Characters

• Princess

• Frog Prince

• Prince

• Dragon Vinni (or another monster)

Note: The story can be easily adapted depending on which characters are available. You can act out the classic fairy tale or the adapted version described here.

The play to act out

(Princess comes on stage)

Princess:

La la la la la, what a beautiful day! Oh, who’s there? Hello, children! Are you feeling just as good today?

(the children answer)

Princess:

How lovely that you’re all here! It’s my birthday today, and do you know what I asked my parents for? A pet! What will I get? Maybe a sweet cat? Or a shaggy dog? Or perhaps even a pony? Or a… a… a glittering unicorn? I’m so excited. What would you wish for?

(the children answer)

(the prince comes on stage from the other side)

Princess:

Oh no! Here comes my brother, Prince Waldemar. He never lets me play with his toys, even though I share all my toys with him. I think that’s quite mean.

Prince:

Ah, well—my sister Princess Friedelinde! You’re in such a good mood. Do you already know which pet you’ll receive for your birthday?

Princess:

No, but it’ll surely be an absolutely brilliant pet. I think it’ll be a unicorn!

Prince:

Hee hee, I don’t believe it. I just sneaked a look into your room at the castle. And the animal wasn’t as big as a unicorn! Hee hee! You’ll see—you’ll be pleased. Hahaha!

(the prince leaves again)

Princess:

Oh dear! What does my daft brother mean by that? And why did he laugh like that? Children, what do you think—should I go to my room and see which animal it is?

(the children answer)

Princess:

Good! I’ll do that! I’m a brave princess and I’ll have a look at the pet now! Don’t run off, children—I’ll be right back and then I’ll show you my new pet! Will you wait?

(the children answer, Princess goes away briefly, then returns crying)

Princess:

Sniff, sniff, waaahhhhh, that is soooo mean! Sniff, sniff, that is soooo mean! I am sooo unhappy! My parents said I would get a pet for a true fairy-tale princess. Sniff, sniff! Oh, it’s so hideous—I can’t show you.

(the Princess exits; on the other side the Frog Prince slowly hops onto the stage)

Frog Prince:

Hello Princess, please slow down! I have such little legs and can’t hop as fast as you run. Princess, where are you? I am the enchanted Frog Prince and the Princess’s new pet. But I don’t think the Princess likes me. I’d like to be her friend. Children, can you help me? Shall we call the Princess together? Can we call the Princess on three together? One, two, three, Princessssssss!

(the children shout along; the Princess returns)

Princess:

You called me, children? Oh—there’s that nasty frog. I don’t want a pet like that. If my brother, Prince Waldemar, sees this he’ll certainly laugh at me.

(Frog Prince hops over to the Princess)

Frog Prince:

Oh, Princess. Please don’t be sad. I know you were hoping for a different pet, but perhaps I can help with your mean brother? I’m not an ordinary frog—I’m an enchanted Frog Prince!

Princess:

You’re an enchanted Frog Prince? What do you mean? Can you perhaps turn into a pony or a unicorn?

Frog Prince:

Not that, but I can do something much better! Actually I’m a big green dragon, but a wizard, frightened of me, turned me into a small green frog. If I put in a lot of effort I can turn back for a few minutes.

Princess:

Wouldn’t you prefer to be a dragon all the time? Being a dragon is so much cooler than being a little green frog.

Frog Prince:

When I was a dragon I had no friends because everyone was afraid of me. As a frog nobody’s afraid of me. That’s much better. Shall I give your mean brother a fright?

Princess:

Oh, dear Frog Prince, that would be wonderful of you. Children, should the Frog Prince scare my brother?

(the children answer)

Princess:

I think I can hear my brother coming. I’ll hide and you can scare the prince, dear Frog Prince?

(the Princess exits)

Prince:

Oh, there’s my sister’s frog! Hahaha, you’re a funny pet. If I got a pet I’d want a terrible lion and not some measly frog! Hahaha!

Frog Prince:

Do you think I’m measly? Shall I give you a scare?

Prince:

You can try. But I’m not afraid of a frog.

Frog Prince:

Then wait a moment!

(the Frog Prince crouches down, makes himself smaller and disappears below; shortly afterwards Dragon Vinni appears)

Dragon Vinni:

Uaaaaaaah! Who’s measly here, you measly prince? Uaaaah, shall I eat you?

Prince:

Help, help, the frog is a huge dragon! Please don’t hurt me—I’ll be nice to my sister from now on!

(the prince runs off quickly, Dragon Vinni disappears back below, then the Princess and the Frog Prince return to the stage)

Frog Prince:

Hee hee, the Prince did get quite frightened of me.

Princess:

Yes, that was great, dear Frog Prince! You are the best pet anyone could wish for! I think we’ll be the best of friends!

(Princess and Frog exit)

The right HABA hand puppets for the play

Reco