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The Princess and the Pea
Large Cast Full Length Play for Theatres & Schools

Staging Notes

Script Sample

THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
CAST LIST
Full Length Play, 2 Acts, Running Time: About 90 minutes
Flexible Cast of 33-47: 5M, 14F, all others M/F
Easily adapted for larger or smaller cast
(Recommended for Junior and Senior High Performers)

ISADORA (F)

PRINCE HARCOURT (M)

PRINCESS GOLDEN, eligible princess (F)

PRINCESS SAPPHIRE, eligible princess (F)

ISADORA's SPIRITS:
(2-6 players, M/F, neutral gender)

TRUE PRINCESS, eligible princess (F)

BLUE PRINCESS, eligible princess (F)

QUEEN SOPHIA, Harcourt's mother (F)

PRINCE EDGAR, Harcourt's brother (M)

PRINCESS GRETA, Edgar's wife (F)

HANDMAIDENS:
MARY (F)
OLGA (F)
IDA (F)

KING ULSTED, Harcourt's father (M)

COOKS:
MACGREGOR (M/F)
MARGARET (F)
MACDONALD (M/F)

ROSE, The Princess (F)

YOUNG HARRY, At about age 10 (M/F)
(May be played by boy or girl dressed as boy)

YOUNG EDGAR, At about age 8 (M/F)
(May be played by boy or girl dressed as boy)

TOWNSPEOPLE:
(2-6 players, M/F, various gender)

PRIEST (M)

TOWN GOSSIP (M/F)

PEASANT GIRL, about 10 years old (F)

GYPSIES
(2-6 players, M/F, various gender)

STAGEHANDS
(2-4 players, M/F, neutral gender.)

TRUMPETER (M/F)

KING YORICK, Rose's father (M)

QUEEN YORICK, Rose's mother (F)

Easy to Adapt to Your Needs!
Large Cast Play - The Princess and the Pea Classic Full Length Children's Plays - The Princess and the Pea
Virginia Theatre of Shelley, ID

The License allows you to adapt the script!  Add parts, characters, scenes, songs!  You also have the rights to make a Video/DVD of your special performance!



THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
STAGING NOTES

SETTING: Medieval times, a kingdom somewhere on the English Isle.

RECOMMENDED: For Junior and Senior High Performers

SET: One painted backdrop, simple freestanding flats, simple set pieces such as chairs and benches and tables.  See Suggestions at the end of this script for more details.

Backdrop:  Only one backdrop is needed, a painted scene of a rocky, cliff with a medieval castle perched upon it.  This will serve to show the general setting of the play.  Flats can represent all individual scenes.

Flats:  Small freestanding flats represent the following scenes:  Ulsted's Bedroom, Kitchen, Apothecary Shop, Church, Rose's Bedroom.

Special Movable Flats: Harcourt's boat, Rose's bed.

Furniture pieces: Wooden chair, tables with chairs, plain benches and stools as needed.

COSTUMES: Each character should wear a basic costume that indicates period, such as women with long skirts, men with tunics and leggings.  These should be of basic color such as black or brown.  Detailed pieces will indicate character.

Harcourt may have his family crest and elaborate hat. Rose may clutch a tattered shawl, which is discarded for a fine one later.  Kings and Queens may wear crowns or other pieces that indicate royalty.  Groups such as Handmaidens and Cooks may be represented by pieces such as hats, aprons, jackets coordinated together to indicate their particular group.

Spirits and Stagehands should wear a basic costume of black such as leotards or just contemporary pants, shirts and shoes.  Isadora may wear a basic black costume underneath a fantastical headpiece and cape.

Simple pieces such as veil, capes and crowns may be used to indicate the wedding.


Large Casts - Young & Grown Performers!
Large Cast Play - The Princess and the Pea Princess and the Pea!  Fun for Middle Schools and High Schools!
Vpstartcrow Productions, Princess and the Pea 2010!

"What a marvelous show!  It had enough humor, romance, mystery, and action to keep our audiences entertained and eager for more.  We added familiar songs, here and there throughout the show, which added an extra fun zip. The community simply couldn't say enough about how fun and delightful this show was. And our cast had the time of their lives - they're ready for more! Thank you for providing such a terrific show!"
Camille Gold, Virginia Theatre of Shelley, ID



THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
SCRIPT SAMPLE

SCENE 4, ACT 1 - KING'S BEDROOM, ULSTED CASTLE
(Script pages 10-14)

(Lights up on the KING Ulster's bedroom where HE is slumped against a pile of pillows on HIS bed [see Staging Suggestions].  Jaunty music is heard as HANDMAIDENS flutter about HIM.)

HANDMAIDEN MARY

Perhaps a sip of tea, my lord?

HANDMAIDEN OLGA

A touch of marmalade?

HANDMAIDEN IDA

Do you like the window shut, dear sir?

MARY

Or shall you have it raised?

IDA

Shall I fluff your pillow up for you?

OLGA

Sometimes you like it flattened.

MARY

Should your egg be soft or hard, kind sir?

IDA

Will you dress in silk or satin?

KING ULSTED

Enough!  You little hens peck at me like the dickens!  Off with you now.  Off!

(The HANDMAIDENS fall all over themselves backing   away in submission.  They back into EDGAR who stares THEM down; THEY exit in a fit of giggles. EDGAR shows HARCOURT into the room. GRETA squeezes in behind THEM.)

Edgar, you rascal!  Who's that you have there, is that a new stable boy or kitchen drudge?  Take him away!  I have no time for lackeys!

HARCOURT

But, father!  I'm Harcourt, your son!

ULSTED

(suddenly frail)

Eh? Eh? Is that my son, home from the sea?  It's been so long I forgotten what he looks like.

HARCOURT

(gullible)

It's Harry father! Don't you recognize me?

ULSTED

Come a little closer, child. 

(pulls HIS head near)

Only a true son of Ulsted can stand my kingly breath!

(HE breathes, HARCOURT reels, ULSTED gives HIM a  cuff to the head.)

I'd hoped you might have sprouted a brain between those ears while you were gone.  Of course you're my son, Harry!  My personal royal pain!

EDGAR

I'm afraid the news is not good, sir.

ULSTED

Why am I not surprised?

HARCOURT

All my efforts have come to nothing, father.  I have not found a true princess in all the land.

ULSTED

You mean in my entire kingdom that there is not one wench good enough for the likes of you?

EDGAR

It's quite disappointing, isn't it, father?

GRETA

It nearly moves me to tears...

ULSTED

Good!  You can use the practice for my funeral.  Off with you now, the both of you.  I need to speak to my eldest heir.

(EDGAR and GRETA are offended.)

EDGAR

Surely you don't mean for me to leave, father.  I am your heir as well. 

ULSTED

You don't need to remind me, Edgar.  I know the stink of impatience well enough.

(EDGAR and GRETA exit.)

HARCOURT

Really, father.  It's too much.  Can't you see how they fawn over you?  They are like vultures circling...

ULSTED

Let 'em circle!  At least they know how to follow their conniving little noses! You've circled the world on your holy quest and come home empty handed.  How do you explain yourself, boy?

HARCOURT

Father, I can marry nothing less than a true princess.  You said so yourself!

ULSTED

Well what the devil were you doing listening to me! 

HARCOURT

But you said mother was a true princess...

ULSTED

For glory's sake, boy!  She doesn't have to lay golden eggs.  She doesn't have to bleed purple, man!

HARCOURT 

I will take the hand of no one but a true princess.

ULSTED

It's like you're made of iron, my son.

(sighing)

Don't you understand?  You have to look for the magic.

HARCOURT

What?  What did you say?

ULSTED

It doesn't fall in your lap.

HARCOURT

Someone said that before...  About the magic...

ULSTED

It can be in the way she blushes when you say her name, in the tone of her voice when she sings off-key.

(SOPHIA calls from off stage.)

SOPHIA

Ulsted!  It's time for your nap!

ULSTED

Could be the way she frets for your health...

(SOPHIA enters, goes to the window to draw the drapes.)

SOPHIA

That's long enough, Harcourt, I won't have you wearing him out on your first day home. Everything can't revolve around you, you know.

(tucking ULSTED in)

Rest now, your highness.

(a peck on the cheek)

ULSTED

(stroking HER hand)

Yes, dear.

SOPHIA

Come along now, Harcourt!

(SOPHIA exits.)

ULSTED

(impish grin)

Sometimes it's the way she bosses you, eh?  You can never really know.  But the thing is you've got to look for it.  

HARCOURT

(sighs)

But I have been looking very hard.

ULSTED

(sleepy)

Oh, Harry, you're daft as a barn. Your mother might as well have the silver engraved in Edgar's name.  That is unless he's stolen it already.

HARCOURT

Sweet dreams, father.

ULSTED

Some people count sheep.  I count little Edgars and Gretas hopping over endless fences, tossing coins like posies...

SOPHIA

(OFF)

Harcourt!

HARCOURT

Yes, mother!

(HARCOURT exits. Lights down.)


Note: This is a sample from the actual script.  To review the entire play, order the PERUSAL SCRIPT (online instant download).

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