The Princess & the Peas

Our prop box got a new front

This version of the Grimm's Fairy Tale has a Prince and a Princess, of course. 

Penelope sticking peas under mattress #17

Our Prince at the royal table

But also 6 Evil Princesses who are out to get kind Princess Penelope.

6 Evil Princesses in half their dresses-I'm sure this is fight is in the script...somewhere.

They get to the Prince first then go back and "help" Penelope get lost in the forest as she tries to find the Prince of A Faraway Kingdom, whose parents think it is time for him to marry a princess.

Outrage at the Prince not liking them

But the Prince thinks all of the 6 Evil Princesses aren't real princesses-"they're all too 2-dimensional". Penelope finds the castle eventually, but  she is late and soaked from the rain. Because of these flaws, the Queen cannot be convinced that she is really a princess. (The King & Prince need no convincing.)

The Queen laughing that Penelope thinks herself a real princess

 Penelope's least favorite vegetable is served for dinner. But she minds her P's & Q's and even the Queen of A Faraway Kingdom sees her beauty the next morning.  In the happy ending the Prince asks Penelope to marry him.

Penelope (atop a chair) sleeping

 

We had a great time painting dresses that flipped into trees, the royal table with dinnerware, and a bed over 7' tall. We played games that helped us use our voices, props, and learn blocking. Another successful week of play.

Princess dress in the works

Painting misleading signs

The Water of Life



Stage Sign on our prop box-all cardboard!

The Water of Life is a Grimm's Fairy Tale  

 about 6 Royal Children who go off on their horses in search of the Water of Life to heal their dying father. Most of these Royal Children are selfish & rude, but the youngest is not only kind, but brave.

 

The King's bed-and a patchwork quilt, I would have never expected, but really quite eye-catching!

Nice detail on a horse by a 9 y/o

Our hero on his white steed!- 11 y/o

Some girls even painted on their skirts- by a  6 y/o

 In their journeys they meet a dwarf and if they are lucky-or maybe just polite- he'll give them directions to the enchanted castle.

Finishing touches on the castle the Princess pops out of-she obviously likes vines, and a lot of pink...

 There,  a spell-bound princess guards the Water of Life and other magic gifts...

Props--including the Princess's expandable telescope

This group of kids were excellent at helping each other. They had great  improvement ideas too; adding handles to the horses, painting a two-sided goblet, having a "Deathbed" sign above the king's bed, and adding blood to the tip of the Sword of Victory (vetoed because, as one 8y/o put it, "This isn't PG13"). They were enthusiastic about everything.

Our last rehearsal-the Princess's castle kept blowing away in the wind!

    

     

Typical practices were half the time practicing our lines after a quick game, then painting. Some children opted to stay later and do more painting of props...and themselves.

Princesses in front of the castle

Cast picture after the show