Play Synopsis

A group of performing theatrical gypsies are traveling through Germany near the Black Forest and come across a farm.  The troupe leader’s son gets caught stealing apples.  The mother of the boy makes a deal with the farmer’s wife that they will perform a show for her. If she enjoys the show, they can stay the night and eat her harvest. If she doesn’t like it, they will leave.  The problem?  The farmer’s daughter asks to be in this performance.  Is it just a play?  Or is it the stuff nightmares are made of?

CAST OF CHARACTERS

1. TILLIE /GRETEL: (F) Daughter of Manfred.  Curious but easily frightened.                                             

2. MANFRED /WOODCUTTER: (M) Leader of the group. Not to be trusted.

3. KENNICK/HANSEL: (E) Son of Manfred.  Adventurous and stubborn.

4. ETHELINDA/ EMELIA: (F) Older woman in the group.  A bit of a busy body.

5. NAOMIE/KARIN: (F) Wise fortune-teller of the group.

6. LAVINIA/STEPMOM: (F) Mother of Tillie and Manfred.  Very intelligent.

7. HESTER: (F) Mother of Aamy. Owner of farm.  Emotional.

8. AAMY/HELGA: (F) Daughter of Hester.  Easily duped.

9. RUSLO/OTTO: (M)  Love interest of Aamy. A bit of a player.

10. KEZIA (NARRATOR): (E) Troupe member.

11. JOHANNA/WITCH: (E) The darkest character of the group. A master manipulator. 

12. PETER:  Troupe member. (E)

13. INGRID: Troupe member. (E)

14. TIMBO/ MARTIN: (E) Part of the troupe, plays the drums.

15. LENA: Troupe member. (E)

Script Sample

HANSEL UND GRETEL

The Dark Forest

A One Act Play

Scene 1

Time: 1860’s

Place: Germany’s Black Forest
(A light coming from USL fades up as violin music is heard.  We see a wagon moving slowing with a collection of Romanoff Gypsies.  The Gypsies look as though they have been traveling for many days.   MANFRED is the leader of the group. His wife, LAVINIA are desperately looking for a new place to settle.  TILLIE, MANFRED’s daughter runs on from DSR looking back in fear.)

TILLIE

Papa, Papa!

MANFRED

What is it Tillie?  Where is your brother?

TILLIE

The lady took him!  She took Kennick!

MANFRED

Did you steal from one of the farms?  I told you not to trust the people around…
TILLIE

I’m so sorry Papa.  I was hungry.  Kennick saw the apples and started climbing.  I didn’t see the lady till Kennick jumped down, by then it was too late.

MANFRED

So, you ran?

(TILLIE nods, MANFRED sighs with understanding, he grabs a stool off the wagon and takes a seat.  MANFRED begins to use his knife to shape a piece of wood.  He whistles.  The other GYPSIES begin to set up camp as TILLIE begins to panic.)

RUSLO

Ethelinda, give me a hand will you love?

ETHELINDA

(Crossing to him and helping him set up the camp by unloading a bench.)  I saw you talking to a pretty girl last week in a town near here.  She seemed to take a liking to you.

RUSLO

If you mean Aamy, yes.  She lives around here, I think.  Says her parents want her to work the farm.  I think she has other desires…

ETHELINDA

Well, don’t let Manfred catch you.  She’s not one of us.

RUSLO

Don’t you worry about Ruslo, I know what I’m doing.

ETHELINDA

Do you?  (She laughs.) Come on, help me find some water.

(RUSLO and ETHELINDA exit to find water, TILLIE is clearly getting worried pacing about the camp. NAOMIE, the fortune teller of the group crosses to TILLIE)

NAOMIE

Come see Naomie, Tillie.  Tell me, what’s wrong? 

TILLIE

It’s Kennick!  He’s in trouble.

NAOMIE

You mean he’s in trouble AGAIN.

NAOMIE

Give me your hand.  You worry too much. (TILLIE gives NAOMIE her hand.)  Ah, the stars of the riches are shining on you.

TILLIE

They ARE?  Does that mean we get dinner tonight?

NAOMIE

(Kissing her hand) Is Naomie ever wrong? 

TILLIE

Well…

NAOMIE

Pft. It was one time!  Do not worry about Kennick, he’ll be fine.  He is clever like his father.   

TILLIE

(Suddenly remembering about her brother.)  Papa!  What are you doing?  Mama!  We must get Kennick!

LAVINIA

Shhh… (Opening her arms to TILLIE) come here Till.  It’ll be alright, Papa will take care of it.

(We hear a yell from off stage, then a woman, HESTER and her daughter, AAMY appear with Kennick between them kicking and fighting.)

HESTER

This one belongs to you?

MANFRED

(Never looking up from his whittling) No.

HESTER

Well, I caught this one stealing apples from my tree. 

MANFRED

Did you?  My son would never get caught. (A slow grin appears on his face.)

(KENNICK quickly kicks AAMY and bites HESTER on the hand escaping behind his father who is now standing with his arms crossed in front of his chest.)

HESTER

(Rubbing her hand that had been bitten) I know who you are.  The entire town is talking about ya.  About how you robbed them of house and home.  Aamy told me all about it. 

MANFRED

Then she must have also heard that we are story-tellers just looking for an audience.

            (RUSLO and EMELINDA re-enter carrying a bucket)

HESTER

Well, you won’t find an audience here.  Come on Aamy, let’s go. (Beginning to leave, turns around.) Keep your son off my land or next time I’ll call the dogs.

MANFRED

(laughing) The dogs…  Ruslo!   Is this the girl?

                        (RUSLO looks and AAMY, smiles warmly)

RUSLO

Ya, that’s her.

MANFRED

Your “Aamy” is quite the performer.

HESTER

I don’t know what you are talking about.  Come along Aamy… (Begins to leave.)

MANFRED

She likes the stage.  Isn’t that right dragoste? (smiling at his WIFE) (Dragoste – My love in Romanian.)

HESTER

Is this true Ammy?

(AMMY looks down nodding.  HESTER slaps her.  The entire troupe stands up with concern. Ruslo takes a step towards AMMY but MANFRED stops him. HESTER looks at the troupe then grabs Aamy roughly turning to leave.)

LAVINIA

(Stepping towards HESTER) Stop.  Please.  Sit down.

(LAVINIA motions her head and the group steps back to the wagon, LAVINIA takes HESTER’S hand and gently has her sit while AAMY is brought into the folds of the troupe.) 

LAVINIA

You think you know us, do you?  Well, I have a proposition for you.

HESTER

I’m not interested in anything from your kind. (Begins to stand up.)

LAVINIA

Sit.  Please.   We will perform a story for you, a legend some say.  Your daughter will help tell our story. And if you like it, we get to stay here a few nights and eat off your farm.  If you don’t, we leave.

HESTER

Was this his idea (Motioning to MANFRED).

LAVINIA

No, it was mine.

HESTER

Humph.  And If I say no?

LAVINIA

Then I imagine Ruslo will become part of YOUR family.

                        (RUSLO smiles as he kisses AAMY’s hand.)

HESTER

Very well then.  I accept. 

(MANFRED crosses to HESTER, spits in his hand and shoves it forward.  HESTER   hesitantly grabs it then instantly rubs her hand on her apron.)

MANFRED

Thank you my sweet Romni. (Wife) (Kissing LAVINIA’S hand.) 

(The TROUPE begins to set up to begin the show, as this action occurs RUSLO grabs AAMY’s hand and pulls her downstage away from the crowd.)

RUSLO

Aamy, are you sure you want to do this?

AAMY

I love the stage, you know that.

RUSLO

But I’m worried.

AAMY

What could you possibly be worried about?  It’s just a play.  It’s not real.

RUSLO

There’s something I need to tell you…

MANFRED

Everyone to their place!  Timbo play on!

(Music suddenly breaks out and the troupe scurries to create the show with a frenzy. AAMY dances away from RUSLO with a smile.  RUSLO shakes his head in frustration then joins the troup. The wagon is suddenly rolled away to reveal a platform stage as the players do a small dance.)

We present to you the story of…

GYPSY TROUPE

Hansel und Gretel!

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