The Story of Into The Woods

SCENE: Rapunzel and Rapunzel’s Prince

Characters: ​Rapunzel, Witch, Rapunzel’s Prince (RP)

[SONG/TRACK: RAPUNZEL]

(Narrator speaks from offstage)

NARRATOR: As for Rapunzel, the Witch was careful not to lose this beauty to the outside world, and so, shut Rapunzel within a doorless tower that lay deep within the forest. And when the old enchantress paid a visit, she called forth:

(The Witch ENTERS from SL and crosses to the Tower. Rapunzel is in the Tower)

WITCH: Rapunzel… Rapunzel… Let down your hair to me.

RAPUNZEL (singing) : Ahh… ahh… ahh…. Ahh…

(Rapunzel’s Prince is hiding behind a tree, listening to Rapunzel sing. Rapunzel stops singing and lowers her hair. The Witch climbs up. RP comes out from hiding and crosses downstage center)

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE (saying to himself): Rapunzel! What a strange but beautiful name.

(RP crosses to stage right)

RAPUNZEL’s PRINCE: Tomorrow, I will stand beneath her tower. I’ll ask her to let down her hair - to me​​ !!

(With a newfound quest, RP exits SL)

1 The Story of Into The Woods

SCENE: Rapunzel’s Prince and Cinderella’s Prince

Characters: ​Rapunzel’s Prince (RP), Cinderella’s Prince (CP)

[SONG/TRACK: FANFARES]

(Rapunzel’s Prince runs on from SL, Cinderella’s Prince runs on from SR. They cross each other and meet in Center Stage)

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE: Ah! There you are good brother. Where have you been?

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: I have been out all night looking for the maiden who ran from the ball last night.

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE: Where did she go?

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: Disappeared.

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE: I too have found a lovely maiden. She lives in a tall tower without doors or windows!

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: How do you visit?

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE: I climb up her hair.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: You jest!

RAPUNZEL’s PRINCE: ‘Tis true as your maiden who runs from you! Does that make sense? No one would run from us.

CINDERELLA’S PRINCE: Yet one has.

[SONG: AGONY] - Lyrics next page

2 The Story of Into The Woods

AGONY ~ Lyrics

Cinderella’s Prince: Did I abuse her or show her disdain? Why does she run from me? If I should lose her, how shall I regain, The heart she has won from me

Agony! Beyond power of speech, When the one thing you want Is the only thing out of your reach

Rapunzel’s Prince: High in a tower, she sits by the hour, Maintaining her hair

Blithe and becoming, and frquently humming a lighthearted air: Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah

Agony! Far more painful than yours, When you know she would go with you If there on-ly were doors

Together: Agony! Oh the torture they teach!

Rapunzel’s Prince: Always ten feet below!

Together: And she’s just out of reach!

Agony! That can cut like a knife…

… I must have her to wife!

[song ends, and the Princes exit opposite sides of the stage)

3 The Story of Into The Woods

SCENE: The Witch and Rapunzel’s Prince SCENE TAKES PLACE AFTER THE WITCH SINGS “STAY WITH ME”

Characters: ​The Witch, Rapunzel’s Prince (RP)

[SONG/TRACK: ]

(Rapunzel’s Prince stumbles on stage miming the action described in the Narrator's monologue below)

NARRATOR: AFter having cast out Rapunzel to a remoste desert, the Witch returned to the tower to surprise the Prince.

(Rapunzel’s Prince enters Stage Left and crosses to the Tower at Stage Right. The Witch is in the Tower)

NARRATOR: The Witch pretended to lower Rapunzel’s hair, but released it as the Prince tried to climb.

(Rapunzel’s Prince falls to the ground at the base of the tower. Actor sinks down to hands and knees)

NARRATOR: The Prince fell to the ground landing in a patch of thorns that pierced his eyes and blinded him.

(Rapunzel’s Prince slowly stands covering both his eyes and stumbles to center stage)

4 The Story of Into The Woods

SCENE: RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE DEFIES THE WITCH SCENE TAKES PLACE AFTER THE WITCH TRANSFORMS

Characters: ​The Witch, Rapunzel, Rapunzel’s Prince (RP)

[SONG/TRACK: ]

(Rapunzel is on stage. Rapunzel’s Prince enters with a scarf over his eyes, hands out, stumbling toward Rapunzel, following the sound of her voice.)

NARRATOR: (wrapping up the story)... Finally, as for Rapunzel, she lived impoverished in the desert until one day, her Prince, wandering aimlessly, he heard a voice so familiar that he went towards it.

RAPUNZEL: Ah-ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah

NARRATOR: And when he approached, he stumbled and fell at her feet., Rapunzel's tears of joy wetted his eyes and healed his vision.

(Rapunzel’s Prince, sight restored, springs to his feet and removes the scarf from his eyes. The Witch comes out from behind a tree)

WITCH: I was going to come for you, Rapunzel. Come with me, child!

RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE: She will not go with you!

WITCH: Let her speak! (turns to Rapunzel) Come with me. Please.

RAPUNZEL: Never!

WITCH: You give me no choice!

(The Witch aims her staff at Rapunzel and the Prince to cast a spell on them. Rapunzel and the Prince cower expecting the worst. But nothing happens. The Witch tries two more times. It does not work. Rapunzel and the Prince high five and exit together)

NARRATOR: As is often the way in these tales, in exchange for her youth and beauty, the Witch lost her powers over others.

(Witch scowls and exits)

5 The Story of Into The Woods

SCENE: FINALE SCENE ALL ENTER

Characters: ​Company

[SONG/TRACK: CHILDREN WILL LISTEN / INTO THE WOODS ]

CHILDREN WILL LISTEN / INTO THE WOODS ~ Lyrics

Careful the things you say, children will listen Careful the things you do, children will see And learn

Children may not obey But children will listen Children will look to you, for which-way to turn To learn what to be

Careful before you say, “Listen to Me” Children will listen

--- (only memorize what you can, it’s tricky!)

Into the Woods, where nothing’s clear, where witches ghosts and wolves appear Into the Woods and through the fear You have to take the journey

Into the Woods, and down the dell In vain perhaps, but who can tell?

Into the woods to lift the spell! Into the woods to lose the Longing Into the Woods to have the child To wed the prince To get the money, To save the house To kill the wolf, To find the father To conquer the kingdom To have, to wed, to save, to kill, to keep, to go to the Festival! Into the Woods! Into the WOods! Into the Woods then out of the Woods! -- And happy ever after!

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