The Classic Fairytales 2

Retold for the Stage

Charles Way, Charles Way

• Publisher: Aurora Metro Books
• ISBN:
  9781906582319
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: European Drama
• Index: Literature

Three timeless tales retold for the stage by one of the UK's most renowned writers of plays for children and young people, Charles Way. His plays appeal to audiences of all ages, are translated into many languages and perfomed internationally. This collection includes The Golden Goose, The Tinderbox and Sinbad – The Untold Tale.

The Golden Goose

The Golden Goose

The play was commissioned by and first performed at the Library Theatre, Manchester on November 25^th, 2006.

CHARACTERS

CAST

Fairy King,

Stephen Finegold

Fairy Queen

Rebecca Hulbert

Christina

Rebecca Smart

King Conrad

William Finkenrath

Boris

Andrew Grose

Birgit

Annie Rowe

Dajona

Eleanor Howell

Dummling

Paul Stocker

Hermit Siebenstein

Stephen Finegold

Humble

Rebecca Smart

Meek (in Act One)

Annie Rowe

Meek

William Finkenrath

White Witch

Rebecca Hulbert

Prince Charles

Andrew Grose

Directed by

Charles Way

Music by

Richard Taylor

Design by

Jamie Varten

Lighting by

Nick Ritchings

Choreography by

Georgina Lamb

The play can be performed by a cast of 8.

ACT ONE

Scene One

Bewitching music from the fairy world. Enter the Fairy King and Queen, Humble and Meek. The Fairy King reads from a large book.

Fairy King

Once upon a time, in old Europe in the days when folk and fairy folk lived side by side, there was a castle and in this castle, lived a King. (He turns the page and the King ‘pops up’ for it is a pop-up book.) There he is … and this king had two daughters, Dajona and Birgit.

(He turns the page and up pop the two daughters.) Dajona was the oldest and she was the saddest person whoever breathed. She was so sad she refused to laugh. She would not laugh, she could not laugh so one day her father sent out a proclamation –

‘The man who makes my daughter laugh will be free to ask for her hand in marriage.’

What? What –?

Fairy Queen

You’ve started at the wrong place.

Fairy King

I have not.

Fairy Queen

That’s Chapter Two.

Fairy King

No, no – this is Chapter One.

Fairy Queen

No, my sweet – it’s Chapter Two.

Fairy King

What?

Fairy Queen

The princess who wouldn’t laugh – Chapter Two. (He looks and realises his mistake and shuts the book snappily. The magical music is repeated.)

Once upon a time, in old Europe

In the days when folk and fairy folk

Lived side by side

There was a poor cottage.

Fairy Queen

Ah … I know it well, husband. We have turned the milk sour there many times this past year.

Fairy King

It is a humble dwelling.

Fairy Queen

As you can see. With rough furniture.

Fairy King

In this poor cottage lived two young men with their mother. Dummling and Boris.

(He turns the page and up they pop.)

It was so very far into the woods that the King’s proclamation, which I didn’t mention earlier, never reached the cottage and it is here that the story begins.

Fairy Queen

At Chapter One. Now all they need, my lord is life.

Together they sprinkle/blow golden dust onto the pop-up scene. Behind them, lights fully rise on the life-size scene.

Christina

Where did all this dust come from?

Dummling

I don’t know, Mother.

Christina

As if I didn’t have enough work to do.

Dummling

It’s all – golden.

Christina

Golden? Don’t talk rubbishsense –dust isn’t golden, not round here.

Dummling

But this is – look – all shiny and golden.

Boris

Do shut up, Dummling.

Dummling

But I’m –

Boris

An utterly stupid person without a sensible thought in his head.

Dummling

That’s not true …

Boris

Yes it is.

Dummling

Is it, Mother?

Christina

Well …

Boris

Exactly.

Christina

We are what we are, Dummling.

Boris

And you are stupid.

Christina

Boris!

Boris

Golden dust we have now.

Dummling

But it is – was.

Boris

Duh.

Christina

Stop it! If you keep on at each other, you shall go without supper – the pairboth.

She turns away and Boris pours a cup of water over his own head.

Boris

What on earth –?

Christina

What now?

Boris

Dummling poured water over my head.

Dummling

I never.

Boris

Well, who did then?

Dummling

You did.

Christina

Oh, Dummling, what kind of fool would pour water over his own head?

Boris

Just ’cos I told you the truth.

Christina

No rain for three months, an...