats, and bounded up the stage and right next to Jacob.

“Sweetie!” Jacob roared.

“Jacob Mantle, you’ve earned the part for outstanding improv,” the first judge announced while chuckling.

As Jacob’s eyes watered, he waltzed away with Sweetie off the stage.