A Storyteller's Theatre Production

A Storyteller’s Theatre Production

Adapted by Carolyn Lane

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On all programs, printing and advertising, the following information must appear: 1. The full name of the play 2. The full name of the playwright 3. The following notice: “Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Denver, Colorado” TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN SET ILLUSTRATION Adapted by Carolyn Lane A Storyteller’s Theatre Production CAST OF CHARACTERS (To be played by a cast of six, with all except the Storyteller assuming different roles in each of the stories, or, if desired, can be played by a cast of any number up to nineteen.) # of lines STORYTELLER ...... Hans Christian Andersen 11

STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER: TIN SOLDIER ...... 7 DANCING DOLL ...... 5 JACK-IN-THE-BOX ...... 10

THE SWINEHERD: SWINEHERD ...... 19 EMPEROR ...... 13 PRINCESS ...... 28 LADY-IN-WAITING ONE ...... 8 LADY-IN-WAITING TWO ...... 8

THE UGLY DUCKLING: UGLY DUCKLING ...... 8 FARMER ...... 4 BOY ...... 5 GIRL ...... 6 SWAN ...... 6

THE LITTLE MERMAID: LITTLE MERMAID ...... 18 GRANDMOTHER ...... 9 SEA WITCH ...... 6 PRINCE ...... 2 DAUGHTER OF AIR ...... 5

ii 25 RIGHTS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE REPRODUCING THIS SCRIPT For Preview Only. TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN PROPS:PROPS: TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

THETHE STEADFASTSTEADFAST TINTIN SOLDIERSOLDIER -- Metal Metal heart,heart, spanglespangle SETTING: TheThe stagestage containscontains threethree boxesboxes andand aa stool.stool. (S(Seeee SETSET fromfrom DANCINGDANCING DOLL'S DOLL'S hair. hair. SETTING: DESDESIGNIGN endend ofof thisthis script.script. SeeSee alsoalso,, PRODUCTIOPRODUCTIONN NOTES.)NOTES.) UPSTAGE RIGHT is thethe SWINEHERD'S BOX. UPSTAGE is a THETHE SWINSWINEHERDEHERD -- BoxBox containingcontaining earthenearthen cookingcooking potpot UPSTAGE RIGHT is SWINEHERD'S BOX. UPSTAGE is a talltall GIFT BOX. DOWNSTAGE LE FT is aa SEASEA CHCHEST.EST. decorateddecorated withwith bells, bells, silversilver chest, chest, rose,rose, nightingale.nightingale. GIFT BOX. DOWNSTAGE LE FT is FartherFarther DOWNDOWN LELE FTFT isis aa stoostool.l. THETHE UGLYUGLY DUCKLINGDUCKLING -- BasketBasket containingcontaining fivefive eggseggs andand AT RISE: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN ENTERS. He comes oneone hugehuge egg.egg. AT RISE: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN ENTERS. He comes CENTER.CENTER. THETHE LITTLELITTLE MERMAIDMERMAID -- WiWitch'stch's vialvial ofof magicmagic potion,potion, knife.knife. ANDERSEN:ANDERSEN: GudGud dagendagen enhver! enhver! WhereWhere II comecome from from aa landland calledcalled Denmark,Denmark, thatthat means,means, "Hello,"Hello, everybody!"everybody!" MyMy namename isis HansHans Christian Andersen, and I'd like to tell you a remarkable thing about LIGHTING:LIGHTING: AlthoughAlthough nono specialspecial effectseffects are are necessary, necessary, muchmuch cancan bebe Christian Andersen, and I'd like to tell you a remarkable thing about myself. On my last birthday, I was 173 years old! Yes, really! donedone with with dramaticdramatic lightinglighting toto enhanceenhance thethe playplay ifif properproper equipequip myself. On my last birthday, I was 173 years old! Yes, really! I don't look it, do I? Well, that's because people who make up mentment isis present:present: I don't look it, do I? Well, that's because people who make up storiesstories forfor childchildrenren nevernever dodo growgrow old,old, atat least least notnot inin theirtheir hearts.hearts. And they never really die, either, because their VariVariousous stagestage areaareass cancan bebe spotlighted,spotlighted, bblackinglacking outout And they never really die, either, because their spirits live on forever in their stories. I like to think of mine as othersothers for for actionaction inin specificspecific stories.stories. spirits live on forever in their stories. I like to think of mine as gifts,gifts, becausebecause childrenchildren lovelove gifts,gifts, andand mymy storiesstories werewere thethe veryvery best best things I had to give them. Of course they belong to all children, EntireEntire stage stage areaarea maymay bebe dimmed,dimmed, withwith spotlightspotlight onon things I had to give them. Of course they belong to all children, everywhere, but today I'd like them to be special gifts, just for ANANDERDERSESENN whwhiilele hehe narrates.narrates. everywhere, but today I'd like them to be special gifts, just for you.you. AsAs youyou cancan see,see, thethe giftsgifts I I broughtbrought alongalong areare allall sizessizes andand shapes, and they're all closed, so that whatever is inside will be a Blue-greenBlue-green lightinglighting mightmight bebe usedused effectively effectively forfor thethe shapes, and they're all closed, so that whatever is inside will be a surprise. Now, I don't know about you, but when I was a boy underseaundersea partpart ofof THETHE LITTLELITTLE MERMAID.MERMAID. surprise. Now, I don't know about you, but when I was a boy II alwaysalways openedopened thethe biggestbiggest one one firstfirst ...... especiallyespecially ifif itit was was thethe fanciest.fanciest. SoSo justjust toto pleaseplease me,me, let'slet's dodo that that now.now. ThisThis one,one, (MOVING to GIFT BOX) is the biggest and fanciest of all. Looks SOUNDSOUND EFFECTS:EFFECTS: (MOVING to GIFT BOX) is the biggest and fanciest of all. Looks likelike a a birthdaybirthday gift,gift, doesn'tdoesn't it?it? We WelI,lI, that'sthat's exactlyexactly whatwhat itit is,is, and it once made a little boy very happy. He opened this box THETHE SWJNEHERDSWJNEHERD -- ForFor nightingale,nightingale, insideinside silver silver chest,chest, and it once made a little boy very happy. He opened this box on aa birdbird whistlewhistle mightmight bebe blownblown offstage,offstage, aa fluteflute oror on aa beautifulbeautiful birthdaybirthday morning,morning, long,long, longlong ago,ago, andand outout camecame ...just a moment, now, and I 'II show you. (Removes ribbon, aa music music boxbox played.played. OffstageOffstage "Oinking""Oinking" ofof pigspigs atat ...just a moment, now, and I 'II show you. (Removes ribbon, endend ofof story.story. reachesreaches behbehiindnd leftleft sideside ofof GIFTGIFT BOXBOX toto bringbring forthforth a a TINTIN SOLDIER,SOLDIER, marchingmarching stiffly,stiffly, withwith a a limp.)limp.) ItIt waswas a a wholewhole setset ofof THETHE UGLYUGLY DUDUCKLINGCKLING -- OffstageOffstage sosoundund ofof dogdog barking.barking. TinTin Soldiers,Soldiers, allall ofof themthem straightstraight andand strongstrong andand perfectperfect ...... except this poor fellow, who had one leg broken off at the knee. OffstageOffstage soundsound ofof gunshots.gunshots. except this poor fellow, who had one leg broken off at the knee. ThoughThough thethe I I ittle ittle boy boy lovedloved himhim justjust asas muchmuch asas thethe others,others, hehe knewknew thatthat a a one-leggedone-legged soldiersoldier wouldn'twouldn't bebe ofof muchmuch useuse onon a a fieldfield ofof battlebattle ...... hehe wouldwould simplysimply fallfall over!over! AndAnd soso hehe leaned leaned thethe brokenbroken soldier soldier upup againstagainst thethe boxbox hehe camecame inin (Does(Does so.)so.) wherewhere hehe couldcould watchwatch thethe othersothers andand keepkeep himselfhimself safe.safe. Naturally,Naturally, thethe solsoldierdier couldn'tcouldn't seesee inin allall directions,directions, thethe wayway thethe othersothers couldcould whenwhen thethe littlelittle boyboy movedmoved themthem about,about, butbut hehe nevernever reallyreally mindedminded lookinglooking

24 1 RIGHTS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE REPRODUCING THIS SCRIPT For Preview Only. straightstraight ahead.ahead. BecauseBecause therethere, , justjust atat thethe otherother edgeedge ,of,of thethe box,box, SWANSWAN -- SameSame asas UGLYUGLY DUCKLINGDUCKLING stoodstood a a beautifulbeautiful paperpaper dancing dancing doll,doll, allall dresseddressed inin fluffyfluffy white,white, andand withwith aa shinyshiny metalmetal spanglespangle inin herher hair.hair. (DANCING(DANCING DOLL DOLL LITTLELITTLE MERMAIDMERMAID -- GreenGreen oror blueblue gauzygauzy dress,dress, below below appearsappears atat RightRight EdgeEdge ofof GIFTGIFT BOX,BOX, oneone legleg remainingremaining hidden.hidden. kneeknee length.length. FishtailFishtail cancan bebe wraparoundwraparound skirt,skirt, floorfloor SheShe staysstays inin place,place, butbut MOVESMOVES gracefully,gracefully, asas thoughthough dancing.)dancing.) length,length, stifflystiffly flairedflaired atat bottom.bottom. ToTo bebe untieduntied atat A paper doll, you know, blows this way and that with the A paper doll, you know, blows this way and that with the waist,waist, dropped dropped whenwhen fishtailfishtail isis toto disappear.disappear. Long Long slightest breeze, and so she appeared to be dancing . . . but slightest breeze, and so she appeared to be dancing . . . but blondblond wig.wig. onlyonly onon oneone leg.leg. TheThe otherother waswas hiddenhidden behindbehind thethe box,box, andand the tin soldier naturally thought she had only one leg, just like the tin soldier naturally thought she had only one leg, just like GRANDMOTHERGRANDMOTHER -- SameSame asas LITTLELITTLE MERMAIDMERMAID exceptexcept he did. he did. longlong greygrey wig.wig.

(ANDERSEN(ANDERSEN MOVESMOVES DOWNDOWN LEFTLEFT toto sitsit onon stool.stool. JACK-INJACK-IN SEASEA WITCHWITCH -- SameSame asas LITTLELITTLE MERMAIDMERMAID withwith pointedpointed THE-BOX ENTERS silently from LEFT, hides behind SEA CHEST, THE-BOX ENTERS silently from LEFT, hides behind SEA CHEST, witch'switch's hat.hat. unseenunseen byby TINTIN SOLDIER.)SOLDIER.) PRINCEPRINCE -- RoyalRoyal roberobe andand crown.crown. TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: PoorPoor thing.thing. II knowknow howhow itit isis toto havehave onlyonly oneone leg . . . but, oh, how beautiful she is just the same. I love her leg . . . but, oh, how beautiful she is just the same. I love her DAUGHTERDAUGHTER OFOF AIRAIR -- SameSame typetype ofof costumecostume asas DANCINGDANCING already, and I know I will love her always. Perhaps some day already, and I know I will love her always. Perhaps some day DOLL,DOLL, nono spanglespangle inin hair.hair. sheshe willwill lovelove meme too,too, andand thenthen II willwill askask herher toto bebe mymy wife.wife.

JACK: Oh, no you won't! The Dancing Doll is the JACK: (Popping(Popping up.)up.) Oh, no you won't! The Dancing Doll is the SETSET DESIGN:DESIGN: ReferRefer toto drawing,drawing, lastlast pagepage ofof script.script. lovelove ofof mymy life,life, andand I'veI've determineddetermined thatthat nono oneone elseelse shall shall havehave her. So keep your thoughts to yourself, Soldier. And your eyes, her. So keep your thoughts to yourself, Soldier. And your eyes, GIGI FT FT BOX BOX -- cancan bebe standinstandingg three-sidedthree-sided screen,screen, largelarge too! too! enoughenough soso thatthat characterscharacters cancan hidehide behindbehind it,it, oror itit cancan bebe oneone dimensional,dimensional, withwith falsefalse perspective.perspective. ItIt TIN SOLDIER: Who are you to speak so to me? You look like TIN SOLDIER: Who are you to speak so to me? You look like shouldshould bebe paintedpainted a a solidsolid colorcolor soso thatthat whenwhen giftgift no more than a silly Jack-In-The-Box! no more than a silly Jack-In-The-Box! bowbow isis removed,removed, itit cancan serveserve asas neutralneutral backgroundbackground toto otherother stories.stories. JACK:JACK: Silly,Silly, amam I?I? NoNo moremore thanthan a a Jack-IJack-In-The-Box?n-The-Box? Hah!Hah! I'mI'm a Troll, that's what I am, and I have special powers. a Troll, that's what I am, and I have special powers. SWINEHERD'SSWINEHERD'S BOXBOX cancan bebe one-dimensional,one-dimensional, withwith princeprince costumecostume and and basketbasket ofof eggseggs hiddenhidden behindbehind it.it. TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: II thoughtthought TrollsTrolls livedlived inin caves!caves!

JACK:JACK: TheyThey do,do, mostly.mostly. ButBut sometimes,sometimes, whenwhen theythey choosechoose toto SEASEA CHESTCHEST -- maymay bebe constructedconstructed inin falsefalse perspective,perspective, with with marrymarry someonesomeone otherother thanthan anan ugly,ugly, ladylady Troll,Troll, theythey havehave toto seatingseating areaarea nono moremore thanthan oneone footfoot deep.deep. movemove toto otherother places,places, eveneven stuffystuffy littlelittle boxes.boxes. AndAnd II choosechoose toto marrymarry thethe littlelittle Dancing Dancing Doll.Doll. SoSo movemove your your eyeseyes elsewhere,elsewhere, NOTE:NOTE: ALLALL BOXESBOXES shouldshould bebe minimallyminimally decodecorated,rated, soso Soldier,Soldier, and and leaveleave herher toto me.me. thatthat allall cancan serve serve asas backgroundbackground forfor allall plays.plays.

TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: Never! Never! II shallshall guardguard andand protectprotect herher toto thethe endend ofof mymy days.days.

JACK:JACK: HahHah! ! TheThe endend ofof your your daysdays maymay comecome soonersooner thanthan youyou think!think! DDoo youyou feel feel thatthat littlelittle breezebreeze comingcoming inin thethe window?window? WithWith thethe merestmerest puffpuff ofof breath,breath, II shall shall changechange itit intointo aa gustgust ofof windwind ...... and and thenthen youyou willwill bebe gonegone forever!forever! (Blows.(Blows. TINTIN SOLDIERSOLDIER

2 23 22 For Preview Only. PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION NOTESNOTES beginsbegins to to topple,topple, turns,turns, falls falls BEHINDBEHIND GIGIFTFT BOX. BOX. JACKJACK MOVES MOVES toto GIFTGIFT BOX, BOX, lookslooks downward.)downward.) I'veI've donedone it!it! l'�el'�e donedone it!it! CAST:CAST: TALESTALES OFOF HANSHANS CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN ANDERSENANDERSEN cancan bebe played played I'veI've blown blown himhim rightright outout thethe windowwindow andand intointo a a puddle!puddle! And,And, byby a a castcast asas smallsmall asas sixsix oror asas largelarge asas nineteen,nineteen, therebythereby makingmaking oh,oh, a a littlelittle boyboy is is puttingputting himhim intointo a a paperpaper boatboat andand sailingsailing himhim it it suitablesuitable eithereither forfor a a smallsmall totouringuring company company oror a alarge large schoolschool downdown thethe gutter. gutter. He'llHe'll endend inin thethe bottombottom of of thethe canal!canal! dramadrama group.group. DANCINGDANCING DOLL:DOLL: Oh,Oh, poor poor Soldier!Soldier! WillWill wewe nevernever seesee himhim again?again? COSTUMES:COSTUMES: ForFor thethe basicbasic castcast ofof six,six, costumescostumes mustmust bebe extremelyextremely simple,simple, allowingallowing forfor quick quick andand easyeasy changeschanges betweenbetween stories.stories. ItIt JACK:JACK: WhyWhy wouldwould youyou wantwant to to seesee himhim again?again? HeHe waswas nothingnothing isis suggestedsuggested thatthat allall playersplayers wearwear blackblack tops tops andand pantspants andand thethe butbut a a brokenbroken TinTin Soldier!Soldier! variousvarious costumes costumes putput onon overover them.them. WhenWhen possible,possible, garments garments shouldshould tietie oror fastenfasten inin front, front, soso thatthat individualindividual actorsactors cancan change change DANCINGDANCING DOLL:DOLL: I I lovedloved himhim justjust thethe same. same. HeHe hadhad suchsuch a a kindkind withoutwithout helhelp.p. face.face.

HANSHANS CHRISTCHRIST JAN JAN ANDERSENANDERSEN -- Bright Bright jerkin jerkin and and cap.cap. JACK:JACK: What'sWhat's wrongwrong withwith mymy face?face? Couldn'tCouldn't youyou lovelove meme instead?instead?

TINTIN SOLDIER SOLDIER - -RedRed tunic,tunic, decorateddecorated withwith brassbrass buttons, buttons, DANCINGDANCING DOLL:DOLL: No!No! YourYour faceface isis uglyugly andand mean.mean. I I couldcould nevernever epaulettes,epaulettes, talltall soldier soldier hat.hat. lovelove you.you. OnlyOnly mymy poorpoor Soldier,Soldier, foreverforever andand always.always.

DANCINGDANCING DOLLDOLL - -FluffyFluffy pinafore-stylepinafore-style dress dress mademade ofof JACK:JACK: ForeverForever andand always always isis a a longlong time. time. You'dYou'd betterbetter forgetforget that that stiffstiff gauze,gauze, shinyshiny spangle spangle inin hair. hair. wretched,wretched, one-leggedone-legged SoldierSoldier and and settlesettle downdown withwith me. me. He'sHe's gonegone forever,forever, rusting rusting away away in in thethe bottombottom ofof thethe canal!canal! JACK-IN-THE-BOXJACK-IN-THE-BOX - -BrightlyBrightly decorateddecorated "sandwich"sandwich board"board" wornworn over over thethe shoulders,shoulders, soso thatthat hehe carriescarries hishis boxbox TlTl N N SOLDIER:SOLDIER: (Suddenly(Suddenly reappears, reappears, wornworn out out and and breathless. breathless. HeHe withwith him,him, perkperky y clown clown hat.hat. leansleans once once againagain against against the the BOX.)BOX.) OhOh nono 1 'm1 'm not!not! YouYou haven'thaven't seesee the the lastlast ofof me,me, youyou evilevil creature.creature. TheThe powerpower ofof truetrue lovelove isis SWINEHERDSWINEHERD - -Ragged,Ragged, dirtydirty coat coat oror shirt,shirt, tatteredtattered cap,cap, strongerstronger thanthan anyany magicmagic youyou cancan make!make! changechange toto royal royal roberobe andand crown. crown. DANCINGDANCING DOLL:DOLL: OOh,h, Soldier,Soldier, howhow goodgood itit isis toto see see youyou herehere again!again! EMPEMPEROREROR - -RoyalRoyal roberobe andand crown.crown. I I thoughtthought you you hadhad drowned! drowned!

PRIPRINCESSNCESS - -RoyalRoyal roberobe andand crown.crown. TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: AndAnd soso did did I!I! ButBut all all of of a a sudden,sudden, justjust asas I I waswas sinkingsinking toto thethe bottombottom ofof thethe canal,canal, a a hugehuge fishfish swallowedswallowed meme upup LADIES-IN-WAITINGLADIES-IN-WAITING - -LongLong robes. robes...... and,and, ohoh, , howhow dark dark it it waswas inside!inside! I I thoughtthought it it waswas thethe endend ofof me,me, butbut allall atat onceonce thethe fishfish stoppedstopped thrashingthrashing aboutabout inin thethe UGLYUGLY DUCKDUCK LING LING - -SimpleSimple whitewhite hoodedhooded cape,cape, allall inin oneone water,water, andand everything everything waswas strangelystrangely still.still. AndAnd thenthen I I sawsaw sunlight!sunlight! piecepiece withwith wide wide sleevessleeves thatthat appear appear toto bebe wings.wings. AwkwardnessAwkwardness ofof UGLYUGLY DUCKDUCK LI LI NG NG shouldshould bebe suggestedsuggested JACK:JACK: Sunlight!Sunlight! AtAt the the bottombottom ofof thethe canal?canal? onlyonly byby actions,actions, notnot byby costume.costume. UGLYUGLY DUCKLINGDUCKLING is,is, afterafter all,all, a a swan,swan, andand mustmust thereforetherefore appearappear toto bebe beautibeauti TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: No!No! SunlightSunlight inin a a kitchen!kitchen! TheThe fishfish hadhad bee-nbee-n fulful atat the the endend ofof thethe story.story. caught,caught, soldsold atat thethe market,market, andand broughtbrought home home toto thisthis veryvery house!house! WhenWhen thethe kitchenkitchen maidmaid foundfound meme insideinside thatthat fish,fish, sheshe was was soso FARMERFARMER - -WarmWarm winterwinter jacket,jacket, cap,cap, scarf,scarf, boots.boots. surprisedsurprised thatthat sheshe carriedcarried meme allall overover thethe house,house, showingshowing meme toto everyone.everyone. AndAnd thenthen thethe little little boyboy broughtbrought meme upstairs,upstairs, andand herehere BOYBOY && GIRL:GIRL: SameSame asas FARMER FARMER I I am!am!

22 3 3 3 For Preview Only. DANCINGDANCING DOLL: DOLL:Back whereBack youwhere belong! you belong! And youAnd areyou right.are right.The The DAUGHTERDAUGHTER OF OFAIR: AIR: GoodGood morning! morning! power ofpower true oflove true is lovestronger is stronger than thethan most the mostevil spellevil spellin the in world.the world. LITTLELITTLE MERMAID: MERMAID: (Sitting(Sitting up, up, startled.) startled.) WhoWho areare you?you? WhereWhere JACK: Oh no it's not! This time I will destroy you both. have JACK: Oh no it's not! This time I will destroy you both. have am amI? I? had enoughhad enoughof you. of Nowyou. justNow watch just watchthis. this.Do youDo seeyou thatsee that blazing blazingstove overstove there? over there?(Points (PointsLEFT.) LEFT.) Just aJust puff a ofpuff breath of breath DAUGHTER OF AIR: In the air. The air above the sea and (Blows.) and the door is open. Another puff (Blows harder.) and DAUGHTER OF AIR: In the air. The air above the sea and (Blows.) and the door is open. Another puff (Blows harder.) and below the sky. in goes the Soldier! (TIN SOLDIER is blown toward LEFT, and below the sky. in goes the Soldier! (TIN SOLDIER is blown toward LEFT, and OFFSTAGE.) And this time, old fellow, you will never be back LITTLE MERMAID: My voice, my voice! I have my voice again! OFFSTAGE.)... becauseAnd thisyou time,will melt!old fellow,That's youwhat will happens never tobe thingsback made LITTLE MERMAID: My voice, my voice! I have my voice again! because you will melt! That's what happens to things made ... out of tin! And do you know what happens to a paper doll? DAUGHTER OF AIR: Of course you have . .. although it can't out of Justtin! watch!And do(Blows you knowDANCING what DOLLhappens into to firea paperOFFSTAGE doll? LEFT.) DAUGHTERbe heard OF by AIR: any butOf thecourse Daught youers haveof Air. . .. That although is what it can'tyou Just watch!Gone in(Blows a blaze DANCING of fire! DOLLTrue loveinto ...fire OFFSTAGEhah! Just a LEFT.)puff of be heardare now. by any but the Daughters of Air. That is what you Gone inwind a blaze can endof fire!it forever. True love ...hah! Just a puff of are now. wind can end it forever. LITTLE MERMAID: I don't understand. I thought I had died. I ANDERSEN: (Rising.) I don't believe you. What does a wicked LITTLEthought MERMAID: I was nothing I don't but understand. foam on the I ocean.thought II thoughthad died. ... I ANDERSEN:old Troll(Rising.) know Iabout don't love? believe Just you. let meWhat see doeswhat a might wicked be left thought I was nothing but foam on the ocean. I thought ... old Trollin knowthe stove. about (EXITSlove? LEFT.)Just let me see what might be left DAUGHTER OF AIR: You are about to gain an immortal soul, in the stove. (EXITS LEFT.) DAUGHTERand so OFyou AIR:will neverYou die. are about to gain an immortal soul, JACK: You'll find nothing there but ashes ... and perhaps a useless and so you will never die. JACK: You'lllump findof tin! nothing there but ashes ... and perhaps a useless LITTLE MERMAID: But he did not love me! How can I gain an lump of tin! LITTLEimmortal MERMAID: soul? But he did not love me! How can I gain an ANDERSEN: (RE-ENTERING, carrying something concealed in his immortal soul? ANDERSEN:hands, (RE-ENTERING, hiding it from JACK.)carrying somethingYou are wrong, concealed you evilin hiscreature! DAUGHTER OF AIR: By deeds as noble as the one you just hands, hidingI found it ashes,from yesJACK.) ... You but amongare wrong, them you a treasure. evil creature! (To Audience, performed. You have suffered in the service of another, and you as he opens his hands.) Look. There on the bottom of the stove DAUGHTER OF AIR: By deeds as noble as the one you just I found ashes, yes ... but among them a treasure. (To Audience, performed.have bravely You given have yoursuffered life forin thehim. service He will of banother,e happy andnow you... as he openswas thishis perfecthands.) littleLook. tin heart. There Andon thejust bottombeside it,of stillthe shining,stove the but you will be far happier. Come. (Holds our her hand.) I metal spangle from the Dancing Doll's hair! (JACK comes to look.) have bravely given your life for him. He will be happy now ... was this perfect little tin heart. And just beside it, still shining, the will show you the beautiful kingdom above, and some day we will All right now, Jack ... be off with you! You are not worthy of but you will be far happier. Come. (Holds our her hand.) I (JACK comes to look.) live there forever. metal spangletreasures from such the as Dancingthese! (AsDoll's JACK hair! slinks OFF LEFT. To Audience.) will show you the beautiful kingdom above, and some day we will All rightAnd now, speaking Jack ...of treasures, be off what with about you! theseYou otherare not boxes? worthy Just of .look live there forever. treasures such as these! (As JACK slinks OFF LEFT. To Audience.) (LITTLE MERMAID and DAUGHER OF AIR EXIT LEFT, as at this one . .. and this one .. . and, oh! (Stopping at SWINE ANDERSEN rises from stool, COMES CENTER.) And speakingHERD'S of BOX.)treasures, What what beautiful about thing these could other possibly boxes? come Just out .look of a (LITTLE MERMAID and DAUGHER OF AIR EXIT LEFT, as at this one . .. and this one .. . and, oh! (Stopping at SWINE box so ugly? It's as filthy as a pigpen! ANDERSENANDERSEN: risesAnd from so thestool, Little COMES Mermaid CENTER.) gained an immortal soul, HERD'S BOX.) What beautiful thing could possibly come out of a the prince married his princess, and all live happily ever after. box soSWINEHERD: ugly? It's as(He filthy appears as afrom pigpen! behind BOX. He is carrying a large ANDERSEN:And that Andis the so storythe Littlethat cameMermaid to me gained from anout immortal of the oldsoul, Sea box.) That's exactly what it is, sir. A pigpen. And it's full of the Chest.prince marriedFor awhile his itprincess, looked likeand theall live end happilyfor the everLittle after. Mermaid, SWINEHERD:pigs. (He appears from behind BOX. He is carrying a large Anddidn't that it?is theMost story things that come came to to an me end, from sooner out orof later,the oldjust Seaas box.) That's exactly what it is, sir. A pigpen. And it's full of Chest.my storiesFor awhile have today.it looked But like they the are end not for really the endedLittle because Mermaid, pigs.ANDERSEN: Pigs? (To Audience.) Well, I really must apologize. didn'tthey it? can Mostbe told things again come and toagain, an end,as long sooner as there or later,are childrenjust as to didn't mean to bring you a box full of pigs, nor a disgraceful looking my enjoystories them. have today.Perhaps someBut theyof you are willnot goreally home ended and tellbecause them ... uh ... swineherd? Is that what you are? ANDERSEN: Pigs? (To Audience.) Well, I really must apologize. theyto canyour be brothers told again and andsisters. again, And as somelong day,as there when are you're children all to didn't mean to bring you a box full of pigs, nor a disgraceful looking enjoygrown them. up, youPerhaps will some tell themof youto yourwill gochildren home and and grandchildren. tell them SWINEHERD: Of course not. Have you forgotten me? I'm a prince! ... uh ... swineherd? Is that what you are? to yourIn that brothers way, I andwill sisters.be remembered ... and so I will remember A rather poor one, I 'II admit, but a prince nonetheless. And some day, when you're all grownyou. up, And,you like will my tell storybookthem to charactersyour children (ALL and players grandchildren. surround SWINEHERD: Of course not. Have you forgotten me? I'm a prince! In thatANDERSEN way, I for:will curtainbe remembered call) I hope .. that. and each so andI will every remember one of you w,ill live happily ever after. A rather poor one, I 'II admit, but a prince nonetheless. you. And, like my storybook characters (ALL players surround 4 ANDERSEN for: curtain call) CURTAINI hope that each and every one of you w,ill live happily ever after. 4 21 4 RIGHTS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE REPRODUCING THIS SCRIPT CURTAIN For Preview Only. She is mute! She cannot speak! But how ANDERSEN: Well, I would never have guessed. (To Audience.) Oh,Oh, poor poor thing. thing. She is mute! She cannot speak! But how ANDERSEN: Well, I would never have guessed. (To Audience.) I shall take her to my love, the royal princess, Would you? He doesn't look much like a prince, does he? beautifulbeautiful she she is! is! I shall take her to my love, the royal princess, Would you? He doesn't look much like a prince, does he? married she can be a little sister to us. andand when when we we are are married she can be a little sister to us. (Holds out hand.) Come. You can be a companion to my SWINEHERD:SWINEHERD: It'sIt's notnot finefine clothingclothing thatthat makesmakes aa prince,prince, sir.sir. It'sIt's (Holds out hand.) Come. You can be a companion to my heart. And that is why I am dressed as a lowly Swineherd. I bride-to-be.bride-to-be. heart. And that is why I am dressed as a lowly Swineherd. I wishwish toto bebe lovedloved for for mymy heartheart alone,alone, notnot forfor mymy positionposition oror mymy kingdom. Don't you remember my story? It's very much like the (LITTLE(LITTLE MERMAID MERMAID slowly slowly rises. rises. WithWith a alook look of of deep deep sorrow, sorrow, kingdom. Don't you remember my story? It's very much like the she follows the PRINCE OFFSTAGE RIGHT. In a moment she oneone aboutabout thethe SoldierSoldier andand thethe DancingDancing Doll.Doll. JustJust thinkthink aa minute.minute. she follows the PRINCE OFFSTAGE RIGHT. In a moment she Perhaps it will come back to you. RE-ENTERS,RE-ENTERS, alone, alone, kneels kneels at atthe the edge edge of of the the sea, sea, holds holds out out her her Perhaps it will come back to you. arms imploringly, as though trying to call someone. From DOWN- arms imploringly, as though trying to call someone. From DOWN- ANDERSEN: You mean it's a story of true love? STAGESTAGE LEFT, LEFT, GRANDMOTHER GRANDMOTHER ENTERS, ENTERS, swimming swimming with with upward upward ANDERSEN: You mean it's a story of true love? strokesstrokes toward toward LITTLE LITTLE MERMAID. MERMAID. SheShe is iscarrying carrying a aknife.) knife.) SWINEHERD:SWINEHERD: InIn a a way,way, yes.yes. ButBut itit doesn'tdoesn't tell tell usus whatwhat truetrue lovelove is. It tells us what true love is NOT. It began, as many love GRANDMOTHER:GRANDMOTHER: AlthoughAlthough you you cannot cannot speak, speak, I Iknow know what what is isin in is. It tells us what true love is NOT. It began, as many love stories do, with a rich and beautiful princess ... youryour heart heart and and I Icame came . .. . but. but only only for for a amoment. moment. Only Only to to stories do, with a rich and beautiful princess ... tell you what you must do now. The prince loves another, and tell you what you must do now. The prince loves another, and ANDERSON: Yes, yes! I remember now! The little princess who so soyou you will will never never gain gain an animmortal immortal soul. soul. But But you you can can come come back back ANDERSON: Yes, yes! I remember now! The little princess who to us. (LITTLE MERMAID looks hopefully at GRANDMOTHER.) wantedwanted nothingnothing butbut prettypretty things things toto playplay with.with. AndAnd therethere werewere to us. (LITTLE MERMAID looks hopefully at GRANDMOTHER.) princes from kingdoms far and wide who wanted to marry her, and ThereThere is isonly only one one way, way, and and it itis isa a terrible terrible way. way. You You must must kill kill princes from kingdoms far and wide who wanted to marry her, and so they sent her expensive toys, hoping to win her favor. youryour prince. prince. (LITTLE (LITTLE MERMAID MERMAID shakes shakes her her head head vehemently.) vehemently.) so they sent her expensive toys, hoping to win her favor. Yes,, child, it is the only way. When his warm blood splashes Yes,, child, it is the only way. When his warm blood splashes SWINEHERD: Ah, yes, but I was a very poor prince, with the overover your your feet, feet, they they will will turn turn once once again again into into a afishtail. fishtail. (G (Givingiving SWINEHERD: Ah, yes, but I was a very poor prince, with the tiniest of kingdoms, and no money to spend. And so I sent her LITTLELITTLE MERMAID MERMAID the the knife.) knife.) TakeTake this. this. Do Do the the deed deed ...... and and tiniest of kingdoms, and no money to spend. And so I sent her the only two treasures I had. One was a rose. A very special hurry!hurry! YouYou must must be bedone done by by sunset, sunset, or or it itwill will be be you you who who dies, dies, the only two treasures I had. One was a rose. A very special rose. It grew in my father's garden, on a bush that bloomed only andand not not the the prince. prince. rose. It grew in my father's garden, on a bush that bloomed only everyevery fivefive yearsyears andand thenthen putput outout nono moremore thanthan aa singlesingle flower.flower. (GRANDMOTHER(GRANDMOTHER EXITS EXITS LEFT LEFT as asLITTLE LITTLE MERMAID MERMAID stares stares at at ButBut itit was was thethe mostmost perfectperfect roserose everever seenseen byby human human eyes,eyes, andand itsits knifeknife in inher her hand. hand. AsAs PRINCE PRINCE ENTERS ENTERS from from RIGHT, RIGHT, she she fragrancefragrance waswas sweetersweeter thanthan thethe richestrichest perfume.perfume. I I couldn'tcouldn't imagineimagine quicklyquickly hides hides it itbehind behind her her back.) back.) thatthat the the princessprincess wouldwould notnot bebe thrilledthrilled toto havehave itit forfor herher own.own. I I putput it it into into a a handsomehandsome silversilver chest,chest, togethertogether withwith mymy otherother gift,gift, aa PRINCE:PRINCE: GoodGood morning, morning, little little sister. sister. Isn't Isn't this this a alovely lovely day? day? nightingalenightingale whowho sangsang moremore beautifullybeautifully thanthan anyany otherother inin thethe world.world. (Turns(Turns his his back back o no nher.) her.) JustJust look look up up there. there. See See how how the the sun sun AndAnd then then I I hadhad thethe chestchest delivereddelivered toto thethe palace.palace. (PRINCESS(PRINCESS andand shinesshines on on the the spires spires of ofthe the palace? palace? TheyThey look look almost almost li kelike gold, gold, herher twotwo LADIES-IN-WAITINGLADIES-IN-WAITING ENTERENTER LEFT,LEFT, seatseat themselvesthemselves onon don'tdon't they? they? AndAnd did did you you ever ever see see a abluer bluer sky? sky? JustJust the the color color CABINET,CABINET, STAGE STAGE RIGHT,RIGHT, lookinglooking bored.)bored.) TheThe PrincessPrincess andand herher of ofmy my princess's princess's eyes! eyes! (While(While he he is isspeaking, speaking, LITTLE LITTLE MERMAID MERMAID Ladies-In-WaitingLadies-In-Waiting werewere sittingsitting inin thethe royalroyal playroomplayroom thatthat day,day, raisesraises knife, knife, prepares prepares to toplunge plunge it itinto into PRINCE'S PRINCE'S back. back. ButBut she she wonderingwondering whatwhat toto dodo withwith themselves,themselves, andand itit waswas thethe EmperorEmperor cannotcannot do do it. it. WhileWhile he he is isstill still turned turned awa away, y,she she tosses tosses the the knife knife himselfhimself whowho delivereddelivered thethe silversilver chest. chest. OFFSTAGEOFFSTAGE LEFT, LEFT, a s asPRINCE PRINCE turns turns back back to to her.) her.) I Imust must go go fetch fetch thethe princess, princess, to toshow show her her what what a abeautiful beautiful day day we we have have for for our our ANDERSEN:ANDERSEN: AndAnd waswas thethe PrincessPrincess delighted?delighted? wedding!wedding! SWINEHERD:SWINEHERD: AtAt first,first, yes.yes. NaturallyNaturally I I peekedpeeked inin aa windowwindow toto seesee (PRINCE(PRINCE EXITS EXITS RIGHT. RIGHT. AsAs he he does, does, LITTLE LITTLE MERMAID MERMAID stares stares howhow mymy giftsgifts wouldwould bebe received,received, andand thisthis isis whatwhat happened.happened. JustJust sorrsorrowowfullyfully after after him, him, puts puts her her hands hands over over her her face, face, weeping weeping listen.listen. silently,silently, then then turns turns toward toward LEFT, LEFT, hurls hurls herself herself into into the th esea. sea. SheShe swimsswims a afew few strokes, strokes, then then sinks sinks to tofloor, floor, motionless. motionless. DAUGHTERDAUGHTER (ANDERSEN(ANDERSEN goes goes toto sitsit onon Stool,Stool, DOWNDOWN LEFT,LEFT, SWINEHERDSWINEHERD OFOF AIR AIR ENTERS ENTERS LEFT, LEFT, stands stands looking looking d owndown at at LITTLE LITTLE MERMAID.) MERMAID.) loungeslounges against against SWINEHERD'SSWINEHERD'S BOX,BOX, watching.watching. EMPEROREMPEROR ENTERS ENTERS RIGHTRIGHT with with silversilver chest.)chest.) 20 5 55 RIGHTS MUST BE PURCHASED20 BEFORE20 REPRODUCING THIS SCRIPT For Preview Only. PRINCESS:PRINCESS: Another Another gift! gift! Oh, Oh, Father, Father, how how lovely, lovely, and and just just in in time,. time,. LITTLELITTLE MERMAID: MERMAID: Is Is that that all? all? But But it's it's so so simple! simple! Oh, Oh, thank thank too.too. TheThe Ladies Ladies and and I I couldn't couldn't find find a a thing thing to to do! do! you,you, kind kind Sea Sea Witch, Witch, thank thank you! you!

EMPEROR:EMPEROR: A A whole whole palace palace full full of of toys toys ...... and and you you couldn't couldn't find find SEASEA WITCH: WITCH: Kind? Kind? Hah! Hah! No No one one has has ever ever called called me me kind kind aa thing thing to to do? do? beforebefore ...... andand no no one one ever ever will. will. Because,Because, you you see, see, you you will will suffersuffer dreadful dreadful pain pain for for all all of of your your life life as as a a human human being. being. PRINCESS:PRINCESS: Well, Well, Father, Father, you you know know yourself yourself I I haven't haven't had had a a single single AlthoughAlthough youyou will will be be able able to to walk walk and and dance dance as as gracefully gracefully as as newnew gift gift since since yesterday yesterday ...... and,and, oh, oh, I I do do get get so so bored bored playing playing youyou now now swim, swim, your your legs legs will will feel feel as as though though they they are are being being withwith the the same same old old things! things! Once Once you've you've wound wound them them up, up, rattled rattled piercedpierced by by swords swords with with every every step. step. You You will will suffer suffer for for your your them,them, moved moved them them from from here here to to there there ...... well,well, they're they're just just not not foolishness!foolishness! interestinginteresting any any more. more. I've I've never never yet yet had had a a single single toy toy that that pleased pleased meme for for more more than than a a moment moment or or two. two. Perhaps Perhaps this this one. one. LetLet me me LITTLELITTLE MERMAID: MERMAID: II don't don't care. care. Just Just give give me me the the potion, potion, and and see,see, Father, Father, let let me me see. see. HH /1D,>H /1D,>H )0,>@H )0,>@H @7H @7H !"H!"H ...... !H!H E'@)0H E'@)0H ,F)1@,*4GH ,F)1@,*4GH '>H '>H >0,H >0,H 78,6>H 78,6>H 1B H 1B H SEASEA WITCH: WITCH: Not Not yet, yet, Little Little Mermaid, Mermaid, not not yet! yet! First, First, my my payment. payment. LADYLADY ONE: ONE: What What a a handsome handsome silver silver chest! chest! JustJust look look at at the the decor decor ationsations carved carved on on it! it! LITTLELITTLE MERMAID: MERMAID: Anything, Anything, anything! anything!

PRINCESS:PRINCESS: Yes, Yes, it's it's pretty. pretty. But But it's it's nothing nothing but but a a box, box, and and you you SEASEA WITCH: WITCH: Your Your most most precious precious possession, possession, then. then. Your Your lovely lovely voice. voice. can'tcan't DO DO anything anything with with a a box. box. It'sIt's what's what's inside inside that that matters. matters. WhenWhen you you drink drink this this magic magic potion, potion, I I will will have have your your voice, voice, and and you you And,And, look look ...... there there are are two two compartments. compartments. There There must must be be two two willwill be be mute mute forever. forever. You You will will never never sing sing or or speak speak again! again! gifts!gifts! LITTLELITTLE MERMAID: MERMAID: ButBut what what will will I I have have left left to to charm charm the the prince? prince? LADYLADY ONE: ONE: OpenOpen the the smaller smaller one one first, first, Your Your Highness. Highness. There's There's a a beautifulbeautiful fragrance fragrance coming coming from from it. it. Oh, Oh, I I hope hope it's it's candy! candy! SEASEA WITCH: WITCH: YourYour beauty,beauty, my my child. child. And And your your graceful graceful dancing. dancing. ThatThat should should be be enough enough for for any any prince. prince. But, But, remember, remember, you you can can LADYLADY TWO: TWO: OrOr maybe maybe some some pretty pretty little little cakes cakes with with frosting! frosting! nevernever be be a a mermaid mermaid again. again. And And if if the the prince prince does does not not love love you, you, thenthen you you will will not not gain gain an an immortal immortal soul, soul, and and when when you you die, die, you you EMPEROR:EMPEROR: >H>H !!H!!H 41-@>H 41-@>H 7C@H 7C@H @0,H @0,H ;7>,H ;7>,H Oh,Oh, Daughter! Daughter! Isn'tIsn't willwill become become no no more more than than foam foam on on the the ocean. ocean. thatthat the the loveliest loveliest thing thing you you ever ever saw? saw? LITTLELITTLE MERMAID: MERMAID: II wantwant to to try! try! Give Give me me the the bottle bottle and and let let me me PRINCESS:PRINCESS: $6),;@'164GH$6),;@'164GH 16>8,)@16/H 16>8,)@16/H @0,H @0,H ;7>, H ;7>, H Well,Well, it's it's beautifully beautifully go!go! made.made. I I wonder wonder what what you you do do with with it. it. !H!H %#H %#H /1D,>H /1D,>H 0,;H 0,;H @0,H @0,H 5'/1)H 5'/1)H 87@176H 87@176H *2?88,';>H *2?88,';>H 76),H 76),H '/'16H '/'16H LADYLADY TWO: TWO: DoDo youyou wind wind it it up? up? (,016*H(,016*H @0,H @0,H #H #H &H &H ##H ##H HH >E15>H >E15>H 9C1)34GH 9C1)34GH H H $ !#H$ !#H #H #H ## !H!H %!#H %!#H #H #H >E15>H >E15>H E,';14GH E,';14GH PRINCESS:PRINCESS: #C=16/H#C=16/H 1@H 1@H 7D,;H 7D,;H '6+H '6+H 7D,: H 7D,: H II don't don't think think so. so. I I don't don't @7H@7H # # HH >163>H >163>H @7H @7H .77< H .77< H !0,H !0,H *;163>H *;163>H @0,H @0,H 87@176H 87@176H >47E4GH >47E4GH ;,57D,>H ;,57D,>H seesee a a key. key. 0,;H0,;H -1>0@'14H -1>0@'14H '6*H '6*H 5';D,4>H 5';D,4>H '@H '@H @0,H @0,H >1/0@H >1/0@H 7-H 7-H 0,;H 0,;H 4,/> H 4,/> H HH # # !H!H #H#H >@78>H >@78>H >07;@H >07;@H '@H '@H >1/0@H >1/0@H 7-H 7-H ##H ##H H H LADYLADY ONE: ONE: Perhaps Perhaps you you shake shake it. it. !!H!!H *7,>H *7,>H >7H >7H E1@0H E1@0H 67H 67H ;,>C4AH;,>C4AH No,No, there's there's no no rattle. rattle. PRINCE:PRINCE: What What is is this? this? What What has has the the sea sea washed washed up up on on the the steps steps of of mymy palace? palace? Has Has there there been been a a shipwreck? shipwreck? Who Who are are you? you? How How LADYLADY TWO: TWO: Bite Bite it, it, Your Your Highness. Highness. Perhaps Perhaps it's it's candy candy after after all. all. diddid you you come come here? here? ##H##H HH >514,>H >514,>H C8H C8H '@H '@H H H HowHow clever! clever! Speak!Speak! Tell Tell me me who who you you are. are. ##H##H HH >0'3,>H >0'3,>H 0,;H 0,;H 0,'*H0,'*H >47E4GH >47E4GH '6*H '6*H ?*4GH ?*4GH @7C)0,>H @7C)0,>H 0,;H 0,;H 418>H 418>H E1@0H E1@0H 0,;H 0,;H -16/,;>H -16/,;>H

6 19 66 1919 End of Script Sample PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION NOTESNOTES beginsbegins to to topple,topple, turns,turns, falls falls BEHINDBEHIND GIGIFTFT BOX. BOX. JACKJACK MOVESMOVES toto GIFTGIFT BOX, BOX, lookslooks downward.)downward.) I'veI've donedone it!it! l'�el'�e donedone it!it! CAST:CAST: TALESTALES OFOF HANSHANS CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN ANDERSENANDERSEN cancan bebe played played I'veI've blownblown himhim rightright outout thethe windowwindow andand intointo a a puddle!puddle! And,And, byby a a castcast asas smallsmall asas sixsix oror asas largelarge asas nineteen,nineteen, therebythereby makingmaking oh,oh, a a littlelittle boyboy is is puttingputting himhim intointo a a paperpaper boatboat andand sailingsailing himhim it it suitablesuitable eithereither forfor a a smallsmall totouringuring company company oror a alarge large schoolschool downdown thethe gutter. gutter. He'llHe'll endend inin thethe bottombottom ofof thethe canal!canal! dramadrama group.group. DANCINGDANCING DOLL:DOLL: Oh,Oh, poorpoor Soldier!Soldier! WillWill wewe nevernever seesee himhim again?again? COSTUMES:COSTUMES: ForFor thethe basicbasic castcast ofof six,six, costumescostumes mustmust bebe extremelyextremely simple,simple, allowingallowing forfor quick quick andand easyeasy changeschanges betweenbetween stories.stories. ItIt JACK:JACK: WhyWhy wouldwould youyou wantwant to to seesee himhim again?again? HeHe waswas nothingnothing isis suggestedsuggested thatthat allall playersplayers wearwear blackblack tops tops andand pantspants andand thethe butbut a a brokenbroken TinTin Soldier!Soldier! variousvarious costumes costumes putput onon overover them.them. WhenWhen possible,possible, garments garments shouldshould tietie oror fastenfasten inin front, front, soso thatthat individualindividual actorsactors cancan change change DANCINGDANCING DOLL:DOLL: I I lovedloved himhim justjust thethe same. same. HeHe hadhad suchsuch a a kindkind withoutwithout helhelp.p. face.face.

HANSHANS CHRISTCHRIST JAN JAN ANDERSENANDERSEN - -BrightBright jerkin jerkin and and cap.cap. JACK:JACK: What'sWhat's wrongwrong withwith mymy face?face? Couldn'tCouldn't youyou lovelove meme instead?instead?

TINTIN SOLDIERSOLDIER - -RedRed tunic,tunic, decorateddecorated withwith brassbrass buttons, buttons, DANCINGDANCING DOLL:DOLL: No!No! YourYour faceface isis uglyugly andand mean.mean. I I couldcould nevernever epaulettes,epaulettes, talltall soldier soldier hat.hat. lovelove you.you. OnlyOnly mymy poorpoor Soldier,Soldier, foreverforever andand always.always.

DANCINGDANCING DOLLDOLL - -FluffyFluffy pinafore-stylepinafore-style dress dress mademade ofof JACK:JACK: ForeverForever andand always always isis a a longlong time. time. You'dYou'd betterbetter forgetforget that that stiffstiff gauze,gauze, shinyshiny spangle spangle inin hair. hair. wretched,wretched, one-leggedone-legged SoldierSoldier andand settlesettle downdown withwith me. me. He'sHe's gonegone forever,forever, rustingrusting away away in in thethe bottombottom ofof thethe canal!canal! JACK-IN-THE-BOXJACK-IN-THE-BOX - -BrightlyBrightly decorateddecorated "sandwich"sandwich board"board" wornworn over over thethe shoulders,shoulders, soso thatthat hehe carriescarries hishis boxbox TlTl N N SOLDIER:SOLDIER: (Suddenly(Suddenly reappears, reappears, wornworn out out and and breathless. breathless. HeHe withwith him,him, perkperky y clownclown hat.hat. leansleans once once againagain against against the the BOX.)BOX.) OhOh nono 1 'm1 'm not!not! YouYou haven'thaven't seesee the the lastlast ofof me,me, youyou evilevil creature.creature. TheThe powerpower ofof truetrue lovelove isis SWINEHERDSWINEHERD - -Ragged,Ragged, dirtydirty coat coat oror shirt,shirt, tatteredtattered cap,cap, strongerstronger thanthan anyany magicmagic youyou cancan make!make! changechange toto royal royal roberobe andand crown. crown. DANCINGDANCING DOLL:DOLL: OOh,h, Soldier,Soldier, howhow goodgood itit isis toto see see youyou herehere again!again! EEMMPERORPEROR - -RoyalRoyal roberobe andand crown.crown. I I thoughtthought youyou hadhad drowned!drowned!

PRIPRINNCCEESS S - -RoyalRoyal roberobe andand crown.crown. TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: AndAnd soso diddid I!I! ButBut all all of of a a sudden,sudden, justjust asas I I waswas sinkingsinking toto thethe bottombottom ofof thethe canal,canal, a a hugehuge fishfish swallowedswallowed meme upup LADIES-IN-WAITINGLADIES-IN-WAITING - -LongLong robes. robes...... and,and, ohoh, , howhow dark dark it it waswas inside!inside! I I thoughtthought it it waswas thethe endend ofof me,me, butbut allall atat onceonce thethe fishfish stoppedstopped thrashingthrashing aboutabout inin thethe UGLYUGLY DUCKDUCK LING LING - -SimpleSimple whitewhite hoodedhooded cape,cape, allall inin oneone water,water, andand everythingeverything waswas strangelystrangely still.still. AndAnd thenthen I I sawsaw sunlight!sunlight! piecepiece withwith widewide sleevessleeves thatthat appear appear toto bebe wings.wings. AwkwardnessAwkwardness ofof UGLYUGLY DUCKDUCK LI LI NG NG shouldshould bebe suggestedsuggested JACK:JACK: Sunlight!Sunlight! AtAt the the bottombottom ofof thethe canal?canal? onlyonly byby actions,actions, notnot byby costume.costume. UGLYUGLY DUCKLINGDUCKLING is,is, afterafter all,all, a a swan,swan, andand mustmust thereforetherefore appearappear toto bebe beautibeauti TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: No!No! SunlightSunlight inin a a kitchen!kitchen! TheThe fishfish hadhad bee-nbee-n fulful atat the the endend ofof thethe story.story. caught,caught, soldsold atat thethe market,market, andand broughtbrought home home toto thisthis veryvery house!house! WhenWhen thethe kitchenkitchen maidmaid foundfound meme insideinside thatthat fish,fish, sheshe was was soso FARMERFARMER - -WarmWarm winterwinter jacket,jacket, cap,cap, scarf,scarf, boots.boots. surprisedsurprised thatthat sheshe carriedcarried meme allall overover thethe house,house, showingshowing meme toto everyone.everyone. AndAnd thenthen thethe little little boyboy broughtbrought meme upstairs,upstairs, andand herehere BOYBOY && GIRL:GIRL: SameSame asas FARMER FARMER I I am!am!

22 3 3 3 straightstraight ahead.ahead. BecauseBecause therethere, , justjust atat thethe otherother edgeedge ,of,of thethe box,box, SWANSWAN -- SameSame asas UGLYUGLY DUCKLINGDUCKLING stoodstood aa beautifulbeautiful paperpaper dancingdancing doll,doll, allall dresseddressed inin fluffyfluffy white,white, andand withwith aa shinyshiny metalmetal spanglespangle inin herher hair.hair. (DANCING(DANCING DOLLDOLL LITTLELITTLE MERMAIDMERMAID -- GreenGreen oror blueblue gauzygauzy dress,dress, belowbelow appearsappears atat RightRight EdgeEdge ofof GIFTGIFT BOX,BOX, oneone legleg remainingremaining hidden.hidden. kneeknee length.length. FishtailFishtail cancan bebe wraparoundwraparound skirt,skirt, floorfloor SheShe staysstays inin place,place, butbut MOVESMOVES gracefully,gracefully, asas thoughthough dancing.)dancing.) length,length, stifflystiffly flairedflaired atat bottom.bottom. ToTo bebe untieduntied atat A paper doll, you know, blows this way and that with the A paper doll, you know, blows this way and that with the waist,waist, droppeddropped whenwhen fishtailfishtail isis toto disappear.disappear. Long Long slightest breeze, and so she appeared to be dancing . . . but slightest breeze, and so she appeared to be dancing . . . but blondblond wig.wig. onlyonly onon oneone leg.leg. TheThe otherother waswas hiddenhidden behindbehind thethe box,box, andand the tin soldier naturally thought she had only one leg, just like the tin soldier naturally thought she had only one leg, just like GRANDMOTHERGRANDMOTHER -- SameSame asas LITTLELITTLE MERMAIDMERMAID exceptexcept he did. he did. longlong greygrey wig.wig.

JACK: Oh, no you won't! The Dancing Doll is the JACK: (Popping(Popping up.)up.) Oh, no you won't! The Dancing Doll is the SETSET DESIGN:DESIGN: ReferRefer toto drawing,drawing, lastlast pagepage ofof script.script. lovelove ofof mymy life,life, andand I'veI've determineddetermined thatthat nono oneone elseelse shall shall havehave her. So keep your thoughts to yourself, Soldier. And your eyes, her. So keep your thoughts to yourself, Soldier. And your eyes, GIGI FT FT BOXBOX -- cancan bebe standinstandingg three-sidedthree-sided screen,screen, largelarge too! too! enoughenough soso thatthat characterscharacters cancan hidehide behindbehind it,it, oror itit cancan bebe oneone dimensional,dimensional, withwith falsefalse perspective.perspective. ItIt TIN SOLDIER: Who are you to speak so to me? You look like TIN SOLDIER: Who are you to speak so to me? You look like shouldshould bebe paintedpainted aa solidsolid colorcolor soso thatthat whenwhen giftgift no more than a silly Jack-In-The-Box! no more than a silly Jack-In-The-Box! bowbow isis removed,removed, itit cancan serveserve asas neutralneutral backgroundbackground toto otherother stories.stories. JACK:JACK: Silly,Silly, amam I?I? NoNo moremore thanthan aa Jack-IJack-In-The-Box?n-The-Box? Hah!Hah! I'mI'm a Troll, that's what I am, and I have special powers. a Troll, that's what I am, and I have special powers. SWINEHERD'SSWINEHERD'S BOXBOX cancan bebe one-dimensional,one-dimensional, withwith princeprince costumecostume andand basketbasket ofof eggseggs hiddenhidden behindbehind it.it. TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: II thoughtthought TrollsTrolls livedlived inin caves!caves!

JACK:JACK: TheyThey do,do, mostly.mostly. ButBut sometimes,sometimes, whenwhen theythey choosechoose toto SEASEA CHESTCHEST -- maymay bebe constructedconstructed inin falsefalse perspective,perspective, with with marrymarry someonesomeone otherother thanthan anan ugly,ugly, ladylady Troll,Troll, theythey havehave toto seatingseating areaarea nono moremore thanthan oneone footfoot deep.deep. movemove toto otherother places,places, eveneven stuffystuffy littlelittle boxes.boxes. AndAnd II choosechoose toto marrymarry thethe littlelittle DancingDancing Doll.Doll. SoSo movemove your your eyeseyes elsewhere,elsewhere, NOTE:NOTE: ALLALL BOXESBOXES shouldshould bebe minimallyminimally decodecorated,rated, soso Soldier,Soldier, andand leaveleave herher toto me.me. thatthat allall cancan serveserve asas backgroundbackground forfor allall plays.plays.

TINTIN SOLDIER:SOLDIER: Never!Never! II shallshall guardguard andand protectprotect herher toto thethe endend ofof mymy days.days.

JACK:JACK: HahHah! ! TheThe endend ofof youryour daysdays maymay comecome soonersooner thanthan youyou think!think! DDoo youyou feel feel thatthat littlelittle breezebreeze comingcoming inin thethe window?window? WithWith thethe merestmerest puffpuff ofof breath,breath, II shallshall changechange itit intointo aa gustgust ofof windwind ...... and and thenthen youyou willwill bebe gonegone forever!forever! (Blows.(Blows. TINTIN SOLDIERSOLDIER

2 23 22 TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN PROPS:PROPS: TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

THETHE STEADFASTSTEADFAST TINTIN SOLDIERSOLDIER -- MetalMetal heart,heart, spanglespangle SETTING: TheThe stagestage containscontains threethree boxesboxes andand aa stool.stool. (S(Seeee SETSET fromfrom DANCINGDANCING DOLL'S DOLL'S hair. hair. SETTING: DESDESIGNIGN endend ofof thisthis script.script. SeeSee alsoalso,, PRODUCTIOPRODUCTIONN NOTES.)NOTES.) UPSTAGE RIGHT is thethe SWINEHERD'S BOX. UPSTAGE is a THETHE SWINSWINEHERDEHERD -- BoxBox containingcontaining earthenearthen cookingcooking potpot UPSTAGE RIGHT is SWINEHERD'S BOX. UPSTAGE is a talltall GIFT BOX. DOWNSTAGE LE FT is aa SEASEA CHCHEST.EST. decorateddecorated withwith bells,bells, silversilver chest, chest, rose,rose, nightingale.nightingale. GIFT BOX. DOWNSTAGE LE FT is FartherFarther DOWNDOWN LELE FTFT isis aa stoostool.l. THETHE UGLYUGLY DUCKLINGDUCKLING -- BasketBasket containingcontaining fivefive eggseggs andand AT RISE: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN ENTERS. He comes oneone hugehuge egg.egg. AT RISE: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN ENTERS. He comes CENTER.CENTER. THETHE LITTLELITTLE MERMAIDMERMAID -- WiWitch'stch's vialvial ofof magicmagic potion,potion, knife.knife. ANDERSEN:ANDERSEN: GudGud dagendagen enhver! enhver! WhereWhere II comecome from from aa landland calledcalled Denmark,Denmark, thatthat means,means, "Hello,"Hello, everybody!"everybody!" MyMy namename isis HansHans Christian Andersen, and I'd like to tell you a remarkable thing about LIGHTING:LIGHTING: AlthoughAlthough nono specialspecial effectseffects areare necessary,necessary, muchmuch cancan bebe Christian Andersen, and I'd like to tell you a remarkable thing about myself. On my last birthday, I was 173 years old! Yes, really! donedone with with dramaticdramatic lightinglighting toto enhanceenhance thethe playplay ifif properproper equipequip myself. On my last birthday, I was 173 years old! Yes, really! I don't look it, do I? Well, that's because people who make up mentment isis present:present: I don't look it, do I? Well, that's because people who make up storiesstories forfor childchildrenren nevernever dodo growgrow old,old, atat leastleast notnot inin theirtheir hearts.hearts. And they never really die, either, because their VVaarriiousous stagestage aarreeaass cancan bebe spotlighted,spotlighted, bblackinglacking outout And they never really die, either, because their spirits live on forever in their stories. I like to think of mine as otherotherss forfor actionaction inin specificspecific stories.stories. spirits live on forever in their stories. I like to think of mine as gifts,gifts, becausebecause childrenchildren lovelove gifts,gifts, andand mymy storiesstories werewere thethe veryvery bestbest things I had to give them. Of course they belong to all children, EntireEntire stagestage areaarea maymay bebe dimmed,dimmed, withwith spotlightspotlight onon things I had to give them. Of course they belong to all children, everywhere, but today I'd like them to be special gifts, just for ANANDERDERSSEENN whwhiilele hhee narrates.narrates. everywhere, but today I'd like them to be special gifts, just for you.you. AsAs youyou cancan see,see, thethe giftsgifts II broughtbrought alongalong areare allall sizessizes andand shapes, and they're all closed, so that whatever is inside will be a Blue-greenBlue-green lightinglighting mightmight bebe usedused effectivelyeffectively forfor thethe shapes, and they're all closed, so that whatever is inside will be a surprise. Now, I don't know about you, but when I was a boy underseaundersea partpart ofof THETHE LITTLELITTLE MERMAID.MERMAID. surprise. Now, I don't know about you, but when I was a boy II alwaysalways openedopened thethe biggestbiggest oneone firstfirst ...... especiallyespecially ifif itit waswas thethe fanciest.fanciest. SoSo justjust toto pleaseplease me,me, let'slet's dodo thatthat now.now. ThisThis one,one, (MOVING to GIFT BOX) is the biggest and fanciest of all. Looks SOUNDSOUND EFFECTS:EFFECTS: (MOVING to GIFT BOX) is the biggest and fanciest of all. Looks likelike aa birthdaybirthday gift,gift, doesn'tdoesn't it?it? WeWelI,lI, that'sthat's exactlyexactly whatwhat itit is,is, and it once made a little boy very happy. He opened this box THETHE SWJNEHERDSWJNEHERD -- ForFor nightingale,nightingale, insideinside silver silver chest,chest, and it once made a little boy very happy. He opened this box on aa birdbird whistlewhistle mightmight bebe blownblown offstage,offstage, aa fluteflute oror on aa beautifulbeautiful birthdaybirthday morning,morning, long,long, longlong ago,ago, andand outout camecame ...j ust a moment, now, and I 'II show you. (Removes ribbon, aa music music boxbox played.played. OffstageOffstage "Oinking""Oinking" ofof pigspigs atat ...j ust a moment, now, and I 'II show you. (Removes ribbon, endend ofof story.story. reachesreaches behbehiindnd leftleft sideside ofof GIFTGIFT BOXBOX toto bringbring forthforth aa TINTIN SOLDIER,SOLDIER, marchingmarching stiffly,stiffly, withwith aa limp.)limp.) ItIt waswas aa wholewhole setset ofof THETHE UGLYUGLY DUDUCKLINGCKLING -- OffstageOffstage sosoundund ofof dogdog barking.barking. TinTin Soldiers,Soldiers, allall ofof themthem straightstraight andand strongstrong andand perfectperfect ...... except this poor fellow, who had one leg broken off at the knee. OffstageOffstage soundsound ofof gunshots.gunshots. except this poor fellow, who had one leg broken off at the knee. ThoughThough thethe II ittle ittle boyboy lovedloved himhim justjust asas muchmuch asas thethe others,others, hehe knewknew thatthat aa one-leggedone-legged soldiersoldier wouldn'twouldn't bebe ofof muchmuch useuse onon aa fieldfield ofof battlebattle ...... hehe wouldwould simplysimply fallfall over!over! AndAnd soso hehe leanedleaned thethe brokenbroken solsoldierdier upup againstagainst thethe boxbox hehe camecame inin (Does(Does so.)so.) wherewhere hehe couldcould watchwatch thethe othersothers andand keepkeep himselfhimself safe.safe. Naturally,Naturally, thethe solsoldierdier couldn'tcouldn't seesee inin allall directions,directions, thethe wayway thethe othersothers couldcould whenwhen thethe littlelittle boyboy movedmoved themthem about,about, butbut hehe nevernever reallyreally mindedminded lookinglooking

24 1 RIGHTS MUST BE PURCHASED BEFORE REPRODUCING THIS SCRIPT TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN SET ILLUSTRATION Adapted by Carolyn Lane A Storyteller’s Theatre Production CAST OF CHARACTERS (To be played by a cast of six, with all except the Storyteller assuming different roles in each of the stories, or, if desired, can be played by a cast of any number up to nineteen.) # of lines STORYTELLER ...... Hans Christian Andersen 11

STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER: TIN SOLDIER ...... 7 DANCING DOLL ...... 5 JACK-IN-THE-BOX ...... 10

THE SWINEHERD: SWINEHERD ...... 19 EMPEROR ...... 13 PRINCESS ...... 28 LADY-IN-WAITING ONE ...... 8 LADY-IN-WAITING TWO ...... 8

THE UGLY DUCKLING: UGLY DUCKLING ...... 8 FARMER ...... 4 BOY ...... 5 GIRL ...... 6 SWAN ...... 6

THE LITTLE MERMAID: LITTLE MERMAID ...... 18 GRANDMOTHER ...... 9 SEA WITCH ...... 6 PRINCE ...... 2 DAUGHTER OF AIR ...... 5

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