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The original story of “Hansel and Gretel” is a well-known fairy tale recorded by the Brothers Grimm, Jacob, and Wilhelm Grimm. They collected and published the story in their famous compilation of fairy tales called “Grimms’ Fairy Tales” in the early 19th century. The exact date of its first publication was in 1812.

COTTAGE OF COURAGE: THE JOURNEY OF HANSEL AND GRETEL

CHARACTERS:

WOODCUTTER

STEPMOTHER

HANSEL

GRETEL

WITCH

SCRIPT:

[The stage is set in a cozy cottage nestled deep within the enchanting forest. Soft sunlight filters through the trees, casting a magical glow. The audience eagerly awaits as the curtains rise, revealing the humble abode of Hansel, Gretel, and their family]

NARRATOR: Once upon a time, in a mystical forest filled with secrets and wonder, there lived a young brother and sister named Hansel and Gretel. They dwelled in a humble cottage with their beloved father, who worked tirelessly as a woodcutter, and their treacherous stepmother. Little did they know that their lives were about to embark on an extraordinary journey of resilience, bravery, and the timeless power of sibling love.

WOODCUTTER: What is wrong with you?

STEPMOTHER: Now that the children are sleeping, I have to tell you something.

WOODCUTTER: What is it?

STEPMOTHER: We don’t have enough food to feed the children. Tomorrow morning, we will take them into the deep woods and leave them there.

WOODCUTTER: I will not do that to my children! Do you think I will leave them where they can be in danger?

STEPMOTHER: Then the four of us will die.

NARRATOR: She insisted so much on that idea that the woodcutter finally agreed. But Hansel and Gretel were not sleeping; in fact, they were listening to the entire conversation.

HANSEL: Don’t cry, little sister. I have an idea to find our way back home.

NARRATOR: The next morning, when they went into the forest, their stepmother gave each of them a piece of bread.

STEPMOTHER: Don’t eat this bread before lunch because this is all you are going to eat today.

HANSEL AND GRETEL: We won’t.

NARRATOR: While they were walking, Hansel was leaving a trail of breadcrumbs to find their way back home. When they reached the deep forest, she said,

STEPMOTHER: Stay here until we come back to pick you up.

NARRATOR: Hansel and Gretel did as they were told, but then night came.

HANSEL: Come on, Gretel, it’s time to find our way home.

GRETEL: I’ll help you find the breadcrumbs.

HANSEL: I can’t find any!

GRETEL: I knew it! The animals ate them! What are we going to do?

HANSEL: We need to find a safe place to stay.

GRETEL: Look! There’s a cave over there.

HANSEL: Let’s go!

NARRATOR: They stayed in the cave for a few days without eating until they finally decided to go out and find some food. They walked deeper into the forest when they saw something in the distance.

GRETEL: What is that over there?

HANSEL: It looks like a little house.

GRETEL: Let’s take a closer look.

NARRATOR: So, they approached the little house.

HANSEL: This house is weird. Look, Gretel, it’s all made of chocolate, cookies, and bread!

GRETEL: And it’s delicious!

HANSEL: I’ve never tasted anything like this in my whole life!

NARRATOR: Then a witch opened the door.

WITCH: How did you get here, little children?

HANSEL: We got lost in the forest.

WITCH: Please, come in.

GRETEL: No, I don’t think we should.

HANSEL: Don’t worry, she will not harm us.

WITCH: Of course not, I am an old, old lady.

HANSEL: See, Gretel? She is like our grandmother.

WITCH: You can even stay here with me. I live here all alone in the forest. I will cook for you; you look so thin and weak.

NARRATOR: The two siblings stayed with the witch, but Hansel knew deep inside him that there was something else.

GRETEL: What is wrong?

HANSEL: Why does she care so much about us if she doesn’t even know us?

GRETEL: And she gives us so much food!

HANSEL: She wants us to be fat…

GRETEL: To eat us!

HANSEL AND GRETEL: Oh no!

NARRATOR: The witch was hiding behind the door, listening to every word they said.

WITCH: You’re right! Get in the oven!

HANSEL AND GRETEL: In the oven? It’s too small!

WITCH: Of course not, even I fit in it… look!

NARRATOR: Then she got inside the oven, and quickly they shut the door, leaving her locked inside.

HANSEL: Come on, run!

NARRATOR: They ran outside the house as fast as they could. They walked for two days until they reached their old house.

HANSEL: We are finally home!

NARRATOR: They knocked on the door, and their father opened it.

FATHER: My dear children!

HANSEL AND GRETEL: Father!

WOODCUTTER: My wife died, and all this time I have been thinking of you.

HANSEL: We missed you!

GRETEL: We suffered a lot, but we learned to survive by ourselves.

 WOODCUTTER: Please, forgive me!

HANSEL AND GRETEL: We love you, dad!

[The curtains slowly descend as the final scene unfolds. The stage is adorned with vibrant flowers and a radiant sun shining above the cottage. Hansel, Gretel, and their father stand together, their hearts overflowing with joy and forgiveness]

NARRATOR: And so, with their indomitable spirits and the bonds of love that could not be broken, Hansel and Gretel found their way back home. Their father, remorseful and forever changed, embraced his children tightly, realizing the immeasurable gift they truly were.

WOODCUTTER:  My dear children, you have shown me the strength of the human spirit, the unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. From this day forth, we shall cherish one another and live a life filled with love and compassion.

HANSEL: We forgive you, Father, for we have learned the value of forgiveness and the healing power it brings.

GRETEL: Our journey has taught us that no matter how dark the path may seem, the light of hope and the bond of family can guide us through even the most trying times.

NARRATOR: And so, the tale of Hansel and Gretel serves as a reminder that within each of us lies the strength to overcome the darkest of forests and find our way back home—to a place of love, acceptance, and a future filled with boundless possibilities.

THE END

AUTHOR:  K I D S I N C O

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