Birthday celebrations are universal moments of joy, marking another year of life, growth, and shared memories. In this article, we’ll explore a complete English play script designed for a birthday party. This script is perfect for language learners, teachers, or anyone looking to practice English in a fun, contextual way. It includes full dialogues, stage directions, and parallel Chinese translations for easy comprehension. We’ll break it down into sections, provide the script, and end with dialogue practice exercises to help you improve your speaking and listening skills. The play is light-hearted, family-friendly, and emphasizes common birthday vocabulary like “surprise,” “gift,” “cake,” and “cheers.”

Overview of the Play

The play, titled “A Surprise for Sarah,” is a short drama (about 10-15 minutes when performed) set in a cozy living room. It revolves around Sarah, who turns 25, and her friends planning a surprise party. The story highlights themes of friendship, surprise, and celebration. It’s written in simple, conversational English suitable for beginners to intermediate learners, with some idiomatic expressions for advanced practice.

Key characters:

  • Sarah: The birthday girl, excited but unaware of the surprise.
  • Mike: Sarah’s best friend, the party organizer.
  • Lily: Sarah’s sister, who helps with decorations.
  • Tom: A mutual friend, who brings the cake.
  • Narrator: Optional role for setting scenes (can be read off-stage).

The script is divided into three acts: Preparation, The Surprise, and The Celebration. Each line includes English dialogue, stage directions in italics, and Chinese translation in brackets.

Full Play Script

Act 1: Preparation (The Setup)

Scene: A living room. Mike and Lily are decorating with balloons and streamers. Tom enters with a large cake box.

Mike: (Hanging a banner that says “Happy Birthday Sarah!”) Okay, team, we need to finish before Sarah gets here. Lily, did you hide the gifts?

Lily: (Arranging balloons) Yes, they’re under the sofa. But what if she suspects something? She’s been talking about her birthday all week.

Mike: Don’t worry. We’ll act normal. Tom, you’re late! Where’s the cake?

Tom: (Placing the box on the table, out of breath) Sorry, traffic was crazy. But look—it’s her favorite: chocolate with extra frosting. (Opens the box slightly to reveal the cake.)

Lily: (Clapping) Perfect! Now, let’s practice the surprise. When she opens the door, we jump out and yell, “Surprise!”

Mike: (Laughing) And don’t forget the song. We’ll sing “Happy Birthday” right after.

(Sound of a key turning in the lock. They freeze.)

Tom: (Whispering) Shh! She’s here!

(Chinese Translation:) [场景：一个客厅。迈克和莉莉正在用气球和彩带装饰。汤姆拿着一个大蛋糕盒进来。]

迈克：（挂起写着“生日快乐，莎拉”的横幅）好了，伙计们，我们得在莎拉到之前弄完。莉莉，你把礼物藏好了吗？

莉莉：（整理气球）藏好了，在沙发下面。但她会不会起疑心？她这一周都在说她的生日。

迈克：别担心。我们会表现得正常。汤姆，你迟到了！蛋糕呢？

汤姆：（把盒子放在桌子上，气喘吁吁）抱歉，堵车太严重了。但看——这是她最喜欢的：巧克力加额外糖霜。（稍微打开盒子露出蛋糕。）

莉莉：（拍手）完美！现在，我们练习一下惊喜。她开门时，我们跳出来大喊：“惊喜！”

迈克：（大笑）别忘了唱歌。之后我们马上唱“生日快乐”。

(钥匙开门的声音。他们僵住。)

汤姆：（小声）嘘！她来了！

Act 2: The Surprise (The Reveal)

Scene: Sarah enters, carrying her bag, looking tired but happy.

Sarah: (Calling out) Hello? Is anyone home? (She sets down her bag and walks into the living room, unaware of the hidden friends.)

Mike: (Jumping out from behind the sofa) Surprise! Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Lily and Tom: (Joining in, with confetti) Surprise! Happy Birthday!

Sarah: (Eyes wide, hands over mouth) Oh my gosh! You guys! I had no idea! (She looks around at the decorations.) This is amazing!

Tom: (Handing her the cake box) We got you your favorite cake. Make a wish and blow out the candles later.

Sarah: (Tearing up a little) Thank you all so much. I thought I’d just have a quiet dinner alone.

Lily: (Hugging her) No way! Birthdays are for friends and fun. Now, open your gifts!

(Sarah sits down, and they hand her wrapped presents.)

Sarah: (Unwrapping a gift) A new journal? I love it! (She hugs Mike.) You know me too well.

(Chinese Translation:) [场景：莎拉进门，拿着包，看起来疲惫但开心。]

莎拉：（喊道）有人在家吗？（她放下包，走进客厅，没注意到藏起来的朋友们。）

迈克：（从沙发后面跳出来）惊喜！生日快乐，莎拉！

莉莉和汤姆：（跟着出来，撒着彩带）惊喜！生日快乐！

莎拉：（眼睛睁大，双手捂嘴）哦，天哪！你们！我完全不知道！（她环顾装饰。）太棒了！

汤姆：（递给她蛋糕盒）我们买了你最喜欢的蛋糕。许个愿，一会儿吹蜡烛。

莎拉：（有点哽咽）太谢谢你们了。我以为我会一个人安静地吃顿晚饭。

莉莉：（拥抱她）才不呢！生日是和朋友一起开心的日子。现在，打开你的礼物吧！

(莎拉坐下，他们递给她包装好的礼物。)

莎拉：（打开一个礼物）一本新日记？我爱它！（她拥抱迈克。）你太了解我了。

Act 3: The Celebration (The Party)

Scene: Everyone is gathered around the table. The cake is lit with candles.

Mike: (Lighting the candles) Okay, Sarah, make a wish!

Sarah: (Closing eyes, smiling) I wish for many more birthdays with all of you. (She blows out the candles.)

All: (Clapping) Yay! Happy Birthday to you… (They sing “Happy Birthday” song.)

Tom: (Cutting the cake) Who wants the first slice? Sarah, you get it!

Sarah: (Taking a bite) Mmm, delicious! This is the best birthday ever. Let’s toast—to friendship and surprises!

Mike: (Raising a glass of juice) Cheers!

All: Cheers!

(They laugh and eat cake. The narrator can close: “And so, Sarah’s 25th birthday ended with joy, laughter, and the warmth of true friends.”)

(Chinese Translation:) [场景：大家围坐在桌子旁。蛋糕上点着蜡烛。]

迈克：（点蜡烛）好了，莎拉，许个愿！

莎拉：（闭上眼睛，微笑）我希望以后的生日都能和你们一起过。（她吹灭蜡烛。）

大家：（鼓掌）耶！祝你生日快乐……（他们唱“生日快乐”歌。）

汤姆：（切蛋糕）谁要第一块？莎拉，你先来！

莎拉：（吃了一口）嗯，好吃！这是最棒的生日了。让我们干杯——为友谊和惊喜！

迈克：（举起一杯果汁）干杯！

大家：干杯！

(他们笑着吃蛋糕。旁白可以结束：“就这样，莎拉的25岁生日在欢笑、喜悦和真挚友谊的温暖中结束了。”)

Dialogue Practice Exercises

To help you practice, we’ve extracted key dialogues from the play. These exercises focus on pronunciation, intonation, and role-playing. Repeat each line aloud, then pair up with a partner (or record yourself) to act out the scenes. Aim for natural flow—pause where commas indicate, and emphasize excitement in surprise lines.

Exercise 1: Basic Greetings and Surprises (Beginner Level)

Practice expressing surprise and birthday wishes.

  • Dialogue Pair:

    • A: “Hello? Is anyone home?” (Practice a questioning tone.)
    • B: “Surprise! Happy Birthday!” (Practice an excited, loud tone.)

  • Tips: In English, “Surprise!” is often shouted with rising intonation. Translate to Chinese: “惊喜！” (Jīngxǐ!) Try saying it faster for emphasis.

  • Role-Play Prompt: Imagine you’re welcoming a friend. Add: “I had no idea!” (我完全不知道！ Wǒ wánquán bù zhīdào!)

Exercise 2: Gift-Giving and Reactions (Intermediate Level)

Focus on polite responses and expressing gratitude.

  • Dialogue Pair:

    • A: “We got you your favorite cake. Make a wish and blow out the candles later.”
    • B: “Thank you all so much. This is amazing!” (Practice a heartfelt tone.)

  • Tips: Use “Thank you so much” for strong gratitude. In Chinese: “太谢谢你们了！” (Tài xièxie nǐmen le!) Emphasize “amazing” with rising pitch.

  • Role-Play Prompt: Exchange gifts. Say: “A new journal? I love it! You know me too well.” (一本新日记？我爱它！你太了解我了。 Yì běn xīn rìjì? Wǒ ài tā! Nǐ tài liǎojiě wǒ le!)

Exercise 3: The Toast and Celebration (Advanced Level)

Practice idiomatic expressions like “cheers” and wishes.

  • Dialogue Pair:

    • A: “Let’s toast—to friendship and surprises!”
    • B: “Cheers!” (Clink imaginary glasses.)

  • Tips: “Toast” means raising a glass for a short speech. “Cheers” is a casual way to say “干杯” (Gānbēi). Add emotion: “This is the best birthday ever!” (这是最棒的生日了！ Zhè shì zuì bàng de shēngrì le!)

  • Role-Play Prompt: Extend the scene: “Who wants the first slice? Sarah, you get it!” Practice offering politely.

Additional Practice Tips

  • Vocabulary Building: Key words: Birthday (生日), Surprise (惊喜), Cake (蛋糕), Gift (礼物), Wish (愿望), Cheers (干杯). Use them in your own sentences.
  • Listening Practice: Read the script aloud with a friend, timing each act. Record and compare to native speakers on YouTube (search “birthday dialogues”).
  • Cultural Note: In English-speaking countries, surprises are common for birthdays. In China, it’s similar, but add “长寿面” (longevity noodles) for a twist.
  • Extension Activity: Write your own ending to the play in English, then translate it to Chinese. Share with a study group.

This play and exercises should make birthday English fun and practical. Practice daily, and you’ll build confidence in real-life conversations! If you need modifications, like adding more characters, let me know.