a humble shack, the witch's garden, Rapunzel's tower and the woods beyond. ...
fence CENTER STAGE can further establish the garden. See set design on ...
By Whitney Ryan Garrity © Copyright 2009, Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that a royalty must be paid for every performance, whether or not admission is charged. All inquiries regarding rights should be addressed to Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., PO Box 4267, Englewood, CO 80155. All rights to this play—including but not limited to amateur, professional, radio broadcast, television, motion picture, public reading and translation into foreign languages—are controlled by Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., without whose permission no performance, reading or presentation of any kind in whole or in part may be given. These rights are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America and of all countries covered by the Universal Copyright Convention or with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations, including Canada, Mexico, Australia and all nations of the United Kingdom. COPYING OR REPRODUCING ALL OR ANY PART OF THIS BOOK IN ANY MANNER IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY LAW. 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., Englewood, Colorado”
RAP-PUNZEL A Fairy Tale in Verse By WHITNEY RYAN GARRITY CAST OF CHARACTERS (In Order of Appearance) # of lines
RAPPERS ..................................two to four narrators HUSBAND .................................devoted to his wife WIFE ........................................selfish, greedy woman WITCH ......................................vengeful old crone; devoted to her garden RAPUNZEL ................................beautiful young girl PRINCE.....................................handsome and noble; devoted to Rapunzel
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SETTING TIME: A very long time ago. PLACE: A faraway kingdom The action takes place on a single set, parts of which will represent a humble shack, the witch’s garden, Rapunzel’s tower and the woods beyond. There is a backdrop that should give a fairy-tale feeling to the set. A round table and two chairs are RIGHT to represent the shack. A tower flat is UP LEFT. The flat has a cutout window and is large enough to hide two actors, small props and a shopping cart behind it. The witch’s garden will be represented by the rappers. A foot-high picket fence CENTER STAGE can further establish the garden. See set design on page 17.
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AT RISE: The LIGHTS fade UP CENTER, revealing the RAPPERS FROZEN in various poses. A backdrop depicts a fairy-tale kingdom. The RAPPERS UNFREEZE and address the AUDIENCE. RAPPER 1: Once upon a time… RAPPERS 2/3: Or so they say! RAPPERS: …in a kingdom far away (LIGHTS UP RIGHT, revealing HUSBAND and WIFE. She wears a period skirt with a large bustle in back. Behind the couple are a small, round table and two chairs. A satchel hangs from the back of one of the chairs.) There lived a husband Who could not say “no” To his wife, For he loved her so. HUSBAND: (To WIFE, hand over his heart.) Whate’er you ask, I’ll not say “no,” For my wife, I love you so. WIFE: (Smug.) Yes, I know! RAPPER 1: Soon the wife Was to have a baby… RAPPERS 1/2: Don’t mean “no”… RAPPERS: Don’t mean “maybe.” (WIFE turns her skirt around so the bustle is positioned in front, representing her “condition.”) And one night As they prepared for bed, The wife turned to her spouse And sweetly said… WIFE: (Smacks HUSBAND sharply on the back of his head.) Listen husband, Lest I get riled! As I carry our dear child, I have such a terr’ble craving. It makes me think of misbehaving! HUSBAND: (Loving.) Wife, what does your heart desire? A ruby, emerald or sapphire? WIFE: (Annoyed.) A gem’s for them With grander means. All I crave is garden greens! HUSBAND: Wife, what would really Make you drool? A mansion, yacht or swimming pool? 1
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WIFE: (Grows more annoyed.) All that stuff just don’t mean beans. What I crave is garden greens! HUSBAND: Wife, what would make you Jump for joy? Fortune, fame… WIFE: (Angry, shakes her fist at HUSBAND.) Now listen, boy! Before our babe Has reached its teens, Fetch your wife Some garden greens! HUSBAND: (Fearful of the implication.) Say what? WIFE/RAPPERS: Garden greens! HUSBAND: (Nervous.) Yes, but— WIFE/RAPPERS: Garden greens! HUSBAND/WIFE/RAPPERS: Before our/your babe Has reached its teens, Fetch my/your wife Some garden greens! WIFE: And it’s lucky, to be sure, That there’s a garden (Turns HUSBAND to face CENTER.) Right next door! HUSBAND: (Turns back, frightened.) The witch’s garden? She’s old and mean, She’ll not share a single green! WIFE: (Turns HUSBAND back again.) The witch’s garden! She’s old (Taps her forehead.) not keen. She’ll not miss a single green. HUSBAND: (Appalled.) My dear wife, What do you mean? Should I steal… WIFE: (Smacks him on the back of his head again.) Oh, get real! (Sweetly.) It’s for the baby, and that means The end surely justifies the greens. HUSBAND/RAPPERS: It’s for the baby, and that means The end surely justifies the greens. HUSBAND: (Swallows hard, resigns himself.) Whate’er you ask, I’ll not say “no,” For my wife, I love you so. WIFE: (Sweetly.) Yes, I know! (Gives him a shove.) So, go! RAPPERS: The wife set off to cleanse her palate, Ready for her fresh green salad. 2
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WIFE: Now, where are those croutons? (EXITS RIGHT. HUSBAND, reluctant, takes up the satchel and shoulders it, then moves CENTER as the RAPPERS form a “wall” in front of him. LIGHTS FADE RIGHT.) RAPPERS: With a satchel to hold his haul, The husband climbed the garden wall… (HUSBAND makes an unsuccessful attempt and tumbles backwards.) The husband climbed the garden wall… (HUSBAND takes a running start. RAPPERS let down the “wall,” causing HUSBAND to tumble forward this time. RAPPERS are much amused.) And on the other side, He did fall. HUSBAND: (Gets to his feet, in pain but indignant.) I did not fall! RAPPERS: Did too! HUSBAND: Did not! RAPPERS: Did too! (Addresses the AUDIENCE.) The husband landed with a “thud”… HUSBAND: (Assesses the seat of his pants unhappily.) Right into the muck and mud! (Looks around, cautious, as RAPPERS sit in a row, cross-legged at CENTER behind the picket fencing [optional]. RAPPERS raise their arms and waggle their fingers, to represent the “garden greens.”) RAPPERS: He spied a garden like no other And a witch tending to it Like a mother. WITCH: (ENTERS LEFT, with a watering can. As she moves to the “garden,” HUSBAND hides his face with the satchel. WITCH sighs.) A lonely witch, (Sighs.) No son, no daughter, (Proud.) I tend my garden, like I ought’er (Brandishes the watering can.) With lots and lots and lots of water! (Passes through the “garden,” as she pantomimes watering it.) WITCH/RAPPERS: Turnip greens, parsley greens, Collard greens, spinach greens, Lettuce, cabbage, brocc’li plus Arugula and asparagus! RAPPER 1: Lettuce! RAPPER 2: Cabbage! RAPPER 3: (Makes a face.) Brocc’li! RAPPERS: Plus… WITCH/RAPPERS: Arugula and asparagus! 3
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WITCH: (Sighs.) The lettuce is my son. (Sighs.) The cabbage is my daughter. (Brandishes the watering can, suddenly bright.) So off I spring, To fetch my offspring water! (EXITS LEFT with the watering can, humming.) HUSBAND: (Slowly lowers the satchel and approaches the “garden.” Overwhelmed.) Oh, joy of joys! Oh, scene of scenes! Rows and rows of tasty greens! (Passes from one RAPPER to the next, collects the “greens.” RAPPERS drop their arms, as HUSBAND “up-roots” his take.) HUSBAND/RAPPERS: Turnip greens, parsley greens, Collard greens, spinach greens, HUSBAND: Lettuce, cabbage, brocc’li! RAPPERS: Plus… HUSBAND/RAPPERS: Arugula and asparagus! RAPPERS: The old witch suddenly reappeared, (WITCH ENTERS LEFT with the watering can and peers about in the darkness.) Sensing something in her garden weird. HUSBAND: (Offended.) Who are you calling “weird”? (Quickly regrets his retort and hides his face behind his satchel. His knees knock together in fright.) WITCH: (Does not see HUSBAND, because his face is hidden.) Ho, there! Who does go there? Tramplin’ through my precious garden Without so much as “I beg your pardon.” HUSBAND: (Lowers the satchel, meek.) I beg your pardon. WITCH: (Furious.) It’s too late for that, buck-o! HUSBAND: (Aside to the RAPPERS, incredulous.) “Buck-o”? (RAPPERS shrug.) WITCH: What business have you here? State your case and make it clear! HUSBAND: My wife and I, We live next door. And my wife, I could not love more. (Gushes.) Oh, you’d love her, too! The way her cute little nose crinkles up when she laughs and the way she— WITCH: (Cuts him off impatiently.) Continue with your woeful tale (Makes magical gesture.) 4
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Or greet tomorrow as— (Thinks a moment.) —a snail! HUSBAND: (Frightened.) I dare not fail! (Swallows hard.) With a child we’ll soon be blessed. My wife craves greens, hence my quest. For I guessed yours were the best. WITCH: Yes, my neighbor, You guess true! (Mulls it over.) And I suppose I could share a few. But in return, here’s what you’ll do. When the babe at last arrives, Bring it to me. I’ll spare the greens, and your lives! HUSBAND: (Incredulous.) Bring the baby to you? WITCH: I’ll spare the greens, and your lives! Yours and your wive’s! HUSBAND: Shouldn’t that be “wife’s” not “wive’s”? WITCH: (Threatening.) He who corrects a witch seldom survives! So do we have a deal, my son? HUSBAND: (Hopeful.) Have I another choice? (WITCH shakes her head.) Not one? WITCH: None! HUSBAND: (Resigned, sad.) So it is done! (WITCH and HUSBAND seal the agreement with a handshake.) WITCH: (Aside; with a cackle.) Oh, that was fun! (To HUSBAND.) Now, thieving husband, hit the road! (Repeats magical gesture.) Or greet tomorrow as— (Thinks a moment.) —a toad! (Points OFF RIGHT menacingly. HUSBAND EXITS RIGHT, dejected, dragging the satchel behind him.) RAPPERS: (Get to their feet.) The husband returned To his humble abode. WITCH: (Addresses the AUDIENCE.) A lesson my greedy neighbor learns, Not to fiddle with my fiddle-ferns! (EXITS LEFT, humming.) WIFE: (LIGHTS COME UP RIGHT to reveal WIFE, standing by the table impatiently. She cups her ear and listens anxiously.) Is that my husband, true and brave? (Rubs her hands together.) And does he bring me what I crave? (HUSBAND ENTERS RIGHT. WIFE snatches the satchel, sits and pantomimes emptying the contents onto the table greedily.) Oh, joy of joys! 5
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Oh, scene of scenes! A satchel filled with tasty greens! WIFE/RAPPERS: Turnip greens, parsley greens, Collard greens, spinach greens, WIFE: Lettuce, cabbage, brocc’li! RAPPERS: Plus… WIFE/RAPPERS: Arugula and asparagus. HUSBAND: (Sits at the table, sad.) I’ve fetched the greens, just as you bade. But a terrible price I’ve paid, For the witch demands a trade! WIFE: (Feigns interest as she eats, ravenous.) And what does the old witch desire? A ruby, emerald or sapphire? HUSBAND: No, you’ll find each jewel she’d shun, For she craves our little one! WIFE: (Pays no attention.) What would make the old witch drool? A mansion, yacht or swimming pool? HUSBAND: Chances are that she’d have none. For she craves our little one! WIFE: (Still oblivious.) How could we that crone appease? Fortune, fame— HUSBAND: (Stands, pleads.) Now listen, please! Whether it be girl or son, The old witch craves our little one! WIFE: (Hears at last.) Say what? HUSBAND/RAPPERS: Little one! WIFE: (Nervous.) Yes, but— HUSBAND/RAPPERS: Little one! HUSBAND/WIFE/RAPPERS: Whether it be girl or son, The old witch craves our/your little one! RAPPERS: Soon enough, The baby came. WIFE: (Testy, to the RAPPERS, as she EXITS RIGHT.) Soon enough for you, maybe! (HUSBAND returns the satchel to the back of the chair.) RAPPERS: But before they could Choose a name, The witch appeared to stake her claim! 6
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PRODUCTION NOTES PROPERTIES LIST ONSTAGE: A small, round table; two chairs; satchel; tower flat; picket fencing BROUGHT ON: Watering can, garden shears, small basket, large basket, shopping cart (WITCH) Pink bundle, with rag doll (WIFE) Brush [pre-set behind tower] (RAPUNZEL) Two blue bundles (PRINCE, RAPUNZEL) COSTUMES The HUSBAND, WIFE, RAPUNZEL and PRINCE should appear to come from a fairy-tale time, and WIFE should have a skirt with a large bustle that can be turned from back to front to represent a pregnant belly. The WITCH’S cloak should have a pocket inside to hold the garden shears. ORIGINAL PRODUCTION Rap-Punzel was first presented in association with The Department of Theatre and Dance at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas. The play was performed at the Huntsville Children’s Center in June 2005. Direction was by Whitney Ryan Garrity. The cast was as follows: RAPPERS ..................................Daniel Herrington, Curtis Judalet, Michael Kethan HUSBAND .................................Tyler Jones WIFE ........................................Wendy Lucas WITCH ......................................Heather Hodnott RAPUNZEL ................................Cady Rafferty PRINCE.....................................Brent McBeth
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Rap-Punzel Set Design
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