Book, Music and Lyrics by Michelle G. Reiff
Sample Script Pages
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Book, Music and Lyrics by Michelle G. Reiff
Sample Script Pages
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© 2003 Michelle G. Reiff. All Rights Reserved.
THE STORY OF RED RIDING HOOD THE GIRL WHO SAVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Book, Music and Lyrics by Michelle G. Reiff
CAST OF CHARACTERS (In order of appearance)
RED RIDING HOOD ...... clever, independent girl MAMA/FAIRY OF THE INNER SPIRIT ...... Red’s mother/magical figure, an almost exaggerated character MAYOR ...... self-important town leader DOCTOR ...... humorless town elder TAILOR ...... humorless town elder JUDITH...... Red’s friend SARAH ...... Red’s friend DANIELLE ...... Red’s friend MARTHA ...... Red’s friend MARY...... Red’s friend ALICE ...... Red’s friend PETER ...... Red’s friend, a bit more serious than the others SKUNK ...... helpful forest animal LAMB ...... helpful forest animal GOPHER...... helpful forest animal RABBIT ...... helpful forest animal TURTLE ...... helpful forest animal WOLF ...... hungry, silly wolf GRANNY ...... Red’s very near-sighted grandmother PEDDLER 1...... salesperson PEDDLER 2...... salesperson PEDDLER 3 ...... salesperson
SEQUENCE OF MUSICAL NUMBERS
MC 1 Mama, Tell Me a Story Red, Mama, and Ensemble MC 2 Wonderful Day Company MC 3 My Mama Said. Red and Kids MC 4 I Like to Eat Wolf and Animals MC 5 My Granny Red, Animals, and Kids MC 6 Little Red Fairy MC 7 Little Red - reprise Fairy MC 8 The Granny Rap Granny, Kids, and Animals MC 9 I Like to Eat - Scene Change MC 10 If We Believe Red, Peter, and Kids MC 11 I’ve Got a Plan Red, Kids, and Animals MC 12 I’ve Got a Plan - Scene Change MC 13 Granny, Granny, What Big Eyes You Have Red, Wolf, Kids, and Animals MC 14 Little Red Riding Hood Company
Additional music and orchestration by Wendell L. Vaughn Additional arrangements by Michael O’Konis
THE STORY OF RED RIDING HOOD THE GIRL WHO SAVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD originally was produced by the Academy of Theatre Arts Englewood, Colorado. April 2006
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THE STORY OF RED RIDING HOOD THE GIRL WHO SAVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PROLOGUE Setting: Child’s bedroom
AT RISE: MAMA is onstage in chair, knitting. RED is either onstage or enters, carrying book.
(MUSIC CUE 1: “Mama, Tell Me a Story”)
RED Mama, tell me a story. Mama, tell me a tale Of a knight in his glory Or a ship set to sail.
Mama, tell me a story. Mama, tell me a tale Of a night dark and stormy Or a ghost gray, and pale.
Your stories are like treasures. Please tell me one now. A fable or a legend, Just tell it out loud. They take me away to a different place and time. Mama, tell me a story, Mama, if you don’t mind.
Mama, tell me a story. Mama, tell me a tale Of a child gone exploring A wilderness trail.
MAMA I’ll tell you a story. I guess that I could. I’ll tell you the story Of Red Riding Hood.
RED Yes, tell me the story Of Red Riding Hood
(ENSEMBLE enters.)
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ENSEMBLE Ooh, Red Riding Hood. Ooh, Red Riding Hood.
(ENSEMBLE ad libs, laughing and/or saying “yeah, whoo” and the like.)
MAMA Little Red Riding Hood went out for a walk.
MAMA and ENSEMBLE Uh huh. Oh yeah!
MAMA She ran into the wolf, and she knew she shouldn’t talk.
MAMA and ENSEMBLE Oh yeah. Uh huh!
But, he was awfully clever. He had a friendly smile. She just had to stop and visit for a while.
Uh huh. Oh yeah! Uh huh. Oh yeah!
She thought that he would help her. She told him she was lost. He asked her, “Where you going?” but she did not know the cost.
Uh huh. Ooh, Red Riding Hood. Ooh, Red Riding Hood!
(MAMA puts cape on RED. ENSEMBLE exits.)
MAMA: All right, where shall we begin?
RED: How about once upon a time?
MAMA: Once upon a time, in a town not unlike this one, there lived a little girl and her mother.
RED: Just like us?
MAMA: Yes, just like us. The little girl was clever, brave, creative...
RED: That’s me, all right.
MAMA: And, self-confident. Anyway, they lived in a little house on the edge of a huge forest. (As MAMA and RED exit.) One bright morning…
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SCENE ONE SETTING: Town Square/Woods
AT RISE: MAYOR enters. JUDITH, SARAH, and DANIELLE enter, skipping.
JUDITH, SARAH, and DANIELLE: (Waving.) Morning, Mayor.
MAYOR: (Waving back.) Morning.
(JUDITH, SARAH, and DANIELLE skip offstage. DOCTOR enters.)
DOCTOR: Morning, Mayor. (Salutes MAYOR.)
MAYOR: (Saluting back.) Morning.
(DOCTOR exits. MARY and MARTHA enter and curtsy.)
MARY and MARTHA: Morning, Mayor.
MAYOR: (Curtsying back.) Morning.
(MARY and MARTHA exit. TAILOR enters.)
TAILOR: Top of the morning, Mayor. (Does a hand signal to MAYOR.) Wonderful day!
MAYOR: Top of the morning. (Returns hand signal.)
TAILOR: Wonderful day!
MAYOR: Of course, it’s a wonderful day.
(PETER and ALICE enter and strike a “we’re cool” pose.)
PETER and ALICE: What’s up, Mayor?
MAYOR: (Striking same pose.) Chillin’.
(DOCTOR and KIDS enter.)
MAYOR: There are only wonderful days in our town. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
DOCTOR: Yes, Mayor.
TAILOR: Of course, Mayor.
MAYOR: Am I right?
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KIDS: You’re always right, Mayor.
MAYOR: Thank you.
PETER and ALICE: No. Thank you.
MARY: It’s a wonderful day, Mayor.
MAYOR: I know.
DANIELLE: Yes, wonderful.
MAYOR: In fact, there should be a resolution to that effect. Only wonderful days allowed in our town. (Swings arms as if to count the beat.) Five, six, seven, eight…
(MAMA, RED, and ANIMALS enter. MUSIC CUE 2: “Wonderful Day”)
COMPANY What a day it is! What a beautiful day! What a day it is! It’s a wonderful day!
What a day it is! What a beautiful day! What a day it is! It’s a wonderful day!
It’s a day for picking flowers and for having lots of fun, A day for going swimming and to bask in the sun. Nothing is wrong when the sky is so blue. It’s a wonderful day for me and for you.
What a day it is! What a beautiful day! What a day it is! It’s a wonderful day!
It’s a day for playing baseball and for having soccer games, A day for roasting hot dogs over barbecue flames. It’s a day to believe in. It’s a day to be free. It’s a wonderful day for you and for me.
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There are blue skies above and green grass all around. Laughter, love, and music abound. It’s a day with no strangers. We know everyone’s name, And we hope that tomorrow’s the same.
Two, three, four! It’s a day for fun and so much more! Five, six, seven, eight! It’s a day to celebrate!
Uh doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, it’s a wonderful day! Uh doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, it’s a wonderful day!
Come and gather ‘round now, ‘cause it’s gonna be just great. The sun’s up in the sky; it’s a day to celebrate. The neighbors are all smiling as they dance along the way, ‘Cause they all know today is gonna be a wonderful day.
Uh doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, it’s a wonderful day! Uh doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo, it’s a wonderful day! A wonderful day!
There are blue skies above and green grass all around. Laughter, love, and music abound. It’s a day that belongs to hanging out with good friends, A day that we hope never ends.
Two, three, four, five! It’s a day for being alive! Six, seven, eight, nine, ten! Tomorrow, we get to do it again!
It’s a day for doing cartwheels and for dancing on the air, A day when we are sure there is magic to spare. And we’re feeling so great that we’ve just gotta say, It’s a wonderful day, A wonderful day. It’s a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful -
Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, It’s a wonderful, wonderful day!
MAYOR: Now, come along. We must savor every moment of this wonderful day.
TAILOR: Yes, Mayor.
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DOCTOR: Of course, Mayor.
(MAYOR, DOCTOR, and TAILOR exit.)
ANIMALS: Certainly, Mayor.
(ANIMALS giggle and exit.)
MAMA: (To AUDIENCE and KIDS.) Did those animals just talk?
(KIDS exit.)
MAMA: You know, Little Red. It is a wonderful and perfect day for you to visit Grandma, and a visit would do her good. Also, I made some fresh baked goods that I know she will like. (Picks up basket and hands to RED.)
RED: Oh, they smell so good. I can hardly wait to taste them.
MAMA: Well, you’re going to have to wait until you get to Grandma’s.
RED: I know, Mama.
MAMA: Now, no dawdling, no daydreaming, and no stopping to play or pick flowers.
RED: Yes, Mama.
MAMA: And most of all, no talking to strangers. Most folks are pretty good around here, but you never know when you’re going to meet a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You just keep to yourself and keep on your way.
RED: Yes, Mama.
(MAMA exits as RED waves. PETER and MARY enter. PETER is playing with a yo-yo.)
PETER: Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine…
RED: Oh, hello, Peter.
PETER: (Looks away from yo-yo to RED.) Oh, hello, Red. (Yo-yo hits ground.) Aw, ya messed me up. I almost got to a hundred.
MARY: (Mocking.) But you didn’t.
PETER: (Mocking back, a little more exaggerated.) But you didn’t.
(The other KIDS enter.)
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SARAH: Hey, Red!
JUDITH: Come play with us, Red.
MARTHA: It’s such a lovely day.
(ALICE walks over, tries to peek in RED’S basket.)
ALICE: Hey, Little Red, whatcha got in the basket? Anything for me?
RED: No.
(KIDS ad lib and grab basket and play keep away with it.)
RED: Give that back!
MARY: (Holding basket in the air.) Here’s your basket, Little Red.
RED: Give that back!
MARY: Oh, all right. (Hands basket to RED.)
DANIELLE: Oh, we were only joking.
PETER: What’s up, Red? Can you stay?
RED: I’d really like to, but I’m heading to Granny’s. I told Mama I’d bring her some of these treats.
MARTHA: Treats?
RED: For Granny!
MARTHA: You can’t stay even for a little while?
ALICE: Without you, we don’t have an even number for Red Rover.
SARAH: We could play “follow the leader.”
RED: I’d really love to, but I have to get going. Mama’s worried that if I don’t get going soon, something terrible might happen. You know parents.
KIDS: Parents. (Sigh and put hands to foreheads while shaking heads.)
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RED: I keep trying to tell her that I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself, but she still treats me like a little child. She’s worried that I might wander off and meet up with some horrible monster or something.
MARY: Well, Red, it has been known to happen.
(RED walks face to face with MARY.)
RED: Uh-uh.
MARY: Uh-huh.
RED: Uh-uh.
MARY: Uh-huh.
RED: Uh-huh.
MARY: Uh-uh. (Pauses.) Wait a second!
RED: See. I told you. Anyway, she’s worried that I’ll get eaten by a wolf.
(KIDS, except for PETER, laugh.)
RED: Can you believe that?
PETER: Yes...
RED: I mean, really. What would a wolf be doing around here?
PETER: But, you must under…
RED: Anyway, I better get to Granny’s.
JUDITH: Oh, Come on, Red.
RED: No, I have to remember what my Mama said.
(KIDS ad lib, asking what her Mama said, etc.)
(MUSIC CUE 3: “My Mama Said”)
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RED My mama said, “Don’t talk to strangers. It wouldn’t be wise. There could be danger, so heed my advice.” She said, “Go straight to Grandma’s. Don’t wander or stray. There’ll be time for picking flowers on another sunny day.”
So I’ll listen to my mama, and I’ll go straight along. I won’t stop to play, and I won’t stay too long. I won’t stop to smell the flowers. I won’t stop to hear the birds. I could stay right here for hours, but I still can hear those words.
My mama said, “Don’t talk to strangers. It wouldn’t be wise. There could be danger, so heed my advice.” She said, “Go straight to Grandma’s. Don’t wander or stray.
RED and KIDS
There’ll be time for picking flowers on another sunny day.”
(ANIMALS enter.)
RED, KIDS, and ANIMALS “Don’t talk to strangers. It wouldn’t be wise. There could be danger, so heed my advice.” She said, “Go straight to Grandma’s. Don’t wander or stray. There’ll be time for picking flowers on another sunny day.”
RED So, I’ll go on to Grandma’s, gonna bring her these treats. My mama made cookies, lots of good things to eat. But a couple of flowers would brighten her day. I’ll pick one or two, then I’ll be right on my way.
(RED exits.)
KIDS: (Shout.) No Red, don’t stay!
KIDS and ANIMALS Don’t talk to strangers. It wouldn’t be wise. There could be danger, so heed her advice. She said, “Go straight to Grandma’s. Don’t wander or stray. There’ll be time for picking flowers on another sunny day.” Yeah.
(ANIMALS exit and stage reset, if necessary for Woods.)
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KIDS Don’t talk to strangers. It wouldn’t be wise. There could be danger, so heed her advice. She said, “Go straight to Grandma’s. Don’t wander or stray. There’ll be time for picking flowers on another sunny
KIDS I KIDS II day. Time for picking flowers on another There’ll be sunny time for picking flowers day.
KIDS On another sunny day.” Oh, yeah!
JUDITH: (Looking around.) Uh, guys, where did Red go?
SARAH: (Pointing offstage.) I think she went that way.
PETER: (Calling offstage.) No, Red, don’t go that way!
MARY: You’re going too deep into the forest!
JUDITH: Don’t forget what your mother said and go straight to Granny’s!
SARAH: (Looking around.) Hey, you guys, I think we followed Red right into the woods!
ALICE: Wait. I thought we were playing “follow the leader” and Red was the…
KIDS: (Looking at ALICE and shaking heads.) Uh-uh.
ALICE: (Scratching head in confusion.) We weren’t playing “follow the leader”?
MARTHA: (Impatiently.) Uh…No.
(KIDS gather into a tight circle, facing outward and start walking around in circle as if to look for danger.)
MARY: (While moving into circle.) Well, we better just turn ourselves around and…
(KIDS continue walking around in circle.)
SARAH: I’m scared.
MARTHA: Me, too.
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(KIDS stop walking around in circle.)
DANIELLE: Guys, this forest creeps me out. You know, goblins and ghosts and…
PETER: There aren’t any goblins or ghosts, but maybe Red’s mother is right. Maybe there are wolves in the forest.
JUDITH: Oh, Peter, stop talking about wolves in the forest.
ALICE: Everyone knows there aren’t any.
PETER: Yes, there are; I know it. One time, my grandfather and I, we heard some howling…
DANIELLE: (Doubting.) Uh-uh.
PETER: And another time when we were hiking through the forest, we saw wolf prints.
MARY: Uh oh. If Red goes through there, she might be in danger.
ALICE: Well, I don‘t believe there are any wolves in the forest. But you can keep a lookout if you want.
(ALICE exits.)
JUDITH: Come, on let’s get out of here.
(JUDITH follows ALICE offstage.)
DANIELLE: Come on, guys, let’s go. The next thing we’ll have to worry about is being turned into gingerbread cookies.
(DANIELLE follows JUDITH offstage.)
MARY: Let’s get out of here. I have to go meet my cousins, Gretel and Hansel.
(MARY follows DANIELLE offstage.)
MARTHA: Yeah, we’ll leave Peter looking for his wolf.
SARAH: Yeah, Peter and the Wolf.
(SARAH and MARTHA exit, giggling. PETER moves to Center Stage.)
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PETER: (Nervously.) Yeah, they‘re probably right.
(Howl from offstage. PETER pauses.)
PETER: (In a high-pitched, scared voice.) I hope.
(PETER runs offstage. WOLF enters.)
WOLF (Sighs.): What a day it is. What a wonderful day. Blue skies, green grass, and an empty stomach. What I need is a little something for the tum-tum. A little taste sensation for the tongue. A little ambrosia for the palette. (To AUDIENCE.) What I’m saying is I need food! Now, let’s see. Nothing but rocks, pebbles and a few tree stumps.
(A “sandwich” is thrown, or otherwise appears, onstage. WOLF looks and picks it up.)
WOLF: What’s this? Can it be? A bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.
(As WOLF starts to eat sandwich. RABBIT runs onstage and grabs sandwich.)
RABBIT: Hey, what are you doing? That’s mine.
(RABBIT runs offstage. WOLF starts to follow RABBIT.)
WOLF: Rodent! Oh, this just won’t do. I need food. I love food. I crave food. Italian food, Chinese food, French food, Greek food, Japanese food – except for sushi. I don’t like sushi. Indian food, vegan food. You know, I’m really not that picky. I’ll eat just about anything. I just like to eat!
(WOLF looks in direction of sound system and strikes a pose with hand out as if to receive something.)
WOLF: Maestro, if you please.
(LAMB enters, holding cane and top hat. Tosses cane to WOLF‘s side so that WOLF misses it and it lands on stage in front of WOLF. WOLF turns to LAMB.)
LAMB: (Timidly.) Sorry.
(WOLF walks over to LAMB and takes top hat.)
WOLF: Rehearsal. Tuesday. Don’t be late.
(LAMB runs offstage.)
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(MUSIC CUE 4: “I Like to Eat”)
(WOLF howls, then picks up cane and puts on top hat.)
WOLF I like to eat. Could be salty or sweet. I like to gnaw. I don’t care if it’s raw. I like to munch on a fairly big lunch. I like to dine, and I take my time.
I like to swallow a fresh green avocado. I like to gulp orange juice with no pulp. Ilike to “zup” a little chicken soup. I like to slurp. Pardon me while I burp (burp).
(ANIMALS enter and gather around WOLF.)
I like to nibble on a piece of kibble. I like to chaw and exercise my jaw. I like to chew. It’s what I like to do. I like to eat, and I might like to eat you!
I’m a grand gourmand. I like praline pecans. I’m a great gourmet. I like cheese souffle. I’m a good old gobbler. I like my apple cobbler. I’m a great big pig.
ANIMALS Pigs are what he digs.
WOLF I like to eat.
ANIMALS He prefers to eat meat.
WOLF Mmm, I like to chew.
ANIMALS But, even veggies will do.
WOLF I like to eat.
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ANIMALS He must simply repeat.
WOLF I like to eat!
ANIMALS He likes to eat!
WOLF: One more time!
ANIMALS: Whoo!
ANIMALS He likes to eat.
WOLF You look tasty and sweet.
ANIMALS He likes to eat.
WOLF Such a wonderful treat.
ANIMALS He likes to eat.
WOLF I must simply repeat. I like to eat!
WOLF: (To ANIMALS.) Rehearsal. Tuesday. Don’t be late.
(ANIMALS take cane and hat and run offstage.)
WOLF: Oh it’s hopeless. All I think about is beef wellington, veal oscar, pork tenderloin. (To AUDIENCE.) A fella can dream, can’t he.
(GOPHER and SKUNK skip across the stage and giggle.)
GOPHER: Come on, Red.
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SKUNK: This way to your Granny’s house.
(GOPHER and SKUNK skip offstage. RED enters, looking around as if lost and pauses.)
WOLF: What’s this? A young girl? I wonder what she’s doing this far into the woods. (Sniffs the air.) Could it be? I smell (Sniffs.) brownies and…
(RED crosses in front of WOLF. WOLF sniffs.)
WOLF: Cookies and...
(RED crosses back in front of WOLF. WOLF follows a bit behind, sniffs, and goes as if to grab RED from behind.)
WOLF: Apple pie!
(RED exits. WOLF falls to ground when he “misses” catching her from behind. After RED is offstage, WOLF sits up.)
WOLF: I’ve just gotta have some of that pie. What am I talking about - there’s a girl attached to that pie, and she sure looks tasty. They’re coming back.
(WOLF “throws” himself down on ground, lying face down. TURTLE slowly enters.)
TURTLE: (Slowly.) Come on Red, don’t make me leave you in the dust.
(TURTLE slowly walks across stage and steps on WOLF’s back. WOLF grunts. TURTLE continues offstage, but stops at edge. RED runs on and stops just onstage.)
RED: (Waving to TURTLE.) Hey Little Turtle, wait for me!
(RED hurries across stage to TURTLE and steps on WOLF’s back. WOLF grunts. WOLF starts crawling offstage.)
RED: (To TURTLE.) Oh no, what time is it?
WOLF: (To AUDIENCE.) Time for me to see a chiropractor.
(WOLF crawls offstage. RED moves to Center Stage.)
RED: I was supposed to be at Granny’s a long time ago.
(ANIMALS enter.)
LAMB: What’s the big deal, Red? Why do you have to go visit your Granny?
End of Sample
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