Play: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

This is a very flexible play to perform, because it can be done with a varying number of cast. All the characters, except the two narrators, can double up as other characters and even ensemble. There is a lot of physical theatre, however, and it was written for a cast of around 30. It should last around 20 minutes. This is the first in a series of three fairytale-based short plays.





CHARACTERS:
Snow White
Evil Queen
Magic Mirror
Narrator 1
Narrator 2
Good Queen
King
Huntsman
Prince
Servant
Guards
Dwarves
Boar
Ensemble



SCENE ONE
the castle
ENSEMBLE stands in a semi-circle around the stage, facing outwards (backs to the audience). NARRATORs 1 & 2 stand DCS. The GOOD QUEEN stands slightly behind them, the KING behind her. When anyone good speaks, NARR. 1 stands behind/beside them, holding the microphone for them. NARR. 2 does the same for anyone bad.

NARR. 1: This is a story of happiness, loyalty, and the ultimate true love...
NARR. 2: And dwarves. And death.

They split. NARR. 1 goes DSR, NARR. 2 goes DSL.

NARR. 1: (aside) Glad to see someone's providing an optimistic view... Anyway. Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there lived a good and wise king, with his good and wise queen.
NARR. 2: However, they were both very sad.
NARR. 1: A bit of an over-exaggeration, but yes.
NARR. 2: Because they couldn't have kids.
NARR. 1: But! One day, the queen wished for a daughter...
GOOD QUEEN: I wish for a daughter with hair as black as ebony, skin as white as snow, and lips as red as blood...
NARR. 2: She was a little morbid.
NARR. 1: But, luckily, she got her wish, and gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter, whom she named Snow White.

SNOW WHITE enters from UCS. She kneels by her mother, who takes her hand and walks forwards slowly.

NARR. 1: For three glorious years, the family lived in blissful happiness...
NARR. 2: Until the queen died.

GOOD QUEEN collapses. NARR. 2 drags her body off.

NARR. 1: Undeterred, the king Snow White's father remarried.
NARR. 2: This time to an evil old hag.

Enter the EVIL QUEEN. NARR. 2 stands between them.

NARR. 2: You are now man and wife. (to the king) Good luck. (walking forwards to his USR position) This new, evil queen was horrible to absolutely everyone, especially Snow White.
NARR. 1: Well, at least it wasn't all bad - Snow White's daddy was still alive...
NARR. 2: Yeah.... But not for long...

The KING collapses.

NARR. 2: He died under... mysterious circumstances.

NARR. 2 drags his body off. SNOW WHITE goes DSR.

NARR. 1: Oh. Well.
NARR. 2: Not only was this new queen really incredibly evil, but she was also really incredibly vain.
NARR. 1: Every day, she would ask her magic mirror:

EVIL QUEEN stands SL.

EVIL QUEEN: Mirror mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?
NARR. 1: And every day, the mirror would reply:
MIRROR: You are the fairest, O queen.
NARR. 1: And so the years passed, and Snow White grew to be a kind and beautiful young girl.
NARR. 2: Worse luck for her.
NARR. 1: Until one day, when the evil queen asked the magic mirror her usual question, the mirror replied:
MIRROR: Snow White is the fairest, O queen.
EVIL QUEEN: WHAT?!
NARR. 2: As you can imagine, she wasn't very happy about that.

As he speaks, SNOW WHITE turns and runs off SL. EVIL QUEEN glares at her. Then she starts pacing up and down.

NARR. 2: The evil queen thought and thought...
NARR. 1: Until she came up with her evil plan:
NARR. 2: She would kill Snow White!
EVIL QUEEN: Eureka! I'll kill Snow White!
NARR. 2: A bit slow, isn't she?
EVIL QUEEN: Huntsman!

Enter HUNTSMAN SL.

EVIL QUEEN: Take Snow White deep into the forest and kill her. Then bring me her liver and lungs. I want to eat them.
HUNTSMAN: Very well, O queen.

He exits SL.

NARR. 1: She had an odd taste in food, this queen.


SCENE TWO
the forest
ENSEMBLE move to be dotted around the stage at different heights and in different 'tree' positions. Enter HUNTSMAN SL, dragging SNOW WHITE. He drags her CS, where they stop. As they pass the trees, they 'claw' at SNOW WHITE.

NARR. 1: So the Huntsman took Snow White deep into the forest...
NARR. 2: And prepared to kill her.
HUNTSMAN: I'm going to kill you.
SNOW WHITE: No! Please! (begs)
HUNTSMAN: Oh, fine. I won't kill you. But you'll have to run further into the forest if you want to be safe from your wicked stepmother.
NARR. 1: She did.

Exit SNOW WHITE SR.

NARR. 2: Hey, wait! You're meant to kill her!
HUNTSMAN: Yeah, I know. But she'll probably die in the forest anyway.
NARR. 2: Oh, okay then. That's all right. But what are you going to tell the queen?
NARR. 1: Just then, a small, cute, furry little boar came gambling through the forest...

BOAR runs past from SR.

NARR. 2: So the Huntsman killed it. And he took out its liver and lungs to give to the queen.
NARR. 1: And off he went, back to the castle.


SCENE THREE
the castle
ENSEMBLE are in the same positions as Scene One. EVIL QUEEN is standing SR. HUNTSMAN enters from SL.

EVIL QUEEN: Well?
HUNTSMAN: Here are the liver and lungs of Snow White, O queen.

He exits. EVIL QUEEN eats the liver and lungs.

NARR. 2: And so the evil queen ate what she believed to be the liver and lungs of Snow White.
NARR. 1: (makes some general noise of disgust)
EVIL QUEEN: Finally! Now I am the fairest of them all! (evil cackle)

Exits.


SCENE FOUR
the wood
The same as Scene Two, except eight people make the 'cottage', USC. Four people have their backs to the audience, the other four are at right-angles, facing SR and SL respectively. SNOW WHITE enters from SR. When she approaches the cottage, the 'trees' around it 'melt' backwards to create a clearing.

NARR. 1: But Snow White didn't die in the forest.
NARR. 2: Damn!
NARR. 1: Instead, she found a lovely little cottage, deep in the woods.

SNOW WHITE reaches the cottage.

SNOW WHITE: Oh, what a lovely little cottage! I'll just go inside for a minute, and see if anyone's home.


SCENE FIVE
the cottage
ENSEMBLE move from their 'tree' positions to create the inside of the cottage. They all face inwards, creating a half box shape. SNOW WHITE enters through the 'door', USC.

SNOW WHITE: Oh, how sweet! But I'm so tired...

SNOW WHITE falls asleep DSC.

NARR. 1: Snow White was so tired that she fell asleep, there and then.
NARR. 2: I believe that's called breaking and entering.
NARR. 1: Shut up. Anyway. Before too long, the owners of the house returned home after a long day's work...

Enter DWARVES from USC. They create a horse-shoe around the sleeping SNOW WHITE. When they're standing there, they all gasp. On the last (huge) gasp, SNOW WHITE wakes up suddenly.

SNOW WHITE: Oh!
DWARF: Who are you?
DWARF: What are you doing in our house?
SNOW WHITE: My name is Snow White. I just fell asleep in your house for a minute. I'm really sorry. You see, my mother died when I was just a baby...
NARR. 1: And so Snow White told the dwarves the whole story. By the time she was finished, the dwarves were so completely in love with this beautiful young girl that they told her she could stay in their house.
NARR. 2: As long as she did all the cooking, all the cleaning, washed all their clothes, scrubbed the floor...
NARR. 1: I see you're the voice of optimism, as ever. Well. In the morning, the dwarves all had to leave for work.

The DWARVES leave USC, all except for one DWARF, who turns to face SNOW WHITE.

NARR. 1: But before they left, they gave her one last piece of advice:
DWARF: Don't open the door to anyone.

He exits.

NARR. 1: Snow White assured the dwarves that she was fine, that she was no longer in danger.
NARR. 2: But Snow White was wrong. She was in danger.


SCENE SIX
the castle
Quick scene change, back to ENSEMBLE positions for Scene Three. EVIL QUEEN is CSR.

NARR. 1: Because when her wicked stepmother asked the magic mirror her question that morning, the mirror replied:
MIRROR: Snow White is the fairest, O queen.
EVIL QUEEN: WHAT?!
NARR. 1: And so the evil queen came up with a terrible plan...
NARR. 2: She would kill Snow White. Again.


SCENE SEVEN
the cottage
Another quick scene change, back to ENSEMBLE positions for Scene Four. SNOW WHITE is CS, sweeping. The EVIL QUEEN, disguised as an OLD WOMAN, appears UCS behind the 'door/window' thing.

OLD WOMAN: Lace for sale! Beautiful lace! (catching sight of SNOW WHITE) Ah, my pretty, come buy some lace!
SNOW WHITE: Oh, thank you, you're so kind. (she starts towards OLD WOMAN)
NARR. 1: But then Snow White remembered the dwarves' advice.
SNOW WHITE: (stopping, to herself) No, I can't believe that such a nice old woman could possibly be a danger. And besides, my stepmother thinks I'm dead. (to OLD WOMAN) Please, come in!

OLD WOMAN enters.

OLD WOMAN: (picking out some lace) Here, some lovely lace for your bodice. Would you like me to tie it for you?
SNOW WHITE: Oh, yes, thank you.

OLD WOMAN ties the lace. SNOW WHITE falls to the ground. OLD WOMAN, cackling, exits USC.

NARR. 1: Poor Snow White. But it's not the end, because when the dwarves came back from work...

Enter DWARVES USC. They make the horse-shoe again. When they're in position, the first DWARF  unties the lace, while the others gasp. By the time the last DWARF  does his huge gasp, it's untied. SNOW WHITE wakes up on the huge gasp.

SNOW WHITE: Oh!
NARR. 1: And so the dwarves saved Snow White.
NARR. 2: Damn!

DWARVES exit USC, apart from two DWARVES, who turn to SNOW WHITE.

NARR. 1: But then the next morning, when the dwarves left for work, they gave her the same warning:

DWARVES: Don't open the door to anyone.

They exit.

NARR. 1: This time, Snow White was sure that nothing could possibly happen to her.
NARR. 2: But yet again, she was wrong.
NARR. 1: Because that morning, when the evil queen asked her mirror the usual question, it replied...
MIRROR: (from offstage) Snow White is the fairest, O queen. 
EVIL QUEEN: (from offstage) WHAT?!
NARR. 1: And so she came up with a new plan, one that was sure to work...
NARR. 2: She would kill Snow White. (She wasn't very imaginative.)

SNOW WHITE is CS, sewing. EVIL QUEEN, disguised as a different OLD WOMAN, appears USC behind the 'door/window'.

OLD WOMAN: Come buy, come buy! Beautiful combs for your hair! My dear, come try on this lovely comb! 
SNOW WHITE: Oh! How lovely!
NARR. 1: But then Snow White remembered the dwarves warning...
SNOW WHITE: I'm sorry. I'm really not supposed to let anyone in.
OLD WOMAN: What a shame. I could just pass it through the door, if you like? I needn't come in...
SNOW WHITE: Oh, okay then. I'm sure that'll be fine. It's not as if you're dangerous, or anything...

OLD WOMAN hands a comb through the door to SNOW WHITE, who takes it and puts it in her hair. Immediately, she falls to the floor. OLD WOMAN exits USC, cackling.

NARR. 2: You'd think we'd finally reached the end of our story...
NARR. 1: But we haven't. Because, luckily, when the dwarves returned from their long day's work...

Enter DWARVES USC. They make the horse-shoe again. When they're in position, the first DWARF removes the comb, while the others gasp. By the time the last DWARF  does his huge gasp, it's been removed. SNOW WHITE wakes up on the huge gasp.

SNOW WHITE: Oh!
NARR. 1: And so the dwarves saved Snow White. Again.
NARR. 2: You'd think they'd have got bored of her by now...
NARR. 1: Evidently not. But then the next morning, when the dwarves left for work, they gave her the same warning:

All DWARVES turn to SNOW WHITE.

DWARVES: Don't open the door to anyone.

They exit USC.

NARR. 1: Snow White had a good feeling about today. She was absolutely sure that nothing could possibly happen to her...
NARR. 2: But yet again, she was wrong.
NARR. 1: Because that morning, when her wicked stepmother asked her mirror the usual question, it again replied:
MIRROR: (from offstage) Snow White is the fairest, O queen.
EVIL QUEEN: (from offstage) WHAT?!
NARR. 1: And so the evil queen came up with a new and improved plan...
TOGETHER: She would kill Snow White. Again.

EVIL QUEEN enters DSL, and talks to NARR. 2.

EVIL QUEEN: I've got a much better idea now. What I've done, is I've poisoned this apple, so that the red half is poisonous, but the green half is okay. What do you think?
NARR. 2: (sceptically) Uh... Yeah... I mean, that's sure to work...

EVIL QUEEN exits and reappears USC, disguised as a different OLD WOMAN. SNOW WHITE is CS, doing something or other.

OLD WOMAN: Apples! Sweet, red, juicy apples! Come taste one, my dear - free of charge!
SNOW WHITE: Oh! Oh, no... I really mustn't... You see, I'm  not allowed to open the door to anyone, and my past experience with old female peddlers hasn't been all that positive...
OLD WOMAN: Oh, come on, my dear! How about this one? (holds out an apple) Look how delicious it is! It's perfectly safe. (takes a bite)
SNOW WHITE: It does look very tasty... Okay. Pass it through the window, and then technically, I haven't opened the door to anyone.

SNOW WHITE goes to the window/door, whatever it is, and OLD WOMAN passes the apple to her. SNOW WHITE takes one bite and falls to the ground. OLD WOMAN pulls off her disguise.

EVIL QUEEN: Ha ha! Now I am the fairest of them all!

Exits, cackling.

NARR. 2: And so Snow White died, boo hoo, the end. Finally.
NARR. 1: No, actually. Just wait a minute, because the dwarves will be coming back from work any moment now... Ah yes, that's them now.

Enter DWARVES USC. They make the horse-shoe again. When they're in position they gasp. The last DWARF does his huge gasp. When it has no effect, he gasps again.

DWARF: Okay. Now what do we do?
NARR. 1: The dwarves scratched their beards for a bit,
NARR. 2: and finally came up with a plan...

A DWARF comes up to NARR. 1 and explains their plan.

DWARF: We'll build a glass coffin for Snow White, so her beauty will remain for ever.

DWARF goes back to the others, who gather round SNOW WHITE with their backs to the audience and start making the coffin.

NARR. 2: I didn't say it was a good plan.


SCENE EIGHT
the forest
ENSEMBLE move to be dotted around the stage at different heights and in different 'tree' positions. As NARR. 1 speaks, the DWARVES go back to their original horse-shoe positions behind SNOW WHITE, facing the audience.

NARR. 1: But anyway. So they built their coffin, and guarded it day and night. Until one day, when a handsome prince came riding by.

Enter PRINCE and SERVANT SR. They stand DSR. Then they see SNOW WHITE.

PRINCE: Oh, what a fair maiden! Tell me, dwarves, who is she?
DWARF: Her name is Snow White, and she was murdered by her evil stepmother who rules this land.
PRINCE: Oh. No chance of marrying her then, I suppose. (thinks) I know what I'll do. I'll take her in this coffin back to my palace, where I can always look at her beauty.
DWARF: We wouldn't part with Snow White for all the gold in the land!
PRINCE: She'd be very well cared for...
DWARF: Okay.
DWARF: We'll leave you to it, then.

The DWARVES exit SL. PRINCE exits SR. As NARR. 1 speaks, SERVANT mimes carrying the coffin on his shoulder.

NARR. 1: The Prince ordered his servant to carry Snow White in her coffin all the way back to his palace. But the coffin was so difficult to carry, and so heavy, that the servant soon grew tired of carrying her everywhere.

SERVANT puts down his mimed coffin, and turns to face SNOW WHITE.

SERVANT: I carry you everywhere, and you just lie there, you lazy- ! Why don't you just wake up and walk yourself for a change?

SERVANT slaps SNOW WHITE round the face, and she wakes up, choking. PRINCE enters SR.

PRINCE: Snow White! She's awake!
SERVANT: I did that.
NARR. 1: And so Snow White didn't die, and instead she married her handsome prince. They went away to his castle where they were married, and lived-
NARR. 2: No, wait, it's not quite the end yet.


SCENE NINE

the wedding
ENSEMBLE are standing around as wedding guests. PRINCE and SNOW WHITE are CS, ready to be married. DWARVES are generally mingling, as is SERVANT. EVIL QUEEN enters SL slowly.

NARR. 2: Because the evil queen, when asking her mirror the usual question, had been answered yet again with:
MIRROR: (from offstage) Snow White is the fairest, O queen.
NARR. 2: Which didn't please her one bit.
NARR. 1: In fact, it rather confused her.
NARR. 2: Having killed Snow White several times.
NARR. 1: And so she came to the wedding of Snow White and the Prince, to see if the rumours were true-
NARR. 2: The rumours that said the prince's bride was the fairest in the land.
NARR. 1: And so, just as the happy couple were about to be wed-
NARR. 2: She burst through the crowds in a fit of anger.

EVIL QUEEN bursts through the crowds in a fit of anger. Or whatever.

NARR. 1: The Prince ordered his guards to seize the queen: 
PRINCE: Guards! Seize her! 

GUARDS seize the EVIL QUEEN.

NARR. 2: And this is the best bit. He ordered the queen be forced to wear iron shoes, heated on hot coals.

GUARDS strap the shoes to the EVIL QUEEN's feet. She hops about, or whatever, burning, and eventually falls to the floor.

NARR. 1: So it finally was a happy ending.
NARR. 2: Not if you're the queen.
NARR. 1: Anyway.

SNOW WHITE and PRINCE embrace. NARRs 1&2 walk CS, so the couple are behind them.

NARRs 1&2: The End.

Exeunt omnes.