by claudia haas - pioneer drama service · adapted by claudia haas cast of characters ... young but...

By Claudia Haas

© Copyright 2014, Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.

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CAP O’ RUSHES

Adapted by CLAUDIA HAAS

CAST OF CHARACTERS(In Order of Appearance)

# of lines

PETRA ......................................eldest of three sisters; 47 bossy but also good-hearted

SABINE .....................................youngest sister; on a 146 voyage of self-discovery; goes by Cap o’ Rushes

ADELE ......................................middle sister; a bit vain 47 but good-hearted

ENGELMER ...............................father of the three girls; 43 wealthy, pompous, likes to be adored

NEELEY ....................................sprite of pure goodness 59NOOLEY....................................mischievous sprite 53IRMINGARDE .............................scullery maid; young but 16

riddled with imaginary aches and pains

ULF ..........................................butler, a legend in his 29 own mind

JUTTA .......................................upstairs maid; thinks she 22 doesn’t have to work hard

GRETA ......................................pot scrubber 47ZORA ........................................exemplary cook and 48

knows itMANDY .....................................visiting servant; who is 8

perpetually hungryRENE........................................another; poor and pathetic 8MELIK ......................................another; a bit dramatic 8WARNER ...................................owner of a manor; a 41

scattered, sentimental gentleman

KRISTIN ....................................Warner’s overwhelmingly 44 positive wife

GERARD ...................................Warner’s sentimental son 22

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SETTING

TIME: Once upon a time.

PLACE: Garden at Engelmer’s manor, a path in the woods, the kitchen and ballroom of Warner’s manor.

SYNOPSIS OF SCENESScene One: The garden at Engelmer’s manor, one fine day.Scene Two: A path in the woods, later that afternoon.Scene Three: The kitchen at Warner’s manor, that evening.Scene Four: The kitchen at Warner’s manor, the next morning.Scene Five: The garden at Engelmer’s manor, the same morning.Scene Six: The kitchen at Warner’s manor, that afternoon.Scene Seven: The ballroom at Warner’s manor, that evening.Scene Eight: The kitchen and ballroom at Warner’s manor, the following morning and over the course of two evenings.Scene Nine: The kitchen at Warner’s manor, two days later.Scene Ten: The kitchen at Warner’s manor, sometime later.Scene Eleven: The ballroom at Warner’s manor, that evening.

SET DESCRIPTION

Englemer’s garden consists of a DOWNSTAGE bench and some potted flowers.

The path in the woods is indicated by bushes and some branches and stones that make a forked pathway.

The kitchen at Warner’s manor has various tables with benches with cooking utensils, pots and pans, and wash basins.

During the ballroom scenes, a wagon moves on DOWNSTAGE of the kitchen set. On it are free standing pillars that have tapestries or banners hanging between them. Tables and chairs for a banquet are added to this arrangement during the wedding scene.

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ORIGINAL CASTCap o’ Rushes was originally produced in February 2014 at East Valley Children’s Theatre, where it won first place in the Aspiring Playwrights contest. The cast and crew were as follows:

Sabine ...............................Ashlyn RiggsAdele .................................Paige VanConantPetra ..................................Anthi NooriEngelmer ............................Kevin PoppellNeeley ................................Calvin MuggeNooley ................................Calabria PelletierIrmingarde ..........................Kylie BurgeZora ...................................Zoe WhitingGreta ..................................Kacey CananaghJutta ..................................Alexis CzapUlf ......................................Nathaniel RossWarner ...............................Quinton RedmondKristin ................................Emma LovataGerard ................................Sam CookMelik ..................................Jesse HawleyRene ..................................Nicholas WilliamsManny ................................Jordan HarbJeffery ................................Trent OverholtParty Guests .......................Madeline Riggs, Morgan Riggs,

Taylor Elias, Ashley Quintana, Rennie Payne, Abby Potts, Audrey Potts, Samantha Hui, Ebony Hernandez, Arianna Eckblad

Director, Sound and Props Design ................Karen RolstonStage Manager ...................Katie OlsenAssistant Stage Manager .....Amber ShepardChoreographer ....................Lauran StanisCostume Design..................Barbara JakuckiLighting Design ...................Daniel DavissonSet Design ..........................Dori BrownMakeup and Hair Design ......Cori Johnson

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CAP O’ RUSHES

Scene OneAT RISE: The garden of Engelmer’s manor, one fine day. ADELE and PETRA sit on a bench and embroider (or some other sedate, ladylike activity). SABINE is dancing about, totally immersed in movement and enjoying every second of it. SABINE takes a running leap and somehow lands in PETRA’S lap.PETRA: Sabine!SABINE: Petra! Dance with me! (Stands.)PETRA: Certainly not. I may sweat! Look, you’ve totally mussed my

dress. Sit still for a change.SABINE: My muscles are twitching! I must dance! (Twirls.)ADELE: Watching you is exhausting! I am ready for a nap.SABINE: Oh, beeswax! I’m dizzy! I must sit.PETRA: Thank goodness!ADELE: We should declare today a holiday! Sabine is sitting still.SABINE: Not for long! (Leaps at ADELE in play.)ADELE: Sabine! Look at you! You look like a wild child! Before you

know it, you’ll be “in a pickle jar” again with father.SABINE: I’m always “in a pickle jar.” I can’t help it! I can’t be as proper

as you are all the time!ADELE: I’m not proper! I’m… ladylike!SABINE: Stodgy!ADELE: Genteel!SABINE: Old, Adele! You act old!PETRA: Children! Behave!SABINE: You’re not Mother, you know. (ADELE looks at SABINE, and

they fall silent.)ADELE: I miss Mother.SABINE: You two had her the longest. I was so little when she died.ADELE: Is that why you wear her dresses?SABINE: They fit now, don’t they? I can feel her hugging me when I

wear them.PETRA: You look like her. More than any of us, you look like Mother.SABINE: I don’t. I don’t have her eyes or her hair or—ADELE: It’s the way you speak. The way you gesture. I can almost hear

her when you speak.PETRA: “Read, Petra. Feed your mind.”

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ADELE: “Be kind, Adele. Don’t judge people by the way they look.”SABINE: And “Dance, Sabine! Remember to always join in the dance!”PETRA: She told us we could be anything we wanted to be.SABINE: Oh, how I wish I knew what I wanted to be! I wish Mother

were here to guide us.PETRA: I want to be a lady of the manor with lots and lots of servants

to do my bidding.SABINE: That’s because you’re bossy, Petra. You always did like

ordering people about.ADELE: I want to be very rich with lots of jewels and ball gowns.SABINE: What about love? Don’t you want to fall in love?ADELE: I suppose that would be helpful. But first, I want to be rich!ENGELMER: (ENTERS.) Daughters! How are my daughters on this fine

day? (DAUGHTERS stand at attention and curtsey.)PETRA/ADELE/SABINE: Good day, Father!ENGELMER: Very good. I do like well-mannered children. Come, let’s

sit and discuss the day. (Sits on the bench. DAUGHTERS arrange themselves by their father.) I went for my morning walk and was thinking we need to speak to each other more. Often the only thing we say is “Please pass the custard.”

PETRA: What shall we talk about, sisters? Dances? We were just discussing how Sabine can never sit still!

SABINE: We should throw a ball! And have everyone in town come and dance all night under the stars until the sun comes up!

ENGELMER: I wasn’t thinking about dances.ADELE: Ball gowns! Ours have gotten quite shabby!SABINE: Speak for yourself, Adele! Mine is perfect!PETRA: That’s because it was Mother’s.ADELE: We were speaking of Mother before you came.ENGELMER: I hope they were good remembrances.PETRA: I remember that she’d always tell me to think carefully and

improve my mind.ADELE: And whenever I focused too much on ball gowns and jewels,

she’d remind me that it’s the people that matter, not what they wear.

ENGELMER: And you, Sabine? What do you remember?SABINE: I remember her hands—always busy as she stirred soup and

baked bread. And how her fingers glided over the silver when she polished it. She was always in motion.

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ENGELMER: She was, indeed. And always in the most beautiful way. Your mother was love. Now, that is something I would like to discuss with you.

ADELE: Mother?ENGELMER: Love.PETRA/ADELE/SABINE: Love?ENGELMER: Yes. Love. It does my heart good to know how you

remember your mother with such love. I wonder if you will do the same for me?

PETRA: What do you mean?ENGELMER: On my walk, it suddenly came to me that I have provided

for you a spacious manor, many fine dresses and good food. In return, I would like to know if you love me.

PETRA: Of course we love you!ENGELMER: But how much do you love me? Can you answer that?PETRA: Why, I love you as much as all the riches in the world. More

than gold, more than silver—ADELE: More than diamonds, more than rubies—PETRA: More than emeralds—ADELE: More than ball gowns!PETRA: More than sapphires!ADELE: More than dancing!ENGELMER: Is that true?PETRA/ADELE: Of course!ENGELMER: Sabine? You’re very quiet.SABINE: I love you, Father.ENGELMER: Yes, but how much? Sometimes a father needs to hear

how much.SABINE: Why, I love you as much as… as much as… meat loves salt!ENGELMER: Come again?SABINE: I love you as much as meat loves salt.ENGELMER: (Taken aback.) As much as meat loves salt?! Is that a

proper answer to your father, who has provided everything for you your entire life?

SABINE: Yes, Father. I believe it is.PETRA: (Quietly.) Stay out of the pickle jar, Sabine…ENGELMER: Try again, Sabine. “As much as meat loves salt” is not

an expression of love!SABINE: But that is my answer, Father.

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ENGELMER: Do you believe that is a proper answer to give in exchange for living in luxury since you were a babe?

SABINE: Yes. I believe it is.ENGELMER: I say it is not!SABINE: And I say it is!PETRA: Sabine, he’s serious.ENGELMER: Of course I am! Shouldn’t a father expect unconditional

love from his child?SABINE: But, Father, you don’t understand!ENGELMER: I understand all too well! I see you do not love me at all.SABINE: Father, try to understand!ENGELMER: I am trying, but a father does not need to hear himself

compared to common table salt!SABINE: That’s not what I said!ENGELMER: Change your answer, then.SABINE: My answer is true.ENGELMER: (Stands.) Then be gone, you ungrateful wretch of a

daughter! Find your own way in the world! See what it’s like to have nothing—not even salt! I am done with you!

PETRA: But, Father!ADELE: You can’t do that!ENGELMER: I can and I shall. My eyes are open, and I now see that

I have raised an ungrateful child devoid of love. I am going to the stables to check on the horses, and when I return, I expect to find you gone! (Storms OFF.)

PETRA: Go to him, Sabine!ADELE: Tell him what he wants to hear!PETRA: Tell him how much you love him.SABINE: I did. He wasn’t listening.PETRA: What will you do?SABINE: What my father asks. I shall go.ADELE: And do what, Sabine? You are not equipped yet for the world.

You are so young.SABINE: I… I can make my way. Do I not have the skills our mother

taught us? I can scrub pots ’til they shine and polish silver ’til it glistens. And I’m willing to work hard. Surely that counts for something. I will search for a place to work.

ADELE: But where?


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SABINE: Out in the great world. It’s a grand, marvelous place, isn’t it? It will provide.

PETRA: Let me fetch some food to hold you over until the world provides. (EXITS.)

ADELE: How could such a fine day take such a wrong turn?SABINE: Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe I have become spoiled.

This will help me see if I am as strong as Mother wanted me to be.ADELE: I love you, Sabine.SABINE: I love you too, Adele.ADELE: As much as meat loves salt?SABINE: As much as that.ADELE: Oh, Sabine, you will be so poor!SABINE: I will see the world!ADELE: With no money!SABINE: Sometimes money protects you from the world. I will see the

world as it truly is.PETRA: (Runs ON with a travelling bag, which she thrusts into SABINE’S

hands.) Take this! A loaf of bread and… Well, it was all I could pack on such short notice.

SABINE: (Looks into bag.) Why, Petra, you’ve given me Mother’s last dress. It’s the most beautiful one of all.

PETRA: You will have something clean to change into in that great, grand world of yours. And maybe it will bring Mother’s spirit to you and keep you from harm.

SABINE: Why, thank you so much. I am certain I can do anything, now!PETRA: I am frightened for you!SABINE: Don’t be! There’s a huge world out there—ADELE: Filled with danger!SABINE: Filled with possibilities!PETRA: (Looks OFF.) I see Father in the distance.SABINE: I must go. (Starts to leave.)PETRA: Take care, Sabine!ADELE: I will miss you!SABINE: I love you!PETRA: As much as meat loves salt?SABINE: More! (EXITS. PETRA and ADELE watch for a moment and hug

each other as the LIGHTS FADE to BLACK.)End of Scene One

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Scene TwoLIGHTS UP on a path in the woods later that afternoon. A bush at CENTER hides Sabine’s “Cap o’ Rushes” cape. NEELEY watches while NOOLEY arranges stones and branches to create a fork in the road.NEELEY: Don’t do that, Nooley! We were sent to help Sabine, not

hinder her!NOOLEY: I’m just having a little fun, Neeley.NEELEY: Making a fork in the road is just silly. All the roads lead to

town. It doesn’t matter which one she chooses.NOOLEY: But she doesn’t know that!NEELEY: Nooley, we’re sprites. We’re here to help people, not cause

mischief.NOOLEY: Says who?NEELEY: Says me!NOOLEY: You’re not the boss of me!NEELEY: You’ll never amount to anything if you keep causing mischief!NOOLEY: I don’t want to amount to anything. I just want to have fun.NEELEY: I’ll never understand why they paired me with you!NOOLEY: I think of stuff.NEELEY: You think up mischief!NOOLEY: That’s “stuff”! At least I don’t sit around moaning about the

woods!NEELEY: I want out of these woods! Out of the forest! Out of the

thicket!NOOLEY: Why? You can swing on branches and change the forest

path and—NEELEY: And dine with ants and spiders and flies and mosquitoes.NOOLEY: Bugs are an important part of the ecological system!NEELEY: I’m afraid of them. I’d rather be sent to the ocean. There, I

could glide on water—NOOLEY: And get seasick!NEELEY: And swim in and out of waves—NOOLEY: And come up with a mouthful of salt!NEELEY: And ride the dolphins—NOOLEY: And get chased by sharks!NEELEY: Oh! I forgot about the sharks!NOOLEY: See, it’s what I said. You need me. I think of stuff.NEELEY: Terrible stuff!

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NOOLEY: But—stuff!NEELEY: Shhh!NOOLEY: There you go again! Every time you don’t like what I say, you

shush me!NEELEY: Shhh! She’s coming! Hide! (They hide behind a bush.)SABINE: (ENTERS LEFT with her bag, dancing. She comes to the fork.)

Oh! A fork in the road! Which way do I go? Both ways lead to an adventure. If I go left… (Does so, taking the DOWNSTAGE path, which leads her windingly to RIGHT CENTER.) …I wind up here. This seems a fine way to go. (Crosses back to the fork.) Now, if I go right… (Does so, taking the UPSTAGE path, which also leads her windingly to RIGHT CENTER.) …I wind up… at the same place. Right here. That’s silly! Why would there be a fork in the road if they both go to the same place?

NEELEY: Told you!NOOLEY: Shhh!SABINE: What was that? Anybody there? (Listens.)NOOLEY: (Jumps out.) Boo!SABINE: Oh! Hello!NEELEY: (Emerges.) Nooley!NOOLEY: What?NEELEY: You’re not supposed to scare her!SABINE: I wasn’t scared.NEELEY: Good!NOOLEY: Bad!NEELEY: Very good!NOOLEY: Very bad!NEELEY: Shhh!NOOLEY: Enough with the “shhh!” already!SABINE: Hey, you two! Remember me? The one you wanted to scare?NEELEY: We don’t want to scare you. We’re here to protect you.SABINE: From what?NEELEY: The world.SABINE: I love the world!NOOLEY: How long have you been on your own?SABINE: One hour.NEELEY: What’s your plan?SABINE: Plan?

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NOOLEY: Shelter? Food? You know, the basics.SABINE: I have food. My sisters gave it to me. See?NOOLEY: (Peers into her bag.) Look, Neeley! She has food!NEELEY: A loaf of bread.NOOLEY: That will last a day.NEELEY: When that is eaten, what will you do?SABINE: I will find work. Isn’t that what people do in the world?NOOLEY: Can you cook?SABINE: I watched my mother cook. And I’m a very good eater!NEELEY: Can you sew?SABINE: Not exactly, but I can wear clothes!NOOLEY: Can you shoe a horse?SABINE: No, but I can put on my own shoes!NOOLEY: Unfortunately, nobody pays you for eating, wearing clothes

and putting on your own shoes.NEELEY: So what will you do to earn your keep?SABINE: I know I seem spoiled, but I’m not afraid of hard work! I shall

go door-to-door offering my services as a housekeeper. I am sure I could clean!

NEELEY: You look so young. And upper class. I’m not sure people would think you were willing to get your hands dirty.

SABINE: Do you want me to roll around in the mud? Because I’ll do it if that’s what it takes to get honest work!

NOOLEY: I’d like to see that!NEELEY: Not so fast. I have a better idea. A disguise.SABINE: That sounds like fun!NEELEY: It will be. We will cover you with the rushes from this bush.

It will hide who you are. (Goes to the bush and lifts out the cape.)SABINE: It’s not itchy, is it?NEELEY: Not any itchier than if you rolled around in the mud!SABINE: I’ll do it then! (They place the cape around SABINE.) How do

I look?NOOLEY: Odd!NEELEY: Like a very hard worker.SABINE: Thank you! I appreciate your help. I had better get going. I

don’t want to be caught near the woods after sunset. Good-bye, friends. I hope we meet again. Oh! Which way to town?

NOOLEY: Doesn’t matter. (SABINE waves and EXITS RIGHT.)NEELEY: Are you thinking what I’m thinking?


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NOOLEY: Yes. All right. We had better keep an eye on her! (They follow her OFF as the LIGHTS FADE to BLACK.)

End of Scene Two

Scene ThreeLIGHTS UP on the kitchen at Warner’s manor, that evening. IRMINGARDE half-heartedly scrubs the floor with a scrub brush. ULF and JUTTA are seated—almost done for the day. GRETA puts a washed pot on the table, takes off her apron and is ready to rush off. ZORA ENTERS with a stack of pots.ZORA: Where do you think you’re going? There are a few more pots

to wash, Greta!GRETA: Mercy me! Where did those come from? I thought I was done!ZORA: I am done! Not you! These are the last of the pots.GRETA: Do you have to cook with every pot in the house, Zora?

Couldn’t you clean up as you go?ZORA: Do you think I am an octopus? Do I look like I have eight arms?

I prepared seven courses for the family. All were perfection! Do you think a gifted cook such as I has time to breathe during the dinner hour? I am done for the day! (Sits.) But you are not!

GRETA: But… there’s a dance in town… free food…ZORA: And you are welcome to go—after the pots are scrubbed!GRETA: Mercy me! It will take until midnight! Can’t one of you help

me? Ulf?ULF: Sorry, dear child. I am the butler. Butlers don’t scrub pots.GRETA: Jutta?JUTTA: I must rest my hands, for they still have to brush the hair of her

ladyship. She likes her hair brushed at least one hundred strokes every evening. I cannot overwork them by scrubbing pots!

GRETA: Irmingarde! Be a dear and scrub a pot or two!IRMINGARDE: My big toe hurts, and my elbow and my pinky and my

left ear. Haven’t I been scrubbing my hands silly all day washing, sweeping, dusting, scrubbing, scouring, swabbing—

GRETA: Mercy me! Won’t any of you help me?ULF: It’s not that we don’t want to, Greta. Oh, my! Would you look at

the time? (EXITS.)JUTTA: It’s time for my beauty nap before her ladyship needs me for

the evening. Excuse me. (EXITS.)ZORA: If you ask me, I’d rather be scrubbing pots. After cooking my

fingers to the bones, I now have the pleasure to go home and cook

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for my family. It’s a never-ending story. See you tomorrow. (EXITS. GRETA glares at IRMINGARDE, who gives a slight smile as she limps away.)

IRMINGARDE: Sorry, Greta. My knee is acting up again. Got to go! ’Night! (EXITS.)

GRETA: (Alone.) Will nobody help me? (Grumbles and puts her apron back on, then begins scrubbing.)

SABINE: (ENTERS unnoticed, wearing her cape of rushes and carrying her bag. She knocks on the table to make her presence known. GRETA looks up.) Excuse me. Hello. I was wondering if I could beg for shelter for the night. I’m all alone in the world and have nowhere to go. I won’t be a bother.

GRETA: Well… I’m not so sure the lord and lady of the manor would approve.

SABINE: I brought my own food. See? (Pulls the loaf of bread from her bag.) I just need a roof over my head. For one night.

GRETA: I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to make such decisions, and everyone else seems to have disappeared. (Shouts OFF to anyone who may hear.) Because there are pots to be scrubbed, and no one will help me!

SABINE: I’ll scrub them.GRETA: I help everyone and when it’s my turn to be helped, where is

everyone? Gone! All gone!MANDY: (Bursts IN with MELIK and RENE.) Greta! We’ve been waiting!

My stomach’s rumbling! Let’s go!GRETA: I can’t!RENE: You must! Or you’ll miss the free food!GRETA: I know!MELIK: In another ten minutes, it will all be gone! What a sad state

of affairs that would be!GRETA: I know!SABINE: Let me.MANDY: I’m going. My stomach needs food!GRETA: The pots!SABINE: I’ll help!RENE: We’re off! I have no money to pay for food. Must go now while

it’s free!GRETA: The pans!SABINE: Let me work!MELIK: If you don’t want to come, just tell us!

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GRETA: The skillets!SABINE: Let me help you!GRETA: Look at this mess— Wait, what did you say?!SABINE: I said I’d help you. All I ask is for shelter for one night.GRETA: I don’t know…MELIK: Greta! You need help! She wants to help! Let her help!GRETA: How much would you help me?SABINE: I’ll do whatever you ask. I’m not afraid of hard work.RENE: Clock’s ticking. I’m off!SABINE: Let me help you!GRETA: I like you!SABINE: Why, thank you!MANDY: See you at the dance! Don’t want to miss the food! (EXITS

with MELIK and RENE.)GRETA: (Takes off her apron and gets ready to leave. Hands SABINE a

dishcloth.) See those pots? They need to be sparkling clean and dry for the morning. Can you do that?

SABINE: Of course I can!GRETA: They’re all yours! I’ll see you in the morning. Melik! Rene!

Mandy! I’m coming!SABINE: One more thing—GRETA: I’m not paying you—SABINE: Where do I sleep?GRETA: In the closet. It’s not pretty, but it’s warm and safe. Make sure

those pots sparkle!SABINE: I promise!GRETA: Good evening. And thank you. (EXITS.)SABINE: (Picks up a pot.) Oh, my, you are a dirty one! But have no fear.

I shall make you sparkle like a jewel. I’m not afraid of work… I’m not afraid of work… (Starts scrubbing as she chants to herself “I’m not afraid of work.”)

NEELEY: (ENTERS DOWNSTAGE with NOOLEY.) Is she safe?NOOLEY: For now.NEELEY: Back to the woods to sleep with spiders.NOOLEY: Nobody ever said that the life of a sprite was easy.

(BLACKOUT.)End of Scene Three

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Scene FourLIGHTS UP on the kitchen at Warner’s manor, the next morning. SOUND EFFECT: ROOSTER CROWS. A new day has begun and all the pots are neatly stacked and sparkling. ULF, JUTTA, GRETA, ZORA and IRMGINARDE burst IN.IRMINGARDE: Another day of working my fingers to the bone!ZORA: Chopping, simmering, braising!ULF: Folding napkins, bowing, praising!JUTTA: Serving!GRETA: Scrubbing! (Looks at a pot.) How now? I can see myself!ZORA: Greta! You outdid yourself!IRMINGARDE: It positively sparkles!GRETA: It does, doesn’t it?ZORA: How? You have never gotten a pot so clean. Come on, come

clean…GRETA: Well, you see… I don’t know if I should tell you…ZORA: I think you had better. It looks like someone else scrubbed

the pots.GRETA: Well…ULF: (Looks OFF.) Ladyship alert! Lordship alert! Look busy! (ALL act

busy. They even scrub the air!)WARNER: (ENTERS with KRISTIN.) Why, look, dearest wife. Our servants

are hard at work. They’re even cleaning the air! Most wonderful!KRISTIN: Most wonderful indeed, my darling husband! We have the

most precious servants!WARNER: We do indeed!KRISTIN: Look at how the pots sparkle!WARNER: (Peers into a large pot.) Why, I can see myself! I look rather

handsome, don’t I?KRISTIN: My dearest, you always look handsome! And to all of you, I

am so grateful for your hard work!WARNER: Yes, soldier on, delightful servants! (They move to leave, but

KRISTIN suddenly stops short.)KRISTIN: Warner, dear.WARNER: Yes, dear Kristin?KRISTIN: Why did we come downstairs?WARNER: To speak with the servants. And we did.KRISTIN: Did we have anything special to tell them?WARNER: We were going to speak of the ball.


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KRISTIN: The ball? Oh, the ball! Wonderful servants! I have tremendous news for all of you! We will be giving a ball!

SERVANTS: A ball?WARNER: Yes, a ball! Isn’t that stupendous?!ULF: Absolutely magnificent! When will you be hosting this momentous

occasion?KRISTIN: Tonight!SERVANTS: Tonight?!WARNER: Yes. There was a little glitch, I’m afraid.KRISTIN: We sent out the invitations weeks ago, but knew we had

forgotten something.WARNER: We only just realized that what we forgot was—WARNER/KRISTIN: —to tell you!KRISTIN: How silly of us!WARNER: And I’m afraid it means there will be some extra work.KRISTIN: A frightful amount. So sorry.WARNER: But we knew you wouldn’t mind.SERVANTS: Oh, no!KRISTIN: I told you, Warner. Our servants are so stupendous! They

can do anything!WARNER: Thank you, astounding servants. Yes, well, carry on. (Stops.)

Oh! I forgot!KRISTIN: What?WARNER: The ball! It goes for three nights!SERVANTS: Three nights?!KRISTIN: Oh, yes! If you remember, Hansel and Brigitte’s ball lasted

two nights.WARNER: We had to do better than that.KRISTIN: Yes. It’s expected.SABINE: (ENTERS. She sees the situation and immediately curls into a

ball looking like a bush.) Whoops!KRISTIN: My goodness!WARNER: My word!KRISTIN: There’s a bush in the kitchen! A walking bush!ULF: Yes—there is… it… it…GRETA: Is magical!OTHER SERVANTS: Magical?GRETA: (With a “Come on, help me!” look.) Yes! Magical!

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WARNER: How intriguing! A walking, magical bush!KRISTIN: How does it grow? It’s not planted!GRETA: It… It…JUTTA: It grows on aromas… Yes, that’s it! It thrives on cooking

smells. It cleans the air of grease and keeps the kitchen smelling like a spring day!

WARNER: Does it eat anything?GRETA: No! It… it…ZORA: It… it flavors food!GRETA: Yes, the leaves are delicious!IRMINGARDE: We have them for breakfast. It keeps us healthy!ZORA: Healthy servants are good to have!JUTTA: Indeed. They can work twice as hard as unhealthy servants.WARNER: Fascinating!KRISTIN: Odd but intriguing. Well, I must rest. Our conversation has

exhausted me, and I will be hosting a ball this evening so I do need my beauty nap.

WARNER: We will have dinner for one hundred guests. Please arrange it. And carry on! (EXITS with KRISTIN.)

ULF: Dinner for one hundred guests!JUTTA: For three days!GRETA: Mercy me!IRMINGARDE: I’m overwhelmed! My back already aches!ZORA: Where do we start?SABINE: (Stands.) From the beginning. I can help.ZORA: Who are you?SABINE: Nobody. Just a helper.JUTTA: Look at that! The bush can talk!ZORA: Where did the bush come from?SABINE: From far away.ZORA: I do declare, you must be Greta’s pot scrubber!SABINE: I’m afraid I am.ZORA: Nothing to be afraid of. You do good work!SABINE: Why, thank you.ZORA: For a bush.SABINE: Yes, well… the leaves keep me warm.JUTTA: Have you no proper clothes?SABINE: I’m afraid not. I am ever so poor.

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ZORA: I am sorry for your troubles, but I am afraid I must be sending you on your way. We have our own troubles.

ULF: (Looks OFF.) Young master alert! Young master alert!GERARD: (ENTERS. SABINE immediately rolls into bush position, and

the servants surround her.) Good morning, everyone!SERVANTS: Good morning, sir.GERARD: I was told the most extraordinary thing. My mother

mentioned that there was a magical bush in the kitchen. Mind if I have a peek? (SABINE is shaking her head “no.”)

ULF: Well…ZORA: You see, young master—GERARD: There it is! (Moves to grab the bush. SABINE, as the bush,

scurries away.)ULF: It’s shy, sir.GERARD: Oh! Come here, little bush! I won’t hurt you. (SABINE

scurries away again.) It is shy. Can I give it a treat? (SABINE shakes her head “no.”)

GRETA: No! It… doesn’t eat.GERARD: Oh, well. I suppose I should go rest. There’s a ball tonight,

you know.ULF: We heard.GERARD: It will be exhausting, of course. And I am to be on my best

behavior. My mother and father would like me to choose a wife soon, so I shall be dancing for three nights.

IRMINGARDE: Being a young lord must be so exhausting!GERARD: It is. It truly is. Ta ta, all. Farewell, little bush! (EXITS.)ULF: Now what?ZORA: We start cooking—JUTTA: And cleaning—IRMINGARDE: And polishing—GRETA: And scrubbing—ZORA: We’ll never be ready!JUTTA: I know!SABINE: (Stands.) I can help!GRETA: I am going to have to call in some favors! Never fear! Greta’s

here! (Crosses to leave.)ZORA: Where are you going?GRETA: To get help! (EXITS.)SABINE: I can help!

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ULF: Time to start arranging for the ball! (EXITS.)JUTTA: I will see to the flowers! (EXITS.)IRMINGARDE: And I to the polishing! (EXITS.)ZORA: What on earth am I to cook? I must have supplies! (EXITS.)SABINE: I can help. (Looks around. She is all alone.) But can I? I have

never thrown a ball. Or made a tart. What can I do? What can I do?NOOLEY: (ENTERS with NEELEY.) You rang?NEELEY: At your service!SABINE: Oh, you wonderful, wonderful sprites! Can you help?NEELEY: Of course. That’s what we do, when Nooley isn’t causing

trouble.NOOLEY: Well, I never!NEELEY: What can we do?SABINE: I am thinking we will need about 100 tarts. You know, the

usual—berry tarts, pecan tarts, caramel tarts, cheese tarts—NOOLEY: Wait a minute. This is starting to sound like work!SABINE: It’s good, honest work!NEELEY: When do you need these tarts?SABINE: I am thinking by sundown. The problem is I have no money to

pay for anything, and I’ve never actually made a tart.NEELEY: Then it’s time you learned. We must forage for the berries in

the woods, milk a cow for the cheese—NOOLEY: Neeley, we don’t have a cow.NEELEY: We will find a cow. Someone in town must have one.SABINE: And what do I do?NEELEY: Bake piecrusts. Many, many piecrusts. Can you do that?SABINE: Of course I can!NEELEY: Then, we’re off to forage for ingredients! Come on, Nooley! I

will gather, and you will carry.NOOLEY: Why am I always the workhorse? (They EXIT, arguing.)SABINE: Now, how do I bake a piecrust? (BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Four

Scene FiveLIGHTS UP on the garden at Engelmer’s manor, the same morning. ADELE and PETRA are seated, doing nothing and feeling sad.ENGELMER: (ENTERS.) Good morning, daughters. Did you have

breakfast?


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PETRA/ADELE: Yes.ENGELMER: Would you like to go for a ride?PETRA/ADELE: No.ENGELMER: Come, now, I’ll take you into town for some new material

for a dress. Would you like that?PETRA/ADELE: No.ENGELMER: How about we ask Cook to create something sugary and

fancy for a special treat? Would you like that?PETRA/ADELE: No.ENGELMER: Come, now! There must be something you would like to

do.PETRA: There’s nothing.ADELE: Nothing at all.ENGELMER: Nothing comes of nothing. You cannot live your life like

that!PETRA: Oh, Father—ADELE: It’s just—ENGELMER: Come, now. You can tell me anything.PETRA: We miss Sabine.ADELE: Terribly.ENGELMER: We will no longer talk about Sabine.PETRA: I just want to know that she is safe!ADELE: She could be hungry.ENGELMER: Sabine is in the past. We need to forge on.PETRA: But—ENGELMER: No buts. There is a ball in town given by one of the most

respected families in the county. I think we should go.ADELE: I don’t want to dance!PETRA: I’m not going, and nothing you can say will change my mind!

(EXITS.)ENGELMER: Petra!ADELE: Are you going to throw us out, too? Is that what you want?ENGELMER: Of course not.ADELE: Don’t you understand? We are too sad to go and make merry.

We miss our sister too much. I don’t expect you to understand. (EXITS.)

ENGELMER: The thing is—what you don’t understand—is that I miss her, too. (BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Five

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Scene SixLIGHTS UP on the kitchen at Warner’s manor, that afternoon. SABINE, NEELEY and NOOLEY put the final touches on the tarts. (NOTE: SABINE now wears a different, fancier dress from her mother hidden beneath her cape of rushes.)NEELEY: That’s the last of them.NOOLEY: I need a nap! (Lies down on the floor.)SABINE: Not here, Nooley! Go rest in my closet!NOOLEY: It’s so sad, being reduced to sleeping in a closet!NEELEY: It’s better than in a tree with the ants and spiders! (The

SPRITES EXIT.)ULF: (ENTERS with JUTTA and IRMINGARDE, all exhausted.) All is

polished.JUTTA: Arranged.IRMINGARDE: Scrubbed! (They sit on the bench, put their heads down

on the table and fall asleep with a collective snore.)ULF: (Wakes with a jolt.) The food! There’s no food!ZORA: (ENTERS followed by GRETA, MELIK, RENE and MANDY—each

grandly carrying serving dishes piled with food.) Behold!GRETA: Food!MELIK: Pheasant under grass.RENE: Partridge sautéed with mini pear trees!MANDY: And Lobster Theodore!ULF: Where?JUTTA: How?ZORA: I’ve cooked my famous triple-chocolate, triple-berry, triple-nut

trifle for everyone in town! They owed me!GRETA: And I always help scrub for my friends whenever there’s a

party! I called in some favors!IRMINGARDE: And the desserts? We forgot about the desserts!SABINE: They’re done! There are 100 tarts cooling!ZORA: You are a wonderful bush!SABINE: Thank you!ZORA: But we can’t keep calling you “Bush,” can we?SABINE: I don’t mind.JUTTA: I know. Cap!ALL: Cap?JUTTA: Yes! Cap o’ Rushes! Doesn’t it suit her? She has the cape,

and it’s covered with rushes!

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SABINE: I like it!ZORA: So do I.ULF: Time to set up! Let the ball begin!GRETA: Are you coming, Miss Cap? The lord and lady always let the

servants watch the dancing!SABINE: (Sits.) Thank you, but I’m tired. I may just rest. (ALL except

SABINE EXIT with the food and tarts.)NOOLEY: (ENTERS with NEELEY.) We’re going to go. It turns out I sleep

better in a tree than in a closet.SABINE: I understand. Thank you both so much.NEELEY: How did you know how to make piecrust? Have you ever

made it before?SABINE: No, but I think my mother was looking out for me. I got

some flour and butter and a little bit of cold water, and it all came together for me, just as it did for her.

NEELEY: Yes, it did. Beautifully. Pleasant dreams.SABINE: Good night. (NEELEY and NOOLEY EXIT. SABINE rests her

head on the table. SLOW, SOFT BALLROOM MUSIC is heard from the manor. SABINE sways to it. Soon, she is up dancing tentatively at first.) I cannot stand it! I must dance! (Races OFF. BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Six

Scene SevenLIGHTS UP on the ballroom at Warner’s manor, that evening. The MUSIC continues to play. GERARD stands at RIGHT. KRISTIN and WARNER dance together DOWN CENTER. EXTRAS may dance DOWNSTAGE. The SERVANTS are gathered behind the pillars, watching.JUTTA: All that work! It was worth it, wasn’t it, Ulf? I just want to twirl

and dance from happiness!ULF: And so you should! (Gracefully takes JUTTA’S hand and spins her

around.)JUTTA: Why, Ulf! You like the dance?!ULF: Don’t be surprised! I have a few dance steps of my own!IRMINGARDE: How beautiful everyone looks! I do believe all my aches

and pains have been cured by the ball!GRETA: I know! I feel as if I could scrub pots for days and not mind!ZORA: We did ourselves proud, I must say. All is simply splendid!

(SABINE ENTERS LEFT, wearing a different dress of her mother’s than in Scene One. GERARD sees her.)

MELIK: Oh, my! Oh, my! Who is that picture of beauty?

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RENE: A visiting princess?MANDY: I’ve never seen her before! (GERARD crosses to SABINE.)MELIK: Nor have I! Look at the young master! (GERARD and SABINE

begin to dance together beautifully.)RENE: He’s dancing with her!MANDY: I daresay he will dance with her all night!MELIK: This will give us something to talk about tomorrow!RENE: I can hardly wait! (The dance ends. SOUND EFFECT: CLOCK

STRIKES MIDNIGHT. WARNER approaches GERARD and pantomimes speaking with him. While GERARD is not looking, SABINE runs OFF LEFT. LIGHTS FADE to BLACK.)

End of Scene Seven

Scene EightLIGHTS UP on the kitchen at Warner’s manor, the following morning. IRMINGARDE, ULF, JUTTA, ZORA and GRETA are gathered. SABINE is sound asleep on the floor. Once again, her cape conceals her ball gown.ULF: What a glorious night!IRMINGARDE: Did you see that beautiful lady? The one who danced

with the young master?ZORA: Wasn’t she the beauty?!JUTTA: I wonder who she is.GRETA: Should we wake Cap?IRMINGARDE: No. She worked so very hard. Almost as hard as me!ULF: And just think, we get to do it all over again.JUTTA: Two more times!IRMINGARDE: I ache just to think of it!GRETA: Are we ready for round two?ZORA: We are! (MELIK, RENE and MANDY ENTER with plates of food.

ALL EXIT except for SABINE, who lets out a snore. SOFT BALLROOM MUSIC begins to be heard and SABINE wakes up to it. She stretches, takes some dance steps and starts to remove her cape as she EXITS. Set transitions from the kitchen to the ballroom. [See PRODUCTION NOTES.])

KRISTIN: (Dances ON DOWN RIGHT with WARNER. GERARD, SERVANTS and EXTRAS ENTER from all sides and take up places DOWNSTAGE. SABINE ENTERS LEFT, without her cape. Again GERARD crosses to her, and they dance.) Have you noticed, dear?


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WARNER: Of course, my darling. I notice everything. Notice what?KRISTIN: Our son. He has only danced with that young maiden since

she arrived.WARNER: Yes, yes, of course I noticed. I wonder who she is.KRISTIN: Don’t you know?WARNER: No. I thought you knew.KRISTIN: No, dear, I didn’t invite her.WARNER: Neither did I.KRISTIN: Most mysterious.WARNER: Indeed. (SOUND EFFECT: CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT.

SABINE runs OFF LEFT. ALL EXIT. SOFT BALLROOM MUSIC plays and the third ball starts. KRISTIN and WARNER dance ON RIGHT as GERARD, SERVANTS and EXTRAS ENTER from all sides and take up places.)

IRMINGARDE: It’s the third night! Where is she?!JUTTA: It’s getting late, and the mysterious maiden has not yet come.ULF: Maybe she disappeared!JUTTA: There was something magical about her—suddenly appearing

out of thin air.ULF: And so she has—look! (SABINE APPEARS LEFT.)GERARD: (Crosses to her quickly.) I thought you weren’t coming.SABINE: I tried to stay away. But the music… the dance… and you…

I couldn’t stay away.GERARD: It does my heart good to hear that! I want to dance with

you always. (They dance. MUSIC STOPS as SOUND EFFECT: CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT. GERARD grabs SABINE before she can run away.) You must tell me your name!

SABINE: I have no name!GERARD: I think—I think I am in love with you!SABINE: That cannot be! (Runs OFF LEFT.)GERARD: Catch her! Someone, please, catch her!WARNER: (EXITS LEFT after her with KRISTIN and perhaps others,

but SABINE escapes. RE-ENTERS with KRISTIN and they cross to GERARD.) I am sorry, my boy. It was the oddest thing—

KRISTIN: We tried to find her, but when we went outside—WARNER: All that was there was the magical bush. (BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Eight

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Scene NineLIGHTS UP on the kitchen, two days after the ball. All is hushed and quiet. ZORA is stirring the soup pot. GRETA is drying pots. SABINE, now back in her cape, is helping GRETA. KRISTIN ENTERS.ZORA: Did he eat any of it?KRISTIN: No. I’m afraid he just couldn’t. My poor boy is wasting away.

He hasn’t eaten in two days!ZORA: I’ve tried everything! My chicken soup, turkey soup, duck soup,

partridge soup, goose soup—KRISTIN: I know, Zora. It’s not your cooking. He is just sick. Lovesick.

I’m afraid there is no remedy unless we find the missing maiden.ZORA: Ulf has had his friends looking everywhere. She disappeared

into thin air!SABINE: I can help.KRISTIN: What’s this? The magic bush can speak?SABINE: I’m actually just a young maiden, milady. A maiden with poor

clothes who hides herself under a cape of branches.KRISTIN: I—I see. And while I think it is admirable that you would like

to help, I think it’s of no use. Zora’s an experienced cook, you see. I’m not sure I trust my son’s health to a talking bush.

ZORA: Not so fast. Cap o’ Rushes, what would you make?SABINE: It’s a healing soup that my mother made me when I was

little. Whenever I was sick, she would make this soup, and I’d be better in a flash.

KRISTIN: It’s not a witch’s brew or anything like that? No eye of newt or mouse tails?

SABINE: No, of course not. It’s quite simple. A little bit of watercress, a lot of spinach, some chard, some kale and a little bit of rice. All simmered in a light broth.

ZORA: It’s worth a try.KRISTIN: But if anything happens to my son—SABINE: Nothing will. I give you my solemn promise.KRISTIN: Why, my dear, as I look into your eyes, I can almost believe

that you care for him.SABINE: Of course, milady. I care for everyone.KRISTIN: I’ll be back shortly. Prepare the soup. (EXITS. SABINE goes

to work chopping.)ZORA: I hope you know what you’re doing.SABINE: I do. For the first time, I can honestly say that I know exactly

what I am doing. (Continues chopping and throwing greens into a soup pot. ULF ENTERS followed by MELIK, RENE and MANDY.)

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GRETA: Anything?ULF: She’s gone. No one has seen or heard of her except for the three

nights of the ball.MELIK: It’s almost as if she is magical! Disappearing into thin air!ULF: She’s no more magical than our little bush here! But she is

mysterious.RENE: How is the young master doing?ZORA: Not well. Her ladyship is worried that he will slowly waste away.MANDY: That’s so sad! Do you have anything to eat?ULF: How can you think of eating at a time like this?MANDY: When I’m worried, I eat. And I’m worried.ULF: Come. You’ve all been a great help to me. I’ll find you something

in the pantry before you go home. (EXITS with MELIK, RENE and MANDY.)

KRISTIN: (ENTERS.) Is it ready?SABINE: Yes, milady. (Ladles soup into a bowl.)ZORA: You work fast!SABINE: I know this recipe by heart.KRISTIN: I hope it works. (Takes the soup and EXITS. SABINE, GRETA

and ZORA nervously pace. JUTTA and IRMINGARDE ENTER.)JUTTA: Anything? (SABINE, GRETA and ZORA shrug and begin to pace.

ULF, MELIK, RENE and MANDY ENTER.)ULF: Any news? (EVERYONE shrugs.)WARNER: (ENTERS with KRISTIN. ALL stop and look. KRISTIN bursts

into tears. EVERYONE looks glum.) He’s eating!KRISTIN: (Through tears.) Our son is eating! I’m so happy!WARNER: Thank you, dear bush. We are very grateful. (Leads his

weeping wife OFF. ALL look at each other and break into a silly spontaneous dance using pots and cooking utensils.)

GERARD: (ENTERS and watches the happiness. As SABINE dances, her cape falls off. ALL stop.) It’s you! I came down because the soup had so much goodness, I knew I had to thank the person who made it. I thought… I hoped—and now I see, it is you. My dance partner. And this may not be the proper time. Or place. But, dear dancing partner… (Kneels.) …would you be my dance partner for life?

SABINE: But, we don’t know each other. We don’t know anything about each other. How will we know if we would be happy together?

GERARD: I like to dance and eat delicious green soup, and I want to live happily ever after. Now it’s your turn.

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SABINE: I like to dance, too, and eat green soup, and I also want to live happily ever after.

GERARD: Is that a “yes”? You will marry me, then?SABINE: I suppose… I think… yes. I will marry you, your lordship!

(ALL cheer.)GERARD: Gerard. Please call me Gerard.SABINE: Hello, Gerard, my dance partner for life. I am Cap o’ Rushes,

but you can call me Cap. (GERARD slowly starts to dance with her as the LIGHTS DIM to BLACK.)

End of Scene Nine

Scene TenLIGHTS UP on the kitchen, sometime later. SABINE is stirring the pot. GERARD is looking lovingly at her. KRISTIN and WARNER are also there.KRISTIN: I am pleased you have found your love, dear Gerard, but I

do want to get something straight in my head. (To SABINE.) You are really not part magic or part bush?

SABINE: No, your ladyship. Just a young maiden.GERARD: A perfect young maiden!KRISTIN: Why won’t you tell us your name?SABINE: My family is gone from me. Cap o’ Rushes suits me.WARNER: Is the soup almost finished?SABINE: I just need to put some finishing touches on it.WARNER: I do adore this soup. It is so wonderful you have come into

our lives!SABINE: Why, thank you, your lordship. I am glad I can be of service.GERARD: You do not serve anymore, Sabine. You are family. Or will be

tomorrow after we wed.KRISTIN: Is there no one we can invite for you?SABINE: No, no one.WARNER: Well, we’ll have the town here for celebrating! You can claim

half the guests!SABINE: We shall share them.WARNER: Exactly! Did you note, my darlingest, that Lord Engelmer

and his daughters will be attending?KRISTIN: I wonder if they really will attend, my sweet?SABINE: Who’s that?WARNER: Why, Lord Engelmer, my dear. He has three lovely daughters.

He had accepted our invitation to the ball but never came. Very strange.


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SABINE: Yes. Very.ZORA: (ENTERS.) Begging your pardon, my lord and lady, but could we

have the kitchen now? We have a wedding to prepare for!WARNER: Of course, Zora! My dear Cap, is the soup almost done?SABINE: Please go into the dining room. I will bring it in.WARNER: I do love that soup! Green soup! Perfect for the day before

a wedding! (EXITS with KRISTIN.)GERARD: (Starts to follow.) I do love you.SABINE: I love you more. (GERARD EXITS.) Zora, I need to ask you a

huge favor.ZORA: Of course! You’ll be a lady soon enough!SABINE: You know the meat you bought for the wedding…ZORA: Such a gorgeous cut of meat you’ve never seen! So tender! So

succulent—or it will be after I work my magic!SABINE: You cannot salt it. ZORA: Whaaaat?SABINE: You cannot put any salt on it.ZORA: But… it will be ruined! Tasteless. Just a tasteless slab.SABINE: Exactly.ZORA: Are you sure you want to ruin your wedding dinner?SABINE: Yes. I’m sure. Very. But keep the salt cellar handy for after

we serve it.ZORA: If you say so. But I will cry when I cook it without any salt.SABINE: I know. So will I.ULF: (Bursts IN with ALL the SERVANTS—including MELIK, RENE and

MANDY.) Out of the way! Out of the way! We have a wedding to set up! (MUSIC PLAYS as EVERYONE prepares for the wedding.)

NOOLEY: (ENTERS DOWNSTAGE with NEELEY as the activity slows.) It looks like we did our job.

NEELEY: We did, we certainly did.NOOLEY: She’s safe and sound.NEELEY: Doesn’t need us anymore!NOOLEY: We’re forgotten!NEELEY: Tossed out!NOOLEY: All alone in the world!NEELEY: Nooley! You have me!NOOLEY: Oh, yeah. I forgot!NEELEY: We should go. There’s probably someone somewhere else

who needs us.

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NOOLEY: Yes. We should go. But—NEELEY: But—NOOLEY: I know you’re going to say no, because you always do, but

couldn’t we stay for the wedding? I’ve never been to a “people” wedding.

NEELEY: What a glowingly brilliant idea!NOOLEY: Yes? You said yes?NEELEY: Absolutely. I think we have to see this through. In case there

are some last-minute glitches! (NOOLEY hurries to leave.) Nooley! Where are you going?

NOOLEY: I have to get spiffied up! I’m going to a wedding! (They EXIT as LIGHTS FADE to BLACK.)

End of Scene Ten

Scene ElevenLIGHTS UP on the ballroom, that evening. The stage is set for the wedding dinner with tables, chairs, flowers, serving dishes of food and place settings. There are two tables—one for Warner’s family and one for Engelmer’s. ZORA ENTERS with a platter of meat and sets it in place. There is much fanfare as the guests take their seats. GERARD and SABINE, who wears a veil over her face, sit last. ENGELMER and PETRA and ADELE are seated far from SABINE. You may use the SERVANTS and/or EXTRAS as guests. NEELEY and NOOLEY are on the sidelines.WARNER: My friends, honored guests, I will be brief. Thank you again

for your presence at this joyous occasion. You have helped us welcome Cap o’ Rushes into our family with much joy. Now, please, enjoy the wedding dinner. As you can see, Zora has outdone herself again.

ZORA: Oh, my! Don’t give me any credit for this meal!PETRA: Cap o’ Rushes! What an odd name!ADELE: Don’t criticize, Petra. She seems very sweet. (GUESTS start

to eat. There are mumblings about the meat. They put down their forks.)

NOOLEY: Neeley! Nobody’s eating! Is that normal?NEELEY: How do I know? This is my first “people” wedding.GERARD: Oh, dear!PETRA: Oh, my!ADELE: Oh, heavens!KRISTIN: I have never tasted such… tasteless meat.

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WARNER: It’s as if this meat was prepared with no salt whatsoever. (ENGELMER begins to sob.)

PETRA: Father?ADELE: This is a wedding! Please, Father—be happy!ENGELMER: I can’t! I’m sorry. (Stands.) I should go.WARNER: (Stands.) Why, whatever is the matter?ENGELMER: You see before you a hard-hearted man. I threw out my

daughter because I thought she did not love me. Indeed, her only statement of love was “I love you as much as meat loves salt”! And now I am faced with a saltless meat—tasteless and incomplete—begging your pardon, sir! And I understand! I understand. She loved me very much. I was a fool who did not understand! My poor Sabine, alone in the world. I will never know what happened to her.

SABINE: (Stands and removes her veil.) I am here, dear Father.PETRA/ADELE: Sabine! (They run to her.)ENGELMER: Sabine?GERARD: Sabine? Is that your name?ENGELMER: My sweet, darling daughter. Can you forgive an old fool

for not understanding?SABINE: Of course I can.KRISTIN: I am so confused. Whatever does all of this mean?SABINE: It means that all is right with the world.PETRA: We have our sister back.ADELE: We can smile again.ENGELMER: And I am forgiven for being such a stubborn, foolish man!KRISTIN: Did all of this happen because of the saltless meat?ZORA: Please! Allow me! Everyone! I have a special sauce, a salty

sauce prepared in the kitchen! Allow me a minute to finish it and bring it out! Then, you will know how special meat is with salt! (EXITS.)

WARNER: While we wait, I suggest a dance! To the happy couple!ALL: To the happy couple! (Couples prepare to dance.)GERARD: (Approaches SABINE.) Sabine. I like the name. But somehow,

I still think I will be calling you Cap!SABINE: Good! It suits me. The best things happened to me while I

was Cap o’ Rushes!ENGELMER: (Approaches to ask for a dance.) May I?GERARD: Just for a minute, sir, for I will cut in to dance with my

bride! (MUSIC PLAYS and ALL dance. ENGELMER does have a few

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moments with his daughter, and as promised, GERARD cuts in and dances with SABINE. ZORA dances ON with a sauce bowl )

NOOLEY: Neeley? Do sprites dance?NEELEY: I don’t know. Shall we find out? (They dance as the LIGHTS

FADE to BLACK.)END OF PLAY

PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS

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Ch ldren Theatr where it won firs con e t e cas a d rew were as ollows

Sabine Pa e Va

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PRODUCTION NOTES

PROPERTIES ONSTAGEScene One: Garden set, consisting of a bench and some potted

flowers.Scene Two: Path in the woods set, consisting of bushes, stones,

branches and Sabine’s cape.Scene Three: Kitchen set, consisting of tables and benches, wash

basins, pots, pans, utensils, dish cloths.Scene Four: Kitchen set; stack of clean pots.Scene Five: Garden set.Scene Six: Kitchen set; tarts.Scene Seven: Ballroom set, consisting of pillars and tapestries.Scene Eight: Kitchen set. Later, ballroom set.Scene Nine: Kitchen set; bowl, ladle.Scene Ten: Kitchen set.Scene Eleven: Ballroom set; tables, chairs, flowers, serving dishes of

food, place settings.

PROPERTIES BROUGHT ONScene One:

Wooden embroidery hoop with fabric, needle and yarn (ADELE, PETRA)

Sabine’s travelling bag (PETRA)Scene Two:

Travelling bag (SABINE)Scene Three:

Scrub brush (IRMINGARDE)Pot (GRETA)Stack of pots (ZORA)Travelling bag (SABINE)

Scene Six:Serving dishes of food (ZORA, GRETA, MELIK, RENE, MANDY)

Scene Eight:Serving dishes of food (MELIK, RENE, MANDY)

Scene Eleven: Platter of meat, sauce bowl (ZORA)

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SOUND EFFECTSRooster crow, slow ballroom music, clock striking midnight, whimsical music.

COSTUMES

ADELE and PETRA are dressed in a lovely fashion of the times.

SABINE wears her late mother’s frock, a dress from the traditional era of fairy tales. SABINE’s cape of rushes should be a full-length cape with a hood, covered in twigs and branches. It should be large enough to conceal her mother’s ball gown, which she wears to the ball in later scenes. In Scene Eleven, she wears a veil over her face.

SERVANTS wear conservative dark clothing appropriate for the era, with KITCHEN SERVANTS also wearing white aprons and head coverings. MANDY, RENE and MELIK do not wear aprons or head coverings when they first appear in Scene Three, though they wear them for all subsequent scenes.

FLEXIBLE CASTING

MANDY (with name changed to RANDY), MELIK, RENE, NEELEY and NOOLEY can be played as male or female.

EXTRAS are welcome for the ball and wedding scenes. All SERVANTS other than ZORA can also appear as EXTRAS in Scene Eleven for the wedding.

SETTING NOTES

In order to transition from kitchen set to ballroom set quickly, the ballroom pillars should be brought on and off with a scenery wagon.

Depending on the size of your stage, the kitchen set can be situated UPSTAGE, perhaps on a platform, so that the ballroom, with room for dancing, can be set DOWNSTAGE of it. A shift in lighting can also help transition back and forth from kitchen set to ballroom set as needed.

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Path in the Woods

Engelmer’s Garden

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Warner’s Kitchen

Kitchen Backdrop

Warner’s Ballroom

Kitchen Backdrop

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by claudia haas - pioneer drama service · adapted by claudia haas cast of characters ... young but...

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