| introductory_notes_for_hansel_and_gretel.docx |
Introductory Notes for Hansel and Gretel
This version of Hansel and Gretel begins in a library, but when school boy Monty wanders into another realm beyond the bookcases he takes the book of Hansel and Gretel with him and finds himself compelled to stay until the story reaches its conclusion.
The Set
The show starts in a library. In front of a fret-worked arch with a pointed top there are set of bookcases. There’s one at the front left of the stage, sideways on to the audience and two centre back, facing the audience. There’s a gap between these two bookcases which are the same height and breadth. A fourth on is on the right front and it is sideways on like the one across the stage. In front of the left hand bookcase is a table with three chairs and alongside the right hand one, slightly behind it, is a ladder. Behind the bookcases, like a back drop, is a fantastical large wooden arch with a pointed top and cut out fret work sides, some of which can be used as a ladder. Once the show starts the bookcases pivot and swivel further apart at an angle, providing a space for dancing. The centre right one shows the interior of the woodcutter’s house with an old fashioned radio on a shelf with an enamel bowl and a picture of a teddy bear on the wall. One of the book cases on the left becomes a shelter to hide behind. There’s also an enormous mouse trap near this shelter. Behind the interior of the house huge books are piled one atop another to form steps up a hill in the forest. A small fairy tale house glows in the distance at the end of Act 1. By the beginning of Act 2 the house has become large, it’s exterior dominating the stage. It is coloured with soft pastels, pinks and blues and a touch of yellow and is decorated with things that look like sweets. Lollipops grow around the walls, gob-stoppers decorate its gabled roof, there are two windows, one on the right side of the house and one on the left and there’s a curtain of small sweets hanging in the doorway. To the left of it is an enormous oven, its top half pink, its bottom half purple. A small door is let into the side of the oven which faces the audience. Later in the play the house walls separate to reveal the interior with a cabin type bed in candy colours of pink and blue and white. On the wall behind it is an old fashioned dresser with cups on hooks hanging down and a picture of a ginger bread man on the back wall above them. The wall is in the same pastel sweet shades as the outside of the house.
The Cast
There are a large number of characters in this play but only six actors so most of the actors play more than one part.
Mark Dugale, a tall and imposing figure, plays the part of Snatterpea, Willum, Bertie Jones, Teddy, Tree2 and Minx. As Snatterpea, the librarian, he has short grey hair and round rimmed black spectacles. He wears a smart grey suit, with matching long line jacket and trousers in grey and a formal white shirt with a purple waistcoat. His peach coloured hankie in the breast pocket of his jacket matches his cravat. As Willum, the book worm, he wears brown check trousers, a long padded waistcoat in light brown trimmed with green and a knitted hat on his head. As Bertie Jones, the bat, he wears a black waistcoat with a black furry collar and trousers. His face is covered by a black mask and a black hat topped with bat’s ears sits on his head. He has bat wings attached to his back. As Teddy wearing a teddy mask and a large red bow tie, his face is all that appears, in the place of the picture on the kitchen wall. As Minx the cat he wears a cat suit made of multi coloured patchwork diamond shapes. Cats ears are attached to his red cap and he has a large cat’s tail behind
Orla Gormley takes the parts of the Woodcutter, Uncle Dan, Tree 3 and Myrtle. As the Woodcutter, the children’s father, this tall slender figure wears a flat cap, patched denim dungarees and a bright many patterned patch work shirt. He has a red cravat and sports and enormous moustache on his upper lip and carries an axe. As Uncle Dan he wears a brown jacket and brown hat over denim trousers. As Myrtle, the witch, she is completely transformed. Her pink hair is piled high on her head, like candy floss. She wears a full candy striped skirt narrow at the waist and very full at the hem. Over this she wears a large bright yellow cape printed with coloured lozenges and circles. Beneath this she wears a green blouse and her tights are bright pink.
Catriona McFeely plays Gretel and Split. As Gretel she has brown plaits and wears a colourful patterned calf length dress over frilly bloomers and maroon long socks. A red hood sometimes covers her hair or sometimes slips down on her shoulders. As Split she wears the uniform of all the boys. Grey shorts, with a white shirt and jumper over, knee length socks and black gym shoes. A woolly bobble hat sits on her head
Odhran McNulty plays Hansel and Slugger. As Hansel he sports a blue cap, brown dungarees and a bright patterned patchwork jacket. As Slugger he also wears the uniform grey shorts, white shirt, knitted pullover and bobble hat with the socks and gym shoes.
Christina Nelson is a short rather dumpy figure who plays a variety of parts. Besides being the Evil Aunt she is also Bugs, Chip Barnaby, Tree 1, Ned and Koo. As the evil Aunt she wears a pink and grey patterned midi length dress trimmed with grey. It has a lace jabot at the neck and the outfit is complemented with green tights, a beige hat and black shoes. Later she wears a purple coat with beige fur collar. As Bugs she wears the boys’ uniform. When she takes on the part of Chip Barnaby the Beaver Scout Leader she wears khaki shorts and a blue scout type shirt with fur round its neck. She wears a red neckerchief and leather mitts cover her hands while a large flat tail hangs down from her behind. As Koo the cuckoo she wears a brown jacket with wings attaches at the back and tan trousers with a red cravat and a huge beak. Finally she is also the voice of the gingerbread man who speaks form his picture on the wall.
Conor Quinn plays Monty, the chief character in the play. He is slight with short dark hair and open face and wide mouth. He starts off wearing the boys’ uniform of grey shorts, shirt and pullover. His shirt is pink and his pullover has grey and white stripes. His knee socks are pink. When he walks through into the story tale world he acquires a mouse’s tale and mouse ears.
The three trees wear long brown robes, rather like monks’ habits, with hoods that cover their heads. They carry a hoop in each hand with rustling paper attached to it to simulate leaves and they use these while dancing.
These notes are brought to you by NISightlines www.nisightlines.co.uk where they can be found on our website. We hope you enjoy the show and have a very happy Christmas.
This version of Hansel and Gretel begins in a library, but when school boy Monty wanders into another realm beyond the bookcases he takes the book of Hansel and Gretel with him and finds himself compelled to stay until the story reaches its conclusion.
The Set
The show starts in a library. In front of a fret-worked arch with a pointed top there are set of bookcases. There’s one at the front left of the stage, sideways on to the audience and two centre back, facing the audience. There’s a gap between these two bookcases which are the same height and breadth. A fourth on is on the right front and it is sideways on like the one across the stage. In front of the left hand bookcase is a table with three chairs and alongside the right hand one, slightly behind it, is a ladder. Behind the bookcases, like a back drop, is a fantastical large wooden arch with a pointed top and cut out fret work sides, some of which can be used as a ladder. Once the show starts the bookcases pivot and swivel further apart at an angle, providing a space for dancing. The centre right one shows the interior of the woodcutter’s house with an old fashioned radio on a shelf with an enamel bowl and a picture of a teddy bear on the wall. One of the book cases on the left becomes a shelter to hide behind. There’s also an enormous mouse trap near this shelter. Behind the interior of the house huge books are piled one atop another to form steps up a hill in the forest. A small fairy tale house glows in the distance at the end of Act 1. By the beginning of Act 2 the house has become large, it’s exterior dominating the stage. It is coloured with soft pastels, pinks and blues and a touch of yellow and is decorated with things that look like sweets. Lollipops grow around the walls, gob-stoppers decorate its gabled roof, there are two windows, one on the right side of the house and one on the left and there’s a curtain of small sweets hanging in the doorway. To the left of it is an enormous oven, its top half pink, its bottom half purple. A small door is let into the side of the oven which faces the audience. Later in the play the house walls separate to reveal the interior with a cabin type bed in candy colours of pink and blue and white. On the wall behind it is an old fashioned dresser with cups on hooks hanging down and a picture of a ginger bread man on the back wall above them. The wall is in the same pastel sweet shades as the outside of the house.
The Cast
There are a large number of characters in this play but only six actors so most of the actors play more than one part.
Mark Dugale, a tall and imposing figure, plays the part of Snatterpea, Willum, Bertie Jones, Teddy, Tree2 and Minx. As Snatterpea, the librarian, he has short grey hair and round rimmed black spectacles. He wears a smart grey suit, with matching long line jacket and trousers in grey and a formal white shirt with a purple waistcoat. His peach coloured hankie in the breast pocket of his jacket matches his cravat. As Willum, the book worm, he wears brown check trousers, a long padded waistcoat in light brown trimmed with green and a knitted hat on his head. As Bertie Jones, the bat, he wears a black waistcoat with a black furry collar and trousers. His face is covered by a black mask and a black hat topped with bat’s ears sits on his head. He has bat wings attached to his back. As Teddy wearing a teddy mask and a large red bow tie, his face is all that appears, in the place of the picture on the kitchen wall. As Minx the cat he wears a cat suit made of multi coloured patchwork diamond shapes. Cats ears are attached to his red cap and he has a large cat’s tail behind
Orla Gormley takes the parts of the Woodcutter, Uncle Dan, Tree 3 and Myrtle. As the Woodcutter, the children’s father, this tall slender figure wears a flat cap, patched denim dungarees and a bright many patterned patch work shirt. He has a red cravat and sports and enormous moustache on his upper lip and carries an axe. As Uncle Dan he wears a brown jacket and brown hat over denim trousers. As Myrtle, the witch, she is completely transformed. Her pink hair is piled high on her head, like candy floss. She wears a full candy striped skirt narrow at the waist and very full at the hem. Over this she wears a large bright yellow cape printed with coloured lozenges and circles. Beneath this she wears a green blouse and her tights are bright pink.
Catriona McFeely plays Gretel and Split. As Gretel she has brown plaits and wears a colourful patterned calf length dress over frilly bloomers and maroon long socks. A red hood sometimes covers her hair or sometimes slips down on her shoulders. As Split she wears the uniform of all the boys. Grey shorts, with a white shirt and jumper over, knee length socks and black gym shoes. A woolly bobble hat sits on her head
Odhran McNulty plays Hansel and Slugger. As Hansel he sports a blue cap, brown dungarees and a bright patterned patchwork jacket. As Slugger he also wears the uniform grey shorts, white shirt, knitted pullover and bobble hat with the socks and gym shoes.
Christina Nelson is a short rather dumpy figure who plays a variety of parts. Besides being the Evil Aunt she is also Bugs, Chip Barnaby, Tree 1, Ned and Koo. As the evil Aunt she wears a pink and grey patterned midi length dress trimmed with grey. It has a lace jabot at the neck and the outfit is complemented with green tights, a beige hat and black shoes. Later she wears a purple coat with beige fur collar. As Bugs she wears the boys’ uniform. When she takes on the part of Chip Barnaby the Beaver Scout Leader she wears khaki shorts and a blue scout type shirt with fur round its neck. She wears a red neckerchief and leather mitts cover her hands while a large flat tail hangs down from her behind. As Koo the cuckoo she wears a brown jacket with wings attaches at the back and tan trousers with a red cravat and a huge beak. Finally she is also the voice of the gingerbread man who speaks form his picture on the wall.
Conor Quinn plays Monty, the chief character in the play. He is slight with short dark hair and open face and wide mouth. He starts off wearing the boys’ uniform of grey shorts, shirt and pullover. His shirt is pink and his pullover has grey and white stripes. His knee socks are pink. When he walks through into the story tale world he acquires a mouse’s tale and mouse ears.
The three trees wear long brown robes, rather like monks’ habits, with hoods that cover their heads. They carry a hoop in each hand with rustling paper attached to it to simulate leaves and they use these while dancing.
These notes are brought to you by NISightlines www.nisightlines.co.uk where they can be found on our website. We hope you enjoy the show and have a very happy Christmas.
