Hansel & Gretel Pantomime Script by Alan P Frayn, Stage Right Creative
Funny, original, award-winning pantomime scripts
by Alan P Frayn
“I cannot remember using so many superlatives to describe one show” (The Stage)
“Exceptionally inventive – a panto that has everything!” (Amateur Stage Magazine)
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PANTOMIMES
Hansel and Gretel … Hot off the press, our brand new 20th panto!
Not before time, a sparkling, up-to-date pantomime version of this heart-warming tale
By popular demand, with so many groups saying, after years of searching, they’ve been unable to find a modern, funny pantomime version, Hansel and Gretel is finally brought into the 21st Century with this exciting new script!
Laughter is high on the agenda with some unusual comedy routines, together with plenty of adventure, variety and traditional panto fun.
Can Bluebell, the Fairy of the Forest, manage to rescue Hansel and Gretel before they are eaten by Nightshade, the Wicked Witch of the Woods, who is determined to turn the tables this time and finally get her way? Meanwhile, the comic twosome, Nut-Meg and Basil, add to the turmoil when they try to sell all sorts of foolish food and fake fare foraged from the forest!
There's plenty of involvement for the Chorus and Dancers, who have a total of up to 10 identities between them. And whilst it can be staged in a very straight-forward way, the more ambitious can really go to town on some of the scenes – in particular, the Sugar Candy Cottage (exterior and interior).
Despite having the benefit of such a well-known title and storyline, Hansel and Gretel certainly hasn’t been “done to death” as a pantomime, so this panto-tastic script has everything going for it!
Full cast and scenery requirements are listed below
Wayfarers Pantomime Society
EXCERPT from Act II Scene 7: Deadly Nightshade? © Alan P Frayn
| PRINCE: | You’re the kind old lady who makes gingerbread for the children, aren’t you? |
| WITCH: | Why, yes, that’s right, my dear. (Aside, to audience:) Well, “for the children” – “from the children” – there’s not much difference! |
| PRINCE: | I was wondering if you’d seen a small boy and girl pass this way recently? |
| WITCH: | Sorry, no. |
| (There is a knocking noise from within the cupboard.) | |
| PRINCE: | What was that? |
| (The WITCH moves to the door, still facing the Prince and kicks the cupboard door angrily several times with the back of her heel.) | |
| WITCH: | Oh, nothing – it’s just the mice! |
| PRINCE: | Oh, I see. Well, if you haven’t seen anyone, I’ll leave you to your good deeds. (Then, as an after-thought:) Oh, by the way – as you give all your gingerbread to youngsters, you’ll need to be CRB checked now, I’m afraid. |
| WITCH: | All these rules and regulations! |
| PRINCE: | I know, but in your case, it’s just a formality, you understand. You may have already received the form? |
| WITCH: | This one? (She takes out a folded piece of paper.) I was going to post it … |
| PRINCE: | Here, let me save you the trouble. (He takes it, unfolds it and is taken aback.) Hey, wait a minutes – what’s this? It says, “When do you like children best?” And you’ve put: “When I’m eating one”! |
| WITCH: | No, that says, “When I’m meeting one”! |
| PRINCE: | Oh, my mistake! But the next question is, “What do you enjoy most about them?” And you’ve answered: “Their tender young livers”! |
| WITCH: | Lives! Their tender young lives! |
| PRINCE: | (Continuing to read) “Not to mention their sweet hearts”? |
| WITCH: | Not to mention they are sweethearts! (She rolls her eyes impatiently.) |
| PRINCE: | But it goes on: “What is your favourite food?” And you say: “Steak and kiddie pie”! |
| WITCH: | No, “Steak and kidney pie”! You should have gone to Specsavers, my dear! |
| PRINCE: | But look! “What is your favourite sound?” And you’ve put: “A child slaughter”! |
| WITCH: | Your eyes really are bad! That says: “A child’s laughter”! |
| PRINCE: | Oh, so it does! How silly of me! |
Characters
| HANSEL & GRETEL: |
Although both are about 10-14, they are often played by older teenagers. (Male and female) |
| FRITZ: | Hansel and Gretel’s father, a woodcutter. (Male) |
| HILDEGARD: | Hansel and Gretel’s mean step-mother. (Female) |
| PEGGY PUMPERNICKEL: |
Pantomime Dame, a jovial gypsy. (Obviously, best played by a man) |
| WALLY: | Peggy’s silly son. (Male or can be played by female) |
| HEATHER: | Peggy’s bright daughter. (Principal girl) |
| PRINCE JOHANN: | Typical Prince character. (Can either be played by male, or female as Principal Boy) |
| WOLFGANG: | The Prince’s Equerry. (Male, or could be re-named female, possibly a youngster) |
| BASIL: | The dim-witted forester and game-keeper. (Male but could be played by female) |
| NUT-MEG: | A daft forager who teams up with Basil to form a typical panto-style comedy twosome. (Female) |
| BLUEBELL: | The Fairy of the Forest. (Female) |
| NIGHTSHADE: | The Wicked Witch of the Woods. (Female) |
| KLAUS: | A circus ringmaster. (Male, or re-named female) |
| OTTO: | A snowy owl (Male or female – smaller part) |
| RUSSELL & SHERYL: |
Two nasty crows who assist Nightshade. (Male and female – smaller parts) |
| CHORUS & DANCERS: |
Villagers Lumberjacks Forest Animals / Birds Circus Performers / Clowns Gypsies Nightshade’s Minions Gingerbread Men / Sweets |
Scenes (Notes on simplified scenery are also included in the script)
| ACT I | |
| Prologue: | Forest Fairy Feud (Front cloth or front of Tabs) |
| Scene 1 : | The Village of Munchen Luncheon (Full stage village scene) |
| Scene 2 : | Jolly Gypsy Japes (Front cloth or front of Tabs) |
| Scene 3 : | Into the Woods … (Full stage forest scene) |
| Scene 4 : | Back in the Village (As Act I Scene 2) |
| Scene 5 : | Recipe for Disaster (Half-stage scene with MS Tabs or cloth) |
| Scene 6 : | A Turn Up for the Books (As Act I Scene 2) |
| Scene 7 : | Join the Circus (Full stage circus scene – inside the big top) |
| ACT II | |
| Scene 1 : | Peggy Pumpernickel’s Party (Full stage gypsy encampment scene, or as Act I Scene 1) |
| Scene 2 : | The Powers of Persuasion (As Act I Scene 2) |
| Scene 3 : | The Petrified Forest (Full stage haunted forest scene, or adapted from Act I Scene 3) |
| Scene 4 : | Meanwhile in Munchen (As Act I Scene 2) |
| Scene 5 : | The Sugar Candy Cottage (Full stage, as Act II Scene 3, plus cottage flats or truck) |
| Scene 6 : | A Plan is Hatched (As Act I Scene 2) |
| Scene 7 : | Deadly Nightshade? (Full stage scene – inside the Sugar Candy Cottage, with oven) |
| Scene 8 : | Fun before we Finish! (Front of Tabs) |
| Scene 9 : | Farewell from the Forest (Full stage Finale, as Act I Scene 1) |
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