With Rapunzel, Pantomime Magic
has taken a traditional fairy tale not usually seen as a pantomime, and turned it into one!
Our version of the story offers the feistiest of all panto heroines in the eponymous Rapunzel, together with not one but three evil witches, a highly original henchman in the form of Spout the Gargoyle, and a talking and singing donkey sidekick! And that's not to mention four highly eligible bachelor brothers out to woo our heroine...
SCRIPT SAMPLE
In this scene, PRINCES IGNORANT, PETULANT and FLATULENT are preparing their MEN-AT-ARMS to go hunting the evil WITCHES.
IGNORANT
Get in line, men! (PETULANT and FLATULENT jump into line, too.) Right, men! My brothers and I are planning a mission of near-certain death. But we hope to be back for tea-time. We are going on the hunt for witches.
(Murmurs of discontent among the MEN-AT-ARMS.)
IGNORANT
All those wishing to volunteer, take one pace forward!
(The whole line takes a step backwards, including PETULANT and FLATULENT.)
IGNORANT
(to PETULANT) Why did you step backwards?
PETULANT
Because, when you think about, it all sounds a little bit scary!
IGNORANT
I’m going to take your name for that. (He produces a notebook and pen) What is it?
PETULANT
But you know my name. I’m your brother.
IGNORANT
What is your name?!
FLATULENT
Don’t tell him, Petulant.
IGNORANT
(writing it down) Petulant.
PETULANT
(blubbering) He took my name…
IGNORANT
(to FLATULENT) And why did you take a step backwards?
FLATULENT
I didn’t want to feel left out. (Fart noise) Sorry.
(The whole line of soldiers sidesteps away from him and they hold their noses.)
IGNORANT
That settles it, you’re all volunteering. Right! If we’re going to take on these witches, we’d better make sure we’re ready to fight. Squad, draw your swords!
(They all draw their swords in unison.)
IGNORANT
En garde!
(They all go to en garde.)
IGNORANT
And, thrust!
(They all thrust their weapons, but FLATULENT drops his.)
IGNORANT
Somebody’s dropped one.
FLATULENT
That’ll be me.
(The whole line of soldiers sidesteps away from him and they hold their noses again.)
IGNORANT
Pick it up.
(FLATULENT picks up the weapon and rejoins the line, facing the wrong way.)
IGNORANT
About turn! (They all turn round.) About turn! (They all turn round. About turn!! (They all turn round.) ABOUT TURN!!! (They all turn round. He goes over and physically turns FLATULENT around) Right, men. Now watch me! (He demonstrates) Thrust, parry, thrust, slash! Now your turn.
(The soldiers copy, shouting the moves together, but PETULANT is doing it wrong and is still waving his sword about after the others have finished, like he’s swatting a fly.)
IGNORANT
No, no, no, at the end you’re supposed to go for a slash!
PETULANT
Oh! Hold this for me, then! (He makes to leave, but IGNORANT pulls him back.)
IGNORANT
Let’s try it again! Altogether now, thrust, parry, thrust, slash!
(They carry out the moves.)
IGNORANT
Excellent! Now, men, are we all ready to go hunting witches?
(Non-committal grumbles in response.)
IGNORANT
I said, are we all ready to go hunting witches?!
(Even more non-committal grumbles and some shifty looks.)
IGNORANT
Right, then. Left turn!
(They all turn left together, and IGNORANT goes to the front of the line to lead.)
IGNORANT
Right, then! After me! Quick, march!
(IGNORANT heads off. PETULANT and FLATULENT follow, but behind them the other soldiers all do an about turn and run off in the opposite direction.)
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