“Left in the Forest” adapted from “Beauty and the Beast” by Charles Perrault. |
| “Left in the Forest” At rise we are introduced to a married couple heading out for a dinner engagement. Before they go, they tell their young daughter, Heidi, that their neighbor, Mr. Donahue, a paunchy old churl with a frightening reputation, is going to baby-sit for her. Heidi squeals with anxiety — after all, everyone knows that Mr. Donahue is an ogre. To make matters worse, Heidi’s father reveals that he has taken a rose from Mr. Donahue’s garden. Heidi fears the consequences of her father’s action but her parents write off her protests as childish invention and promptly make their exit. Heidi is left alone with Mr. Donahue, who has brought a storybook along with him. Without any explanation, he promptly asks, “Heidi, will you marry me?” When she refuses, he begins the first of his tales. Each of the stories contained in the book he reads takes the stage as Mr. Donahue and Heidi disappear into the background.... |
“Three Blind Queens” adapted from an Italian Folk Tale. |
| “Three Blind Queens” The first tale is about three noble men who go off to war, leaving their queens behind to suffer the envy of an evil nursemaid. The nursemaid eventually drives the queens out of the kingdom to an arid mountain, where they each give birth to a son. Two of the queens are driven mad by hunger and eat their children.... |
“Stolen Pennies” adapted from “Stolen Pennies” by the Brothers Grimm. |
| “Stolen Pennies” As we leave the story of the Three Blind Queens, a girl dressed in white runs on stage as the clock begins to chime. She begins to scratch frantically at the floorboards. After a few moments, she runs away, before the clock chimes twelve.... |
“The Princess Who Couldn’t Laugh” adapted from European Folk Tale. |
| “The Princess Who Couldn’t Laugh” Just as “Three Blind Queens” comes to its climax, Mr. Donohue turns to the story of a stuck-up young princess who has promised to wed the first man in the kingdom who can make her laugh. The pursuit of her hand in marriage is not without its dangers, however, as she decrees that the punishment for those who fail in their quest is sudden beheading. Many men attempt to draw laughter from the princess, but one by one, each suitor loses his head until there are no suitors left.... |
"The Snake Song" adapted from "The Three Snake Leaves" by the Brothers Grimm. |
| “The Snake Song” This story is told through song. It tells of a princess who decrees that any man she marries must go with her to her grave to lie with her there. She marries, then dies while her husband is still alive. True to his word he goes with her to her burial and lies with her in the ground. One night, as he is nearing his own death, he is visited by a snake possessing unusual powers.... |
“Allerleira” adapted from “Allerleirauh” by the Brothers Grimm. |
“Allerleira” Next, we arrive at the tale of a king who grieves the death of his most beautiful queen. His Queen had, before her death, made him promise never to marry unless the woman was as beautiful as she herself. In time the king comes to notice that only his enchanting daughter, Allerleira, possesses the beauty of his late wife. She hears of her father’s dark intentions and rushes to the forest to hide from the world, unsure of what will come to pass....
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“Silent For Seven Years/Seven Swans” adapted from “Six Swans” by the
Brothers Grimm. |
| “Silent for Seven Years/ Seven Swans” In this fable a short-tempered man is frustrated by the noisy and wild antics of his seven sons. In a moment of impatience he utters this curse, “I wish all my sons were swans.” And suddenly, they are. Mr. Donohue is involved directly in this tale, taking on the role of the man who battles with his disruptive children. |
