Ramona Quimby

Always aggravating her older sister, Beezus, constantly getting into trouble and sometimes "making a big, noisy fuss" when things don't go her way

As narrator, Beezus (Beatrice Quimby) introduces the Quimby family and friends and thereby sets the scene for the collection of vignettes that trace Ramona's tumultuous passage through third grade and through her family relationships

At school, she throws a tantrum when provoked by a classmate and is sent home in disgrace

The teacher's wrath, an important family wedding, persistent sibling bickering and Mr Quimby's attempts to give up smoking are part of the fabric that shape a humorous, loving family portrait

The characters and the material, adapted by Obie Award-winning playwright Len Jenkin, are as "today" as the morning newspaper

The problems facing the Quimbys, a middle-class Oregon family, are problems common to most families, and the family's togetherness in tackling the sacrifices and adjustments required when the father is unexpectedly fired from his job is a clear statement of traditional family values

Along with the discovery that life is not always fair, eventually Ramona and Beezus come to realize that sisters may not always agree, but they can be good to have around

Cast also requires 5 boys and 9 girls