Johnny Appleseed: A Family Play

Johnny Appleseed was an American folk hero. Sort of a legend, but he really did live in the American pioneer days. He traveled across the Midwest and with his younger brother Nathaniel, planted at least 100, 000 apple trees some of which are still living and are at least 200 years old. They wore ragged clothes without any shoes and both lived in poverty their entire lives. They believed in God and wanted to do what they felt God wanted them to do. That was to plant apple trees for the people of America. Both brothers were kind to all animals and they ate no meat or dairy products. In other words, they were vegans. In this play they meet an escaped slave and stayed with her as friends. Johnny never married and remained celibate all his life. They never owned a home of their own. They enjoyed hardships. In their beliefs, the more difficult their life here on earth was, the easier would be their journey to heaven after they died.