Narrator: Once upon a time, in a far-off kingdom, lived a young maiden, a sad lad, and
a childless baker, with his wife. The young maiden’s 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. Jack on the other hand, had no grandmother and no father and his mother,
well, she was not quite beautiful. 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. The old enchantress told
the couple that she had placed a spell on their house. Then she, for purposes of her
own, explained how the Baker might lift the spell. The Witch said they needed to collect
the following items in the Wood, the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the
hair as yellow as corn and the slipper as pure as gold.

Prince: Have you seen a beautiful young woman in a ball gown pass through? I have
been looking all night for her. The beautiful one I danced the evening with. She has
disappeared. A maiden running from a Prince? Does that make sense? None would run
from us. Yet one has. . . So you too, brother, have found a lovely maiden that lives in the
top of a tall tower that has no door or stairs. How do you manage a visit? You 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 – which you climb
to her? Rapunzel, What kind of a name is that? You jest!

The Baker 1: Now how am I supposed to get the cape from the little girl? 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 . . . (thinking it through, say the chant) the cow as white as milk,
the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, the slipper as pure as gold.

The Baker 2: (To Jack:) Hello there, young man. What might you be doing with a cow in
the middle of the forest? Ah, going to the market . . . and what are you planning to do
once you get there? Sell her? I will give you five of these magic beans in exchange for
your cow. What kind of magic you ask . . . Magic that defies description. (He gets the
cow and feels bad) Magic beans! Are we going to dispel this curse through deceit?

The Baker 3: (To Red:) Hello there, little one. Where did you get that beautiful cape? I
so admire it. Your Granny made that for you . . . is that right? I would love a red cloak
like that. May I have a look at it. (He snatches the cape and feels guilty and gives it
back.) I just wanted to make certain that you really loved this cape. Now you go to
Granny’s and you be careful that no wolf comes your way. (After she leaves, feeling
very conflicted.) I need that cape!

The Baker 4: (To His Wife:) What are you doing here now? I’ve the cape and you have
the cow. Only two items left. What do you mean three items left. What have you done
with the cow? How could you have let her run away? I should have known better than to
have entrusted her to you. (Feeling bad.) I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. Now, please
go back to the village. I will make things right! And then we can just go about our life. No
more hunting about the Woods for strange objects. No more Witches and dimwitted
boys and hungry little girls.

Wolf: Good day, young lady. Whither away so hurriedly? And what might be in your
basket? Ah to Granny’s . . . and where might your grandmother live? (In a high Granny’s
voice) My big ears? The better to hear you with, my dear. My big eyes? The better to
see you with, my dear. My big, wet mouth? (Now in a scary deep voice.) The better to
EAT you with my dear!

Jack: Silence everywhere, Milky-White. Not to my liking . . . Come along, Milky White.
There are spirits here . . . (To the Baker:) Hello, sir. I was heading toward the market,
but I seem to have lost my way. I must sell my cow, sir for no less than five pounds . . .
and if I can’t fetch that sum, I suppose my mother and I will have no food to eat. You
want to give me beans in exchange for my cow? Magic beans? What kind of magic?
How many beans? Could I buy my cow back someday? (to cow) I guess this is goodbye
old pal. You’ve been a perfect friend. I’ll see you soon again. I hope that when I do, it
won’t be on a plate.

Jack’s Mother 1: (To Jack) You foolish Child! What in heaven’s name are you doing
with a cow inside the house? He needs a warm environment? It’s a she. How many
times do I have to tell you that only shes can give milk! Listen well, son. Milky-White
must be taken to market. She’s been dry for a week. We’ve no food nor money, and no
choice but to sell her while she can still command a price. 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? Now, go…. Only a dolt would exchange a cow for beans!

Jack’s Mother 2: (To the Baker’s Wife) Excuse me, young woman. Have you
encountered a boy answering to the name of Jack? He’s the one partial to a white cow.
No, I haven’t seen the cow and I don’t care to ever again! I hope he didn’t go up that
beanstalk again. Jack!

Little Red 1. (To the Baker who has just taken her cape) My Granny made my cape for
me. I don’t like to be without my cape. Please, give it back! (She screams, then weeps
hysterically.) I’d rather meet a wolf in the woods than you, any day!

Little Red 2. (To the Wolf) Good day, Mr. Wolf. I’m headed to my Grandmother’s with a
basket of bread and wine, so Grandmother will have something good to make her
strong. She lives further in the woods, her house stands under three large oak trees.

Little Red 3. (To the Wolf) Good day, Grandmother. My, Grandmother, you’re looking
very strange. What big ears you have. But Grandmother, what big eyes you have! Oh,
Grandmother – what a terrible, big, wet mouth you have! Little Red 4. (After being
rescued from the Wolf’s stomach.) What a fright! How dark and dank it was inside that
wolf! Mr. Baker, you saved our lives. Here is my cape. You may have it. Maybe Granny
will make me another with the skins of that wolf.

Cinderella 1. I was at the King’s Festival. Perhaps I’ll return to the Festival tomorrow
eve. Will you look over there? An enormous vine growing next to that little cottage. It
looks likes a giant beanstalk rising into the sky. I must get home. It’s these slippers.
They are all you could wish for in beauty. . .Why would you want one? One is not likely
to do much good. I must run. Stop that! Let go of my shoe. I need to get out of here!

Cinderella 2. We have nothing to discuss. You have attacked me once before. I will not
take a magic bean for my shoe. Magic bean? That is non-sense. (Throws the bean
away.) I’ve already given up one shoe this evening. My feet cannot bear to give up
another. How could you possibly need my shoe to have a child. That makes no sense!

Witch 1. 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. 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! I should have laid a spell on him right there, could have turned him
into stone or a dog. 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”. No, you didn’t have a brother. But you had a sister…I thought I had been more
than reasonable. But how was I to know what your father had also hidden in his pocket.
Beans. Beans. The special beans.

Witch 2. (To the Baker) Forget the little girl and get the cape! That’s the cape. Get it!
You can get it. You go up to the little thing, and you take it. Get me what I need. Ahh, my
Rapunzel… listen to her beautiful music. Rapunzel, Rapunzel. Let down your hair to
me. Why didn’t you tell me you had a visitor? I gave you protection yet you disobeyed
me. I will not share you, but I will show you a world you’ve never seen. I was going to
come fetch you as soon as you learned your lesson. (Witch 2 Continued) This is who I
truly am. Come with me child. We can be happy as we once were. You are the only
family I know. Come with me. Please. Then, you give me no choice!

Baker’s Wife 1: (To Little Red Riding hood) Why come in little girl. You’re certain of
your way? Now don’t stray and be late. And save some of those sweets for Granny.
(There’s a knock on the door.) It’s the Witch from next door. (To The Baker) If we wish to
break the spell we will need . . . the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the
hair as yellow as corn, the slipper as pure as gold. You found six beans in your Father’s
hunting jacket. Witch’s beans. We will take them with us. You forgot your scarf. I wish to
help.

Baker’s Wife 2: (To Jack) Hello young man, what are you planning to do there with your
cow? And if you can’t fetch that sum for your cow, then what will you do? Beans—we
mustn’t give up our beans! Well . . . if you feel we must. Bean’s will bring you food, son.
Oh, these are no ordinary beans, son. These beans carry magic. Magic that defies
description. We will only give you 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.

Baker’s Wife 3: (To the Prince) No, I don’t think I’ve seen a beautiful young woman in a
ball gown pass through. (To Cinderella) I’ve never lied to royalty before. I’ve never
anything to royalty before! What a beautiful gown you’re wearing. Were you at the
King’s Festival? Aren’t you the lucky one. If a Prince were pursuing me, I certainly
wouldn’t hide. Tell me all about the ball. Are you to return to the Festival tomorrow eve?
Oh, to be pursued by a Prince. All that pursues me is tomorrow’s bread. What I wouldn’t
give to be in your shoes! I mean slippers. As pure as gold! I need your shoes! Hey!
Come back here! What I wouldn’t give for just one. I must have your shoe. I need to
have a baby. Please just hear me out. I didn’t attack you! I attacked your shoe. I need it.
Here. Here is a magic bean in exchange for it. I need that shoe to have a child! Here.
Take my shoes. You’ll run faster.