Prince Hedgehog
a children's play based on an old Russian tale
by Cynthia Booth & Roy C. Booth
About the Play:
Prince Hedgehog is a dramatic adaptation of a delightful folk tale in which a Prince—in this case born a hedgehog because of his mother’s hasty words—is sent out to further his education. This hedgehog already has a remarkable scientific bent which has gotten him into numerous misadventures with his surroundings. This is a transformation play with a twist.
The Characters:
HERALD
EMPEROR
EMPRESS
PRINCE HEDGEHOG
PRINCESS ARONA
Time: a long, long time ago.
Place: The throne room of a grand stately kingdom.
From the play:
(The lights come up to find the HERALD sleeping as he leans against the throne. Suddenly the EMPEROR bursts in, pacing.)
EMPEROR: Drat, drat, and double drat! Decisions, decisions, decisions! Oh, how I detest decisions!
HERALD: (Snapping to attention.) All hail the Emperor! All hail!
EMPEROR: Herald, at ease, there is no one else in here.
HERALD: Oh. Heh. Sorry.
EMPEROR: Ooh, what to do, what to do? Nuts! Fiddlesticks! I can't decide!
HERALD: What?
EMPEROR: What?
EMPEROR: What can you not decide on, your majesty?
EMPEROR: Oh. That. It's a private family matter, I'm afraid.
HERALD: I see. Why not discuss whatever it is with the Empress then?
EMPEROR: Aha! (Snaps his fingers.) I know, I'll call the Empress! Maybe she can help!
HERALD: A most excellent idea, sire! Most excellent!
EMPEROR: Yes, yes it is! Ah, it's good to be the emperor! You may go and… and… soak your feet again, if you like!
HERALD: Oh, thank you, my emperor, thank you. My bunions are killing me!
EMPEROR: So I see. Off, off with you now. (HERALD exits.) Ahem. Empress, honeybunch, come here!
EMPRESS: (Offstage.) Coming, my little royal bon-bon! Coming!
About the Playwrights:
Roy Booth is a published author, poet, journalist, essayist, and screenwriter with 37 plays published with 475+ productions worldwide in the following countries/protectorates: Aruba, Australia, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom (England & Scotland), and USA. Coming soon: two new plays from Samuel French and three more from Heuer Publishing. Just released: "The Glover's Mange Cure Caper" by Louise Bottrell and Roy C. Booth by Heuer Publishing. Recently Booth logged in the 460th known production of his work in Dhaka, Bangladesh with "Two Wives and a Dead Guy," a comedy co-written with his wife, Cynthia.
