Hello Grade 4 to 6 Performers!
We are SO looking forward to diving into the magic of musical theatre with you in Into The Woods!
This page will be your main resource outside of rehearsals for the term.
Please let us know if you have questions or if we can support you in any way. We are here to help!
See you soon!
Rehearsal Schedule
Please see the full term rehearsal and performance schedule here.
All participants will be dismissed after rehearsal, outside, at the BSS Junior School doors (Warren Rd) at 5:35pm (unless otherwise noted on the schedule linked above). Please arrive at that time to collect your child. If someone other than those whom you noted in your registration will be picking your child up, please email Liz as early as possible to let us know.
Parent Resources
Please visit the following links to learn more about our creative process, how we structure our program and how we’re working with BSS to provide the best program possible for your child.
- Please see our note on how you can help to support your child in this show here.
- Please see a detailed outline of our audition and casting process here.
- Please see the Explore It! Performing Arts Programme Overview & Approach here.
Casting:
Note that casting is completed as a team, with the support of the school. We have seen over many years that the way to best support all participants as they mature (developing both skills and confidence as young performers) is to cast primarily by grade. Grade 4 participants start in the larger ensemble, are moved into small-group and small-feature roles in grade 5 and then into larger, more principal roles in grade 6.
- Grade 6s will be cast in Primary Roles, and/or multi-cast in large-track Ensemble Roles in some cases.
- Grade 5s will be cast in the Mid-Sized Roles as well as the Company Ensemble, with a high degree of responsibility and team leadership, and with several “feature opportunities” in the show.
- Grade 4s will be cast in the Company Ensemble, playing multiple roles throughout the show.
- Note that grade 4 performers will not have a solo assigned in the script. Solos may be assigned to some grade 4 ensemble members during the rehearsal process.
Hello Performers!
We are SO excited to dive into the magic of musical theatre with you in Into The Woods, this term!
This page will be our go-to resource for the project. You will find here:
- The complete script, with all lyrics to every song.
- Vocal and backing tracks for each song are embedded into this page below along with the song lyrics to make for easy rehearsing. We ask that all performers listen to the vocal tracks at least once per week. Singing along while doing chores, riding in the car or hanging out with friends is an excellent and easy way to practice and learn!
- As we learn choreography, we will add break-down and practice videos for performers to rehearse with – the more we dance, the better we’ll perform – practice really does make progress!
Please let us know if you have questions or if we can support you in any way. We are here and ready to help!
See you in rehearsal!
Performers! It is very important that you take some time each week to practice at home. As a guide, we recommend the following:
- Grade 4s should be rehearsing for approximately 75 minutes per week between sessions.
- Grade 5s should be rehearsing for approximately 90 minutes per week between sessions.
- Grade 6s should be rehearsing for approximately 120 minutes per week between sessions.
Next, listen to all the music and get to know the story and the characters – especially your own!
In rehearsals, we will begin by working on the songs together – lyrics and choreo – and then build on with character work, blocking and more. If you’re looking to take on more responsibility in this production – show us by learning your part ‘inside and out’ and by showing up to each rehearsal with a positive attitude. There’s always room for performers to take on more and we love to find that special moment for each person to shine on stage!
Watch the 1987 Broadway recording of Into The Woods, starring Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Robert Westenberg, and Tom Aldredge here:
Rehearsal Materials for the BSS Jr. Musical Theatre Company in:
Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Book by JAMES LAPINE
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Original Broadway production by
Heidi Landesman
Rocco Landesman
Rick Steiner
M. Anthony Fisher
Frederic H. Mayerson
Jujamcyn Theaters
Originally produced by the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA
Jump to:
Scene 1
OPENING (PART 1)
OPENING (PART 2)
OPENING (PART 3)
OPENING (PART 4)
OPENING (PART 5)
OPENING (PART 6)
OPENING (PART 7)
OPENING (PART 8)
OPENING (PART 9)
Scene 2
CINDERELLA AT THE GRAVE
Scene 3
Scene 4
HELLO LITTLE GIRL
Scene 5
UNDERSCORE after HELLO LITTLE GIRL
I GUESS THIS IS GOODBYE / MAYBE THEY’RE MAGIC
Scene 7
BAKER’S REPRISE
I KNOW THINGS NOW
Scene 8
JACK’S MOTHER
CINDERELLA COMING FROM THE BALL
A VERY NICE PRINCE
Scene 11
Scene 12
RAPUNZEL’S REPRISE
UNDERSCORE BEFORE IT TAKES TWO
IT TAKES TWO
Scene 13
COW DEATH
UNDERSCORE AFTER COW DEATH
Scene 15
ON THE STEPS OF THE PALACE
Scene 16
GIANT FALLING
THE POTION (PART 1)
THE POTION (PART 2)
CHIME
Scene 17
FINALE (PART 1)
FINALE (PART 2)
FINALE (PART 3)
FINALE (PART 4)
FINALE (PART 5)
Scene One: Prologue
OVERTURE
Overture and Opening 1 (Backing Track)
Lights up. Downstage: SR, the home of CINDERELLA. She is cleaning, frozen. Centre, where JACK lives. He is milking his pathetic looking cow, MILKY-WHITE, frozen. SL, the home/workplace of the BAKER and the BAKER’S WIFE. They are preparing bread, frozen. Behind is a large forest. A NARRATOR steps forward.
OPENING (PART 1)
NARRATOR
Once upon a time
in a far-off kingdom
lived a young maiden,
a sad young lad
and a childless baker
with his wife.
CINDERELLA
I wish…
More than anything…
More than life…
More than jewels
I wish…
More than anything…
More than the moon…
The King is giving a Festival.
I wish to go to the Festival.
And the ball!
More than anything…
I wish…
JACK
I wish…
More than life…
I wish…
More than anything…
More than the moon…
I wish…
I wish…
I wish my cow would give us some milk…
I wish…
BAKER
I wish…
More than anything…
More than the moon…
I wish…
More than life…
More than riches…
More than anything…
I wish we had a child…
I wish…
BAKER’S WIFE
More than anything…
More than the moon…
I wish…
More than life…
More than riches…
More than anything…
I want a child…
I wish…
STEPMOTHER
You wish to go to the Festival?
NARRATOR
The poor girl’s mother had died,
STEPMOTHER
You, Cinderella, the Festival?
The Festival?
STEPMOTHER, FLORINDA & LUCINDA
The Festival?
The King’s Festival?
NARRATOR
And her father had taken for his new wife
a woman with two daughters of her own.
All three were beautiful of face, but vile and black of heart.
OPENING (PART 2)
LITTLE RED enters after knocks are heard.
BAKER’S WIFE
Why, come in, little girl.
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
I wish…
It’s not for me,
It’s for my Granny in the Woods.
A loaf of bread, please-
To bring my poor old hungry
Granny in the Woods…
Just a loaf of bread, please…
Thank you!
Into the Woods,
It’s time to go,
I hate to leave,
I have to, though.
Into the Woods-
It’s time, and so
I must begin my journey.
Into the Woods
And through the trees
To where I am
Expected ma’am,
Into the Woods
To Grandmother’s house-
BAKER’S WIFE
You’re certain of your way?
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
The way is clear,
The light is good,
I have no fear,
Nor no one should.
The Woods are just trees,
The trees are just wood.
I sort of hate to ask it,
But do you have a basket?
BAKER
Here.
Now don’t stray and be late.
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Into the Woods
To bring some bread
To Granny who
Is sick in bed.
Never can tell
What lies ahead.
For all that I know,
She’s already dead.
But into the Woods,
Into the Woods,
Into the Woods
To Grandmother’s house
And home before dark.
BAKER’S WIFE
And save some of those sweets for granny!
OPENING (PART 3)
NARRATOR
Jack on the other hand, had no grandmother
And no father…
And his mother
JACK’S MOTHER
I wish…
NARRATOR
Well, she was at her wits end…
JACK’S MOTHER
I wish my son were not a fool
I wish my house was not a mess
I wish the cow was full of milk
I wish the walls were full of gold
I wish a lot of things!
Listen well son,
Milky-White must be taken to market
JACK
But Mother no!
He’s the best cow!
JACK’S MOTHER
She’s given us no milk for a week
No food, no money
And no choice but to sell her
JACK
But Milky-White is my best friend in the whole world!
JACK’S MOTHER
Look at her!
There are bugs on her dugs
There are flies in her eyes
There’s a lump on her rump
Big enough to be a hump
And no one keeps a cow for a friend
Fetch the best price you can
Take no less than five pounds
Are you listening to me?
JACK
Yes…
No more than five pounds
JACK’S MOTHER
Less than five
Now go.
OPENING (PART 4)
NARRATOR
Because the baker had lost his mother and father in a baking accident,
well – at least that’s what he believed,
he was eager to have a family of his own,
and was concerned that all efforts until now had failed.
(knocks are heard)
BAKER’S WIFE
Who might that be?
BAKER
It’s the witch from next door!
NARRATOR
The old enchantress told the couple she had
placed a spell on their house.
BAKER
What spell?
WITCH
In the past, when your mother was with child, she developed
an unusual appetite. She took one look at my beautiful garden
and told your father what she wanted more than
anything in the world was
Greens, greens and nothing but greens:
Parsley, peppers, cabbages and celery,
Asparagus and watercress and
Fiddleferns and lettuce-!
He said, “All right,”
But it wasn’t, quite,
‘Cause I caught him in the autumn
In my garden one night!
He was robbing me,
Raging me,
Rooting through my rutabaga,
Raiding my arugula and
Ripping up the rampion
My champion! My favorite!-
I should have laid a spell on him
Right there,
Could have changed him into stone
Or a dog or a chair…
But I let him have the rampion-
I’d lots to spare.
In return, however,
I said, “Fair is fair
You can let me have the baby
That your wife will bear.
And we’ll call it square.”
BAKER
I had a brother?
WITCH
No. But you had a sister.
NARRATOR
But the witch refused to tell him anymore of his sister.
Not even that her name was Rapunzel.
OPENING (PART 5)
WITCH
I thought I had been more than reasonable.
But how was I to know what your father
had also hidden in his pocket?!
BAKER
What?
WITCH
Beans.
BAKER & WIFE
Beans?
WITCH
The special beans.
I let him go,
I didn’t know
He’d stolen my beans!
I was watching him crawl,
Back over the wall!
Then bang! Crash!
And the lightning flash!
And-well, that’s another story,
Never mind-
Anyway, at last
The big day came,
And I made my claim.
“Oh, don’t take away the baby,”
They shrieked and screeched,
But I did,
And I hid her
Where she’ll never be reached.
And your father died,
And your mother cried
When for extra measure-
I admit it was a pleasure-
I said, “Sorry,
I’m still not mollified.”
And I laid little spell on them-
You, too, son-
That your family tree
Would always be a barren one…
So there’s no more fuss
And there’s no more scenes
And my garden thrives-
You should see my nectarines!
But I’m telling you the same
I tell kings and queens:
Don’t ever never ever
Mess around with my greens!
Especially the beans.
OPENING (PART 6)
NARRATOR
Then, the Witch, for purposes of her own,
explained how the Baker might lift the spell;
WITCH
You wish to have
The curse reversed?
I’ll need a certain
Potion first.
Go to the wood and bring me back
One: the cow as white as milk,
Two: the cape as red as blood,
Three: the hair as yellow as corn,
Four: the slipper as pure as gold.
Bring me these
Before the chime
Of midnight,
In three day’s time,
And you shall have,
I guarantee,
A child as perfect
As child can be.
Go to the wood!
OPENING (PART 7)
STEPMOTHER
Ladies.
Our carriage waits.
CINDERELLA
Please may I go to the Festival?
STEPMOTHER & FLORINDA & LUCINDA
The Festival-!
You’d make us the fools of the Festival
And mortify the Prince!
STEPMOTHER
Our carriage is waiting.
We must be gone.
(exiting)
CINDERELLA
Good night.
I wish…
OPENING (PART 8)
BAKER
Look what I found in mother’s favourite apron.
BAKER’S WIFE
Six beans.
BAKER
I wonder if they are… ?
BAKER’S WIFE
The Witch’s beans!
We’ll take them with us!
BAKER
No you are not to come and that is final
Now what am I to return with?
BAKER’S WIFE
You don’t remember?
The cow as white as milk,
The cape as red as blood,
The hair as yellow as corn,
The slipper as pure as gold-
BAKER
The cow as white as milk,
The cape as red as blood,
The hair as yellow as corn,
The slipper as pure as gold…
NARRATOR
And so the Baker, reluctantly, set off to meet the
enchantress’ demands.
As for Cinderella:
CINDERELLA
I still wish to go to the Festival,
But how am I ever to get to the Festival?
I know!
I’ll visit Mother’s grave,
The grave at the hazel tree,
And tell her I just want to
Go to the King’s Festival…
OPENING (PART 9)
CINDERELLA, JACK, JACK’S MOTHER, BAKER, BAKER’S WIFE
Into the Woods
Without regret,
The choice is made,
The task is set.
Into the Woods,
But not forgetting why I’m on the journey.
Into the Woods
to get my wish,
I don’t care how,
The time is now.
JACK’S MOTHER
Into the Woods to sell the cow-
JACK
Into the Woods to get the money-
BAKER’S WIFE
Into the Woods to lift the spell-
BAKER
To make the potion-
ENSEMBLE ENTERING
and MYSTERIOUS WOMAN, CINDY’S PRINCE & MOTHER, STEWARD & RAPUNZEL as ENSEMBLE, upstage.
CINDERELLA
To go to the Festival-
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Into the Woods to Grandmother’s house…
Into the Woods to Grandmother’s house…
ALL
The way is clear,
The light is good,
I have no fear,
Nor no one should.
The Woods are just trees,
The trees are just wood.
No need to be afraid there-
There’s something in the glade there…
Into the Woods
To get the thing
That makes it worth
The journeying.
into the Woods-
STEMOTHER & STEPSISTERS
To see the King-
JACK & MOTHER
To sell the cow-
BAKER & WIFE
To make the potion-
ALL
To see-
To sell-
To get-
To bring-
To make-
To lift-
To go to the Festival-!
Into the Woods!
Into the Woods!
Into the Woods,
Then out of the Woods,
And home before dark!
ALL exit except CINDERELLA & gr 4 ENSEMBLE. Scene transitions into The Woods, late afternoon.
Scene Two
The stage darkens – an eerie feeling. CINDERELLA knees before a tree.
CINDERELLA AT THE GRAVE
NARRATOR
Cinderella had planted a branch at the grave of her Mother,
And she visited there so often and wept so much
That her teats watered it until it had become
A handsome tree.
CINDERELLA
I wish…
CINDERELLA’S MOTHER enters with a dress.
CINDERELLA’S MOTHER
What child?
Specify. Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.
CINDERELLA
I wish…
CINDERELLA’S MOTHER & ENSEMBLE
Do you know what you wish?
Are you certain what you wish
Is what you want?
Ask the tree,
And you shall have your wish.
CINDERELLA
Shiver and quiver, little tree,
(A gold and silver dress and fancy slippers appear, from her mother.)
Silver and gold throw down on me.
I’m off to get my wish…
CINDERELLA picks up the clothes and dashes off stage.
Grade 5 ENSEMBLE members (STEPMOTHER, FLORINDA, LUCINDA, JACK’S MOTHER) enter in the transition.
Scene Three
JACK is walking through the Woods, leading MILKY-WHITE. He stops.
JACK
Silence everywhere, Milky-White. Not to my liking…
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
(Stepping out from behind a tree.)
Hello, Jack.
JACK
How did you know my name?
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
How much are you asking for the animal?
JACK
No less than five pounds, m’am.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
Why, you’d be lucky to exchange her for a sack of beans.
The MYSTERIOUS WOMAN disappears in the time it takes JACK to look to his cow and back. He exits.
Scene Four
Another part of the Woods. LITTLE RED skips in, and is surprised by the WOLF.
HELLO LITTLE GIRL
WOLF
Good day young lady.
LITTLE RED
Good day, Mr Wolf.
WOLF
Whither away so hurriedly?
LITTLE RED
To my grandmother’s.
WOLF
And what might be in your basket?
LITTLE RED
Bread and wine, so Grandmother will have something good to make her strong.
WOLF
And where might your grandmother live?
BAKER appears behind a tree and eavesdrops.
LITTLE RED
Further in the Woods. Her house stands under three large oak trees.
WOLF & ENSEMBLE
Hello, little girl,
What’s your rush?
You’re missing all the flowers.
The sun won’t set for hours,
Take your time.
LITTLE RED & HALF ENSEMBLE
Mother said,
“Straight ahead,”
Not to delay or be misled.
WOLF & ENSEMBLE
But slow, little girl,
Hark and hush-
The birds are singing sweetly.
You’ll miss the birds completely,
You’re traveling so fleetly.
LITTLE RED
Mother said
Not to stray.
Still I suppose,
A small delay…
Granny might like
A fresh bouquet…
Goodbye, Mr. Wolf.
(LITTLE RED crosses to flowers, starts to pick them, then exits.)
WOLF
Goodbye, little girl.
And hello… lunch.
(Howls, then exits.)
ALL exit except for the BAKER.
Scene Five
UNDERSCORE after HELLO LITTLE GIRL
BAKER
Is harm to come to that little girl… in the red cape!?
(The WITCH appears.)
WITCH
Forget the girl and get the cape!
That’s the cape. Get it!
BAKER
How am I supposed to get it?
WITCH
You go up to the little thing, and you take it.
RAPUNZEL
(sweetly, offstage, in the distance)
Ahhh….
WITCH
My Rapunzel. Listen to her beautiful music…
(yelling) Get me what I need!
(WITCH exits)
BAKER
I’ll never get that red cape,
Nor find a golden cow or a yellow slipper or…
Was it a golden slipper and a yellow cow? Oh no…
BAKER’S WIFE
(appearing behind a tree)
The cow as white as milk,
The cape as red as blood,
The hair as yellow as corn,
The slipper as pure as –
BAKER
What are you doing here?
BAKER’S WIFE
(coming forward, takes a scarf and puts it around his neck)
You forgot your scarf.
BAKER
You have no business being alone in the Wood.
Now go home immediately!
BAKER’S WIFE
I wish to help.
BAKER
No! The spell is on my h–
JACK enters, leading MILKY-WHITE by a rope on her neck. BAKER’S WIFE, seeing JACK at the other side of the stage, puts a hand across the BAKER’S mouth.)
BAKER’S WIFE
A cow as white as
BOTH
Milk…
BAKER
Hello there.
JACK
Hello, sir.
(nervous)
BAKER
What might you be doing with a cow in the middle of the forest?
JACK
I was heading to market – but I seem to have lost my way.
BAKER’S WIFE
(coaching)
What are you planning to do there?
BAKER
What are you planning to do there?
JACK
Sell my cow, sir. No less than five pounds.
BAKER
Five pounds!
BAKER’S WIFE
And if you can’t fetch that sum? Then what are you to do?
JACK
I suppose my mother and I will have no food to eat.
BAKER has emptied his pockets. He has just the beans in hand.
BAKER’S WIFE
Beans – we mustn’t give up our beans!
Well… if you feel we must.
BAKER
Huh?
JACK
Beans in exchange for my cow?
BAKER’S WIFE
Oh these are no ordinary beans, son. These beans carry magic.
JACK
What kind of magic?
BAKER’S WIFE
(to BAKER)
Tell him.
The MYSTERIOUS WOMAN enters, behind a tree.
BAKER
Magic that defies description.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
You’d be lucky to exchange her for a sack of beans.
BAKER’S WIFE and BAKER are frightened by the mysterious voice.
The MYSTERIOUS WOMAN exits before anyone can see her.
JACK
How many beans?
BAKER
Six.
BAKER’S WIFE
Five! We can’t part with all of them.
We must leave one for ourselves.
Besides, I’d say they’re worth a pound each, at the very least.
I GUESS THIS IS GOODBYE / MAYBE THEY’RE MAGIC
JACK
Could I buy my cow back some day?
BAKER
Well… Possibly.
The BAKER hands JACK the beans, counting out five and keeping one in his pocket.
BAKER’S WIFE takes MILKY-WHITE.
BAKER
Good luck there, young lad.
JACK
I guess this is goodbye, old pal,
You’ve been a perfect friend.
I hate to have to part, old pal,
Some day I’ll buy you back.
I’ll see you soon again.
I hope that when I do,
It won’t be on a plate.
(JACK exits.)
BAKER
Take the cow and go home.
BAKER’S WIFE
I was trying to be helpful.
BAKER
Magic beans!
Are we going to dispel this curse through deceit?
BAKER’S WIFE
If you know
What you want,
Then you go
And you find it
And you get it-
BAKER
Home.
BAKER’S WIFE
Do we want a child or not?
And you give
And you take
And you bid
And you bargain
Or you live
To regret it.
BAKER
Will you please go home?
BAKER’S WIFE
There are rights and wrongs
And in-betweens-
No one waits
When fortune intervenes.
Amd maybe they’re really magic,
Who knows?
BAKER
Go home. I will carry this out in my own fashion.
BAKER’s WIFE takes MILKY-WHITE and BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE exit in different directions.
Scene Six
Grade 4 & 5 (STEPMOTHER, FLORINA, LUCINDA) ENSEMBLE enters.
NARRATOR enters.
RAPUNZEL is heard singing off in the distance. RAPUNZEL appears at her tower.
RAPUNZEL
NARRATOR
And so the Baker continues his search for the cape as red as blood.
As for Rapunzel, the Witch was careful not to lose this beauty to the outside world, and so shut her within a doorless tower that lay deep within the forest. And when the old enchantress paid a visit, she called forth…
RAPUNZEL
Ahh…
NARRATOR exits as WITCH crosses to the tower. RAPUNZEL’S PRICE enters and knees to hide from the WITCH.
WITCH
Rapunzel… Rapunzel…
Let down your hair to me.
RAPUNZEL stops singing and her hair descends. WITCH climbs up and they exit together.
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE comes out from hiding.
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
(to himself)
Rapunzel, Rapunzel. What a strange but beautiful name. And fit for a Prince!
Tomorrow, before that horrible witch arrives, I will stand before her window and ask her to let down her hair to me!
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE exits.
Scene Seven
BAKER enters and steps into LITTLE RED’S path – she is eating a sweet as she enters.
BAKER
Hello little one. Where did you get that beautiful cape? I admire it. I would love to have a cloak like that.
LITTLE RED
(giggling)
You’d look pretty foolish.
BAKER
(BAKER goes to her and takes her cape.)
May I look at it?
LITTLE RED
I don’t like to be without my cape. Please, give it back!
WITCH’S VOICE
Forget the little girl and get the cape!
BAKER dashes away with the cape. LITTLE RED stands numb for a moment, then lets out a bloodcurdling scream, followed by hysterical weeping.
BAKER’S REPRISE
BAKER
(sheepishly, returning the cape, placing it on LITTLE RED’S shoulders)
I wanted to make certain that you really loved this cape. No you go to your granny’s – and be careful that no wolf comes your way.
LITTLE RED
I’d rather a wolf than you any day.
LITTLE RED stomps on BAKER’S food and exits.
BAKER & ENSEMBLE
If you know what you need
Then you go and you find it and you take it
BAKER
Do I want a child or not?
BAKER & ENSEMBLE
Things are only what you need them for
What’s important is who needs them more
BAKER
I need that cape!
(exits)
NARRATOR
(entering)
And so the Baker, with new found determination, went after the red cape. As for the little girl, she was surprised to find her grandmother’s cottage door standing open.
We see Granny’s cottage with the WOLF, in bed, covers up and hands near his mouth. LITTLE RED enters.
LITTLE RED
Good day, Grandmother.
My Grandmother, you’re looking very strange. What big ears you have!
WOLF
(in a granny voice)
The better to hear you with, my dear.
LITTLE RED
But Grandmother, what big eyes you have!
WOLF
The better to see you with my dear.
LITTLE RED
Oh Grandmother, what a terrible, big, wet mouth you have!
WOLF
The better to eat you with!
Black out. There is a bloodcurdling scream from LITTLE RED, who has disappeared as the light comes up.
NARRATOR
WIth his appetite appeased, the Wolf took to bed for a nice long nap.
WOLF snores BAKER is outside the cottage. NARRATOR exits.
BAKER
That grandmother has a mighty snore.
Odd… where is the little one?
WOLF belches.
BAKER stops. He timidly goes over to the bed, his knife stretched before him.
BAKER lets out a yelp when he sees the WOLF.
BAKER
What is that red cloth in the corner of your mouth? Looks to me to be a piece of – ah hah! I’ll get that cape from within your stomach!
BAKER slits the WOLF’S stomach, then recoils in disgust.
LITTLE RED
(Stepping out of the WOLF)
What a fright! How dark and dank it was inside that wolf.
(GRANNY emerges from WOLF.)
GRANNY
Kill the beast!
LITTLE RED
Granny!
GRANNY pulls BAKER into the cottage as LITTLE RED walks downstage. The lights change.
I KNOW THINGS NOW
Mother said, “Straight ahead”
Not to delay or be mislead
I should have headed her advice
But he seemed so nice
LITTLE RED & ENSEMBLE
And he showed me things
Many beautiful things
That I hadn’t thought to explore
They were off my path
So I never had dared
I had been so careful
I never had cared
And he made me feel excited
Well, excited and scared
When he said, “Come in!”
With that sickening grin
How could I know what was in store?
Once his teeth were bared
Though, I really got scared
Well, excited and scared
But he drew me close
And he swallowed me down
Down a dark slimy path
Where lie secrets that I never want to know
And I know things now
Many valuable things
That I hadn’t known before
Do not put your faith
In a cape and a hood
They will not protect you
The way that they should
And take extra care with strangers
Even flowers have their dangers
And though scary is exciting
Nice is different than good
LITTLE RED
Now I know: Don’t be scared
Granny is right, Just be prepared
Isn’t it nice to know a lot!
And a little bit not
BAKER appears.
LITTLE RED
Mr Baker, you saved our lives. Here.
(LITTLE RED hands BAKER her cape.)
BAKER
Thank you!
(Joyfully, the BAKER hugs her and exits. LITTLE RED exits. ENSEMBLE exits.)
Scene Eight
NARRATOR enters.
JACK’S MOTHER
NARRATOR
And so, the Baker, with the second article in hand, feeling braver and more satisfied than he had ever felt, ran back through the Woods. As for the lad, Jack:
JACK’S MOTHER and JACK enter.
JACK’S MOTHER
Only a dolt would exchange a cow for beans!
(She throws the beans to the ground. Marching JACK into the house.)
JACK
Mother no!
CINDERELLA COMING FROM THE BALL
NARRATOR
Little did they know those beans would grow into an enormous stalk that would stretch to the heavens.
(exits)
BAKER’S WIFE enters, tugging at MILKY-WHITE. Ball music is heard in the distance. CINDERELLA dashes on stage looking over her shoulder. CINDERELLA signals to the BAKER’S WIFE to keep quiet, then ducks behind a tree. Fanfare. CINDERELLA’S PRINCE runs on stage, followed by his STEWARD. They look about for a moment, then notice the BAKER’S WIFE, who is curtseying deeply.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
Have you seen a beautiful young woman in a ball gown pass through?
BAKER’S WIFE
I don’t think so sir.
STEWARD
I think I see her over there!
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE signals STEWARD off, then follows after looking the BAKER’S WIFE over.
ENSEMBLE exits.
BAKER’S WIFE
I’ve never lied to royalty before. I’ve never anything to royalty before!
CINDERELLA
Thank you.
A VERY NICE PRINCE
BAKER’S WIFE
What a beautiful gown you’re wearing. Were you at the King’s festival?
CINDERELLA
Yes.
BAKER’S WIFE
Aren’t you the lucky one. If a Prince were looking for me, I certainly wouldn’t hide.
Tell me about the ball.
CINDERELLA
It’s a very nice ball.
BAKER’S WIFE
Yes, and-?
CINDERELLA
And-
The have far too much food
BAKER’S WIFE
No the Prince-?
CINDERELLA
Oh, the Prince…
BAKER’S WIFE
Yes, the Prince!
CINDERELLA
If he knew who I really was
BAKER’S WIFE
Oh? Who?
CINDERELLA
I’m afraid I was rude…
BAKER’S WIFE
Oh? How?
CINDERELLA
Now I’m being pursued.
BAKER’S WIFE
Yes? And?
CINDERELLA
And I’m not in the mood.
BAKER’S WIFE
Are you to return to the festival tomorrow eve?
CINDERELLA
Perhaps
BAKER’S WIFE
Perhaps? Oh but to be pursued by a prince!
All that pursues me is tomorrow’s bread.
What I wouldn’t give to be in your shoes.
CINDERELLA
Will you look over there!
An enormous vine growing next to that little cottage!
BAKER’S WIFE
Wait – your slippers!
CINDERELLA
It looks like a giant beanstalk rising into the sky!
BAKER’S WIFE
As pure as gold…
CINDERELLA
I must to get home!
BAKER’S WIFE
Wait.
(CINDERELLA exits)
I need your shoes!
(MILKY-WHITE takes off in the other direction)
Milky-White! Come back here!
BAKER’S WIFE is torn between CINDERELLA and MILKY-WHITE.
She debates and then takes exits, chasing after MILKY-WHITE.
Scene Nine
JACK appears from behind some trees. He is carrying an oversized money sack.
GIANTS IN THE SKY
There are giants in the sky
There are big tall terrible giants in the sky
When you’re way up high and you look below
At the world you’ve left and the things you know
Little more than a glance is enough to show
You just how small you are
When you’re way up high and you’re on your own
In a world like none that you’ve ever known
And the sky’s like lead and the earth’s like stone
You’re free to do whatever pleases you
Exploring things you’d never dare
‘Cause you don’t care when suddenly there’s
A big tall terrible giant at the door
A big tall terrible giant with a terrible roar
So you steal some gold and away you go
And you scramble down to the world below
And you’re back again, only different than before
After the sky
There are giants in the sky
There are big tall terrible awesome scary
Wonderful giants in the sky
BAKER enters. JACK bounds over to him.
JACK
Good fortune! Sir – look what I have! Here’s five gold pieces.
Where is Milky-White? You said I might buy her back.
… Do you wish more money? Keep this – I’ll fetch more.
(JACK exits.)
BAKER
Five gold pieces! With this money I could buy baking supplies for a year.
I could buy a new thatched roof with a new chimney.
(MYSTERIOUS WOMAN appears.)
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
But could you buy yourself a child?
BAKER
Who are you?
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
How badly do you wish a child? Five gold pieces? Ten? Twenty?
(beat – he walks over and takes the money)
The money is not what’s important.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN exits, leaving the BAKER bewildered and confused. BAKER’S WIFE enters.
BAKER
What are you doing here now?
BAKER’S WIFE
I see you’ve the red cape.
BAKER
Yes – I’ve the cape. Only two items left to locate.
BAKER’S WIFE
Three.
BAKER
Two. I’ve the cape and the cow.
BAKER’S WIFE
You’ve the cape!
(crying)
She ran away. I never reached home. I’ve been looking for her all night.
BAKER
I should have known better than to have entrusted her to you.
BAKER’S WIFE
She might have just as easily run away from you!
BAKER
But she didn’t!
BAKER’S WIFE
I’m sorry I lost the cow.
BAKER
I shouldn’t have yelled.
Now please – back to the village.
I will make things right.
And then we can just go about our life.
No more hunting about in the Woods for strange objects.
No more witches and dim-witted boys and hungry little girls.
… GO!
BOTH exit in opposite directions.
Scene Ten
FANFARES
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE crosses the stage. He is met by RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE.
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
Ah, there you are brother. I had wondered where you had gone.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
I’ve been looking all night… for her.
(BAKER’S WIFE appears and eavesdrops)
The beautiful one I danced the evening with.
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
Where did she go?
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
Disappeared.
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
I too have found a lovely maiden. She lives in the top of a tall tower that has no door or stairs.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
And how do you manage a visit?
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
I stand beneath her tower and say “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair to me.” And then she lowers the longest, most beautiful head of hair – yellow as corn (BAKER’S WIFE reacts), which I climb to her.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
Rapunzel! What kind of name is that? You jest!
AGONY
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
She is as true as your maiden. A maiden running from a prince? Does that make sense?
None would run from us.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
Yet – one has…
Did I abuse her
Or show her disdain?
Why does she run from me?
If I should lose her,
How shall I regain
The heart she has won from me?
Agony!
Beyond power of speech,
When the one thing you want
Is the only thing out of your reach.
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
High in her tower,
She sits by the hour,
Maintaining her hair.
Blithe and becoming and frequently humming
A lighthearted air:
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-
Agony!
Far more painful than yours,
When you know she would go with you
If there only were doors.
BOTH
Agony!
Oh, the torture they teach!
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
Always ten steps behind-
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
Always ten feet below-
BOTH
And she’s just out of reach.
Agony
That can cut like a knife!
I must have her to wife.
PRINCES exit in opposite directions.
Scene Eleven
BAKER’S WIFE steps out of hiding.
BAKER’S WIFE
Two princes, each more handsome than the other.
(she begins to follow CINDERELLA’S PRINCE but chances her mind)
No! Get the hair!
(BAKER’S WIFE begins to head in the other direction but is stopped by JACK’S MOTHER, entering)
JACK’S MOTHER
Excuse me. Have you encountered a boy answering to the name of Jack?
BAKER’S WIFE
The one partial to a white cow? … No.
Have you seen the cow?
JACK’S MOTHER
No – and I don’t care to ever again.
I hope he doesn’t go up that beanstalk again.
(begins to exit)
Jack!… Jack!
(exits)
BAKER’S WIFE, after a moment’s pause, exits in the other direction.
BAKER enters, looking for MILKY-WHITE.
BAKER
Moo…
Moo…
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN appears.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
Moo! Looking for your cow?
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN signals to offstage and MILKY-WHITE enters.
BAKER
Where did you find her?
As BAKER turns to look at MILKY-WHITE, the MYSTERIOUS WOMAN exits, disappearing.
BAKER takes MULKY WHITE and exits. MYSTERIOUS WOMAN reappears and watches after them. WITCH surprises MYSTERIOUS WOMAN and touches her with her cane – she falls to the ground, grovelling.
WITCH
What are you doing?
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
I am here to see your wish is granted.
WITCH
You’ve caused enough trouble! Keep out of my path!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN runs off, WITCH follows her.
Scene Twelve
BAKER’S WIFE enters, pulling a long strand of hair that stretches into the wings.
RAPUNZEL’S REPRISE
RAPUNZEL
(from offstage)
Ahh…
BAKER’S WIFE
Excuse me for this.
BAKER’S WIFE yanks the hair three times. RAPUNZEL screams more loudly with each pull. On the third yank, some hair falls into the BAKER’S WIFE’s hands.
UNDERSCORE BEFORE IT TAKES TWO
CINDERELLA enters, as if pursued. She falls at the feet of the BAKER’S WIFE, losing one slipper.
CINDERELLA
Oh hello. It’s these slippers.
BAKER’S WIFE
I’d say those slippers were as pure as gold.
BAKER’S WIFE grabs a shoe.
I must have your shoe.
CINDERELLA
No!
The two engage in a tug-of-war over the shoe and their dialogue overlaps.
BAKER’S WIFE
I need it to have a baby!
CINDERELLA
I need it to get out of here!
CINDERELLA wins the shoe and desperately runs offstage. BAKER’S WIFE is embarrassed by her behaviour and straightens herself as CINDERELLA’S PRINCE with STEWARD bound onstage, she curtseys deeply again.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
Where did she go?
BAKER’S WIFE
Who?
STEWARD
Don’t play the fool.
BAKER’S WIFE
Oh – you mean the beautiful young maiden in the ball gown? She went in that direction.
I was trying to hold her here for you.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
I can capture my own damsel, thank you.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE and STEWARD dash offstage.
BAKER runs onstage with MILKY-WHITE. They are both out of breath.
BAKER’S WIFE
You’ve the cow!
BAKER
Yes, I’ve the cow. We’ve two of the four.
(MILKY-WHITE continues to breathe heavily)
BAKER’S WIFE
Three.
BAKER
Two!
BAKER’S WIFE
Three!
(pulls the hair from her pocket)
Compare this to your corn.
BAKER
Where did you find it?
BAKER’S WIFE
I pulled it from a maiden in a tower.
BAKER
Three!
BAKER’S WIFE
And I almost had the fourth – but she got away.
IT TAKES TWO
BAKER
We’ve one entire day left. Surely we can locate the slipper by then.
BAKER’S WIFE
We? You mean you’ll allow me to stay?
BAKER
Well, perhaps it will take the two of us to get this child.
BAKER’S WIFE
You’ve changed.
You’re daring.
You’re different in the Woods.
More sure.
More sharing.
You’re getting us through the Woods.
If you could see-
You’re not the man who started,
And much more openhearted
Than I knew
You to be.
BAKER
It takes two.
I thought one was enough,
It’s not true:
It takes two of us
You came through
When the journey was rough.
It took you.
It took two of us.
It takes care.
It takes patience and fear and despair
To change.
Though you swear
To change,
Who can tell if you do?
It takes two.
BOITH
We’ve changed.
We’re strangers.
I’m meeting you in the Woods.
Who minds
What dangers?
I know we’ll get past the Woods.
And once we’re past,
Lets’ hope the changes last
Beyond Woods,
Beyond witches and slippers and hoods,
Just the two of us-
Beyond lies,
Safe at home with our beautiful prize,
Just the few of us.
It takes trust.
It takes just
A bit more
And we’re done.
We want four,
We had none.
We’ve got three.
We need one.
It takes two.
Scene Thirteen
JACK dashes onstage with a hen.
JACK
My hen!
My Milky-White!
(absent mindedly hands the hen to the BAKER)
And the owners!
… And my hen!
BAKER
(squeals)
Look what the hen dropped in my hand!
BAKER’S WIFE
A golden egg! I’ve never seen a golden egg!
JACK
You see. I promised you more than the five gold pieces I gave you sir. Now, I’m taking my cow.
BAKER
Now I never said I would sell–
JACK
But you took the five gold pieces.
BAKER
I didn’t take, you gave.
JACK goes to take MILKY WITE. BAKER holds her rope from him.
JACK
You said I could have my cow!
BAKER
Now, I never said you could. I said you might.
COW DEATH
BAKER’S WIFE
You would take money before a child?
MILKY-WHITE lets out a terrible yelp and falls to the ground, dead. Silence.
JACK runs to her, puts his ear to her chest. Silence.
JACK
Milky-White is dead…
BAKER, BAKER’S WIFE
Two.
UNDERSCORE AFTER COW DEATH
Blackout.
As the lights come up, we see BAKER’S WIFE and BAKER, exhausted. NARRATOR is on stage.
NARRATOR
Two midnights gone. And the exhausted Baker and his wife buried Milky-White.
BAKER
You must go to the village in search of another cow.
BAKER’S WIFE
And what do you propose I use to purchase this cow?
BAKER
(takes the remaining bean from his pocket)
Here. Tell them it’s magic.
BAKER’S WIFE
No person with a brain larger than this is going to exchange a cow for a bean.
I feel it best you go for the cow, as I have met a maiden with a golden slipper and I think I might succeed in winning one of her shoes.
BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE exit in opposite directions. Dim down. ENSEMBLE enters. LITTLE RED and RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE to join the ENSEMBLE.
Scene Fourteen
RAPUNZEL screams.
STAY WITH ME
NARRATOR
Unfortunately for Rapunzel–
RAPUNZEL
No!
NARRATOR
The Witch discovered her affections for the Prince before he could spirit her away.
WITCH drags RAPUNZEL onstage and throws her to the ground.
WITCH
Why didn’t you tell me you had a visitor?
RAPUNZEL
It was lonely atop that tower.
WITCH
I gave you protection and yet you disobeyed me.
RAPUNZEL
I am no longer a child. I wish to see the world.
WITCH & ENSEMBLE
Don’t you know what’s out there in the world?
Someone has to shield you from the world.
Stay with me.
Princes wait there in the world, it’s true.
Princes, yes, but wolves and humans, too.
Stay at home.
I am home.
Who out there could love you more than I?
What out there that I cannot supply?
Stay with me.
Stay with me,
The world is dark and wild.
Stay a child while you can be a child.
With me
I will not share you, but I will show you a world you’ve never seen.
WITCH cuts RAPUNZEL’S hair.
WITCH drags RAPUNZEL offstage.
BAKER enters, followed by MYSTERIOUS WOMAN.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN drops a sack of gold,
BAKER turns at the sound.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN exits as BAKER picks up the money.
BAKER exits.
Grade 5 ENSEMBLE members exit. RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE (as ENSEMBLE) exits.
NARRATOR enters.
NARRATOR
After having cast our Rapunzel to a remote desert, the Witch returned to take the Prince by surprise. As he leapt from the tower – the thorns into which he fell pierced his eyes and blinded him.
Scene Fifteen
Lights dim. CINDERELLA hobbles onstage, wearing only one shoe.
ON THE STEPS OF THE PALACE
NARRATOR
As for Cinderella, she returned from her final visit to the Festival.
(NARRATOR exits.)
CINDERELLA
He’s a very smart Prince,
He’s a Prince who prepares.
Knowing this time I’d run from him,
He spread pitch on the stairs.
I was caught unawares.
And I thought: well, he cares-
This is more than just malice.
Better stop and take stock
While you’re standing here stuck
On the steps of the palace.
CINDERELLA & ENSEMBLE
Better run along home
And avoid the collision.
Even though they don’t care,
You’ll be better of there
Where there’s nothing to choose,
So there’s nothing to lose.
So you pry up your shoes.
CINDERELLA
Then from out of the blue,
And without any guide,
You know what your decision is,
Which is not to decide.
You’ll just leave him a clue
For example, a shoe.
And then see what he’ll do.
Now it’s he and not you
Who is stuck with a shoe,
In a stew,
In the goo,
CINDERELLA & ENSEMBLE
And you’ve learned something, too,
Something you never knew,
On the steps of the palace.
BAKER’S WIFE races onstage.
CINDERELLA
Don’t come any closer to me!
You attacked me once before.
BAKER’S WIFE
I did not attack you! I attacked your shoe. I need it.
(reaches into her pocket)
Here. Here is a magic bean in exchange for it.
(BAKER’S WIFE hands CINDERELLA the bean.)
CINDERELLA
Magic bean?
Nonsense!
(throws the bean away)
BAKER’S WIFE
Don’t do that!
BAKER’S WIFE drops to the ground and searches for the bean.
CINDERELLA
I’ve already given up one shoe. My feet cannot bear to give up another.
BAKER’S WIFE
(Stopping CINDERELLA from leaving – coming to stand.)
I need that shoe to have a child!
CINDERELLA
(beat)
That makes no sense.
BAKER’S WIFE
Does it make sense that you’re running from a prince?
STEWARD
(offstage)
Stop!
BAKER’S WIFE
Here – take my shoes, you’ll run faster.
BAKER’S WIFE gives CINDERELLA her shoes and takes the golden slipper. CINDERELLA takes the shoes and exits quickly. STEWARD bounds onstage and looks about.
STEWARD
Who was that woman?
BAKER’S WIFE
I do not know, sir.
STEWARD
Lying will cost you your life!
We will search the kingdom tomorrow for the maiden who fits this shoe.
BAKER’S WIFE
It’s mine.
BAKER’S WIFE and STEWARD begin to struggle. MYSTERIOUS WOMAN appears.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
Give her the slipper and all will –
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE runs onstage.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
I’ve the maiden’s slipper!
(producing another slipper)
STEWARD
And I’ve obtained the other slipper!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
Give them the slipper, and all will come to a happy end.
STEWARD
Quiet!
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
Do as he says. He’s obviously a spirit of some sort – and we only need one.
STEWARD hands the slipper back to the BAKER’S WIFE who takes it and curtsies. BAKER enters.
Scene Sixteen
GIANT FALLING
Suddenly, there is the sound of cracking wood, followed by an enormous thud.
We hear a loud scream. JACK’S MOTHER runs onstage, hysterical.
JACK’S MOTHER
There’s a dead Giant in my backyard! I heard Jack coming down the beanstalk, calling for his axe. And when he reached the bottom he took it and began hacking down the stalk. Suddenly, a crash, and the beanstalk fell, but there was no Jack. For all I know, he’s been crushed by the Giant.
A beat.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
Well, then there’s nothing any of us can do about that, now is there?
We must be off. I need my rest before tomorrow’s search is to commence.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE and STEWARD exit.
JACK’S MOTHER
Doesn’t anyone care if a Giant has fallen from the sky?
WITCH appears.
WITCH
You’ve found the objects?
I don’t see the cow.
BAKER’S WIFE
Well we did have a cow as white as milk. Honestly we did.
But she died. We thought you’d prefer a live cow.
WITCH
Of course I’d prefer a live cow! So bring me the dead cow and I’ll bring her back to life!
Now!
BAKER’S WIFE and BAKER run to get MILKY-WHITE.
JACK runs on stage with a golden harp.
JACK’S MOTHER
There you are! I’ve been worried sick!
JACK
Mother look, the most beautiful harp.
JACK’S MOTHER
Shame on you! You’ve stolen too much.
BAKER pops in to say:
BAKER
She’s too heavy.
WITCH waves her hand and MILKY-WHITE suddenly walks onstage, followed by the BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE.
JACK
What’s happening?
… Now I have my friend back! And I’m rich!
WITCH
Quiet!
Feed the objects to the cow!
(Beat.)
THE POTION (PART 1)
You heard me. Feed them to the cow.
BAKER feeds MILKY-WHITE the first object.
BAKER feeds MILKY-WHITE the second object.
BAKER feeds MILKY-WHITE the third object.
We hear the first three chimes of midnight. The remaining sound through the rest of the scene.
All stare intently at MILKY-WHITE.
WITCH pulls a silver goblet from her cloak and gives it to BAKER.
WITCH
Fill this.
JACK
I’ll do it. She’ll only milk for me. Squeeze pal.
Nothing. WITCH goes and takes the goblet and turns it upside down.
WITCH
Wrong ingredients. Forget about a child.
BAKER’S WIFE
No! We followed your instructions. One, that cow is white as milk. Two, the cape was certainly as red as blood. And three, the slipper was gold…
BAKER
And four, I compared the hair with this ear of corn.
(pulling an ear of corn from his bag)
BAKER’S WIFE
I pulled it from a maiden in a tower and–
WITCH
You what?! I touched that hair! Don’t you understand? I cannot have touched the ingredients!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN comes out from behind a tree.
THE POTION (PART 2)
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
The corn! The corn!
The silky hair of the corn. Pull it from the ear and feed it to the cow. Quickly!
BAKER hurriedly feeds MILKY-WHITE.
WITCH
This had better work, old woman, before the last stroke of midnight,
or your son will be the last of your flesh and blood.
MILKY-WHITE swallows.
BAKER
Son?
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
Please, not now.
WITCH
Yes. Meet your mother.
BAKER
Mother? Could that be you?
I thought you died in a baking accident.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
I didn’t want to run away from you son, but–
BAKER’S WIFE
It’s working!
MILKY-WHITE squeals.
JACK
She’s milking!
BAKER
I don’t understand!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
Not now!
(to BAKER’S WIFE)
Into the cup!
BAKER’S WIFE holds the goblet under MILKY-WHITE as JACK milks, all eyes are on MILKY-WHITE. WITCH takes the goblet and drinks. She reacts and exits in her own spell. MYSTERIOUS WOMAN falls to the ground.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
Son!
BAKER
Mother!
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN
All is repaired.
(she dies)
ALL
He’s dead!
CHIME
WITCH
(re-entering, she has transformed into a beautiful woman)
Blackout.
MYSTERIOUS WOMAN exits.
Scene Seventeen
Narrator enters.
FINALE (PART 1)
NARRATOR
And so the Mysterious WOman dies, having helped end the curse on her house. For the Baker, there would be no reunion with his mother, and he and his wife, bewildered, returned home.
BAKER and BAKER’S WIFE exit.
The Witch, who had been punished with age and ugliness that night when her beans had been stolen and the lightning flashed, was now returned to her former state of youth and beauty.
WITCH strikes a pose, then exits.
And Milky-White, after a night of severe indigestion, was reunited with the now-wealthy Jack.
JACK and JACK’S MOTHER exit with MILKY-WHITE and the harp.
RAPUNZEL enters, followed by RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE.
As for Rapunzel, she lives impoverished in the desert until the day her Prince, wandering aimlessly, heard a voice so familiar that he went towards it. And when he approached, Rapunzel, overjoyed at seeing him, fell into his arms weeping.
Two of her tears wetted his eyes and their touch restored his vision.
WITCH
(entering – to RAPUNZEL)
Child… This is who I truly am. Come with me, now. We can be happy as we once were.
RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE
She will not go with you!
WITCH
… You are the only family I know.
… Come with me, please.
… You give me no choice!
WITCH attempts to put a spell on them, but nothing happens. She tries again, and again, nothing. RAPUNZEL and RAPUNZEL’S PRINCE shrug and exit, together.
NARRATOR
In exchange for youth and beauty, the Witch lost her power over others.
WITCH, frustrated, exits.
LITTLE RED (as ENSEMBLE) exits to change back into LR costume for FINALE.
FINALE (PART 2)
As for Cinderella’s Prince…
The following vignettes of the SISTERS trying to squeeze their feet into the shoe are created by CINDERELLA’S STEPMOTHER and SISTERS while the NARRATOR speaks.
He began his search for the foot to fit the golden slipper.
When he came to Cinderella’s house, Cinderella’s Stepmother took the slipper into Florinda’s room.
FLORINDA
Careful my toes!
STEPMOTHER
Darling I know
FLORINDA
What’ll we do?
STEPMOTHER & ENSEMBLE
It’ll have to go
But when you’re his bride
You can sit or ride
You’ll never need to walk!
FLORINDA hobbles over to CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
NARRATOR
The girl obeyed, swallowing the pain, and joined the Prince to become his bride.
FINALE (PART 3)
STEWARD
Look at the foot within the shoe
This one is not the bride that’s true
Search for the foot that fits!
FINALE (PART 4)
NARRATOR
The Prince returned the false bride, and asked the other sister to put on the shoe.
LUCINDA
Why won’t it fit?
STEPMOTHER
Darling be still
STEPMOTHER & ENSEMBLE
Squeeze in a bit of the heel and it will
And when you’re his wife
You’ll have such a life
You’ll never need to walk!
STEPMOTHER presents LUCINDA to CINDERELLA’S PRINCE.
FINALE (PART 5)
NARRATOR
The girl obeyed and swallowed her pain. But once again, the Prince noticed the ill fitting shoe.
But… when Cinderella presented herself at last, and tried on the slipper, it fit like a glove.
CINDERELLA and CINDERELLA’S PRINCE join – happily together.
CINDERELLA’S PRINCE
This is my true love!
We hear a fanfare. BAKER’S WIFE enters, carrying a baby.
BAKER’S WIFE
I see you and your prince have found each other.
CINDERELLA
Yes.
BAKER’S WIFE
(patting her child)
Thank you for the slipper.
Scene Eighteen
All enter.
FINALE (PART 6)
NARRATOR
And so it came to pass, all that seemed wrong was now right, the kingdoms were filled with joy, and those who deserved to were certain to live a long and happy life.
ALL
Ever after
Ever after!
NARRATOR
Journey over
All is mended
And it’s not just for today
But tomorrow
And extended
Ever after
ALL
Ever after!
NARRATOR
All the curses
Have been ended
The reverses wiped away
All is tenderness and laughter
For forever after!
ALL
Happy now and happy hence
And happy ever after!
Joy today and bliss tomorrow
Tenderness and laughter
To be happy and forever
You must see your wish come true
Don’t be careful
Don’t be clever
When you see your wish pursue
It’s a dangerous endeavour
But the only thing to do–
Though it’s fearful
Though it’s deep, though it’s dark
And though you may lose the path
If you want your wish
You can have your wish
But you can’t just wish
No to get your wish
You go
Into the Woods
Where nothing’s clear
Where witches, ghosts and wolves appear
Into the Woods and through the fear
You have to take the journey
Into the Woods and down the dell
In vain perhaps but who can tell?
Into the Woods to lift the spell
Into the Woods to lose the longing
Into the Woods to have the child
To wed the prince
To get the money
To save the house
To kill the wolf
To find the father
To conquer the kingdom,
To have
To wed
To get
To save
To kill
To keep
To go to the festival!
Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Then out of the Woods
And happy ever after!
CINDERELLA
I wish!
Blackout. Lights up for bows.
ENCORE: CURTAIN MUSIC
Careful the things you say
Children will listen
Careful the things you do
Children will see and learn
Children may not obey, but children will listen
Children will look to you for which way to turn
To learn what to be
Careful before you say “listen to me”
Children will listen
Into the Woods
Where nothing’s clear
Where witches, ghosts, and wolves appear
Into the Woods
And through the fear
You have to take the journey
Into the Woods
And down the dell
In vain perhaps
But who can tell?
Into the Woods
To lift the spell
Into the Woods
To lose the longing
Into the Woods
To have the child
To wed the prince
To get the money
To save the house
To kill the wolf
To find the father
To conquer the kingdom
To have
To wed
To get
To save
To kill
To keep
To go to the festival!
Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Into the Woods
Then out of the Woods
And happy ever after!