The Sleeping Beauty
A gently humorous adaptation of the fairy tale
by Mickey Coburn with James Beaman
About the Play: Once upon a time…in an enchanted kingdom, all gathered to celebrate the birth of the royal princess. Wicked Godmothers, good Godmothers, magicians, kings, clowns are fantastically woven into a delicious tale luxuriating with sorcery, processions, and whimsical escapades! THE SLEEPING BEAUTY glitters and charms, amuses and delights. The perfect family entertainment!
The Sleeping Beauty was first produced by the Boston Children’s Theatre, directed by Mickey Coburn and designed by Karl Wendelin.
Scenes (Unit Set)
ACT I
Scene 1: The palace of King Pompous
Scene 2: The same; 16 years later
ACT II
Scene 1: A wood, 100 years later
Scene 2: The palace
Cast List:
Prank, The Jester
The Cook
Two Scullions/Attendants
King Pompus
Queen Imagine
Nurse Hopestill
The Faerie Primrose
The Faerie Thistle
Hemlock
Grunt, The Troll
The Faerie Mistletoe
The Faerie Court (4)
Allura, As A Child
Princess Allura
Prince Gallant
Tripp, Valet To The Prince
From the Play:
(Music in. The procession appears down the theatre aisle. King, Queen, four Pages carrying a baby sedan chair, Followed by Nurse Hopestill. They arrive on stage. Queen proceeds to her throne. Nurse takes baby from sedan chair which the Pages then remove. She shows the baby to the servants, Cook and Prank who make appropriate sounds of delight. She takes her place near the throne. The music stops. Fanfare. The King is at the banquet table picking at the food.
Queen: (stage whisper) Pompous! Pompous! Everyone’s waiting.
King: Just a moment, my dear. Mmmmm -- everything looks delicious --
Queen: Pompous!
King: I thought I might just have a bite –
Queen: It isn’t time to eat yet – Pompous – please –
King: Well, all right. (he goes to his throne and sits)
Queen: (jabbing him) Pompous –
King: Hmmmm?
Queen: Everyone’s waiting – up! Up!
King: Oh, yes. (rising ) Royal subjects! This is indeed a happy day. Queen Imagine and I invite you all to celebrate the birth of our daughter, Princess Allura –
Queen: They know all that, Pompous –
King: They do?
Queen: Of course they do.
(All smile, whisper, nod)
King: Well, then – (he sits)
Queen: Well, then – go on – go on –
King: (rising) Well then – (to Queen) Well, then – what?
Queen: Tell them to proceed –
King: Of course. I knew that. Proceed! (he sits)
(Attendants alter their stage positions. Prank tumbles forward)
Prank: (not speaking; using mime and sign language)
Not yet your majesties – no!
King: What’s the matter with him?
Queen: What is it, Prank? Time for the gifts perhaps?
King: Attendants! The gifts –
(The attendants begin to gather up the gifts to bring to the Queen; Prank stops them)
Prank: (silently) no – no – your majesty – gifts – no –
Queen: Well, then –
King: The dinner! I’m starved –
