Characters:

• Seppel (= hand puppet Hänsel)

• Grandma

• Wizard (or witch, dragon Vinni)

• Kasper

• a note

• a small pouch or a bag

The play to act out

(Seppel waddles on stage holding a note)

Seppel:

Tri-tru-trallala … No, that's not right! Tru-la-trirara! Oh, it's maddening — how does the text go again? I have to greet the children properly…

(notices the children)

Oh my, the children!

(waves hesitantly)

Hello children! I desperately need your help. Will you help me?

(the children answer)

Seppel:

Actually, my friend Kasper was supposed to welcome you. But when I went over to him earlier, he wasn't at home. There was this note stuck to the door. I'll read it to you:

“Deaaaar Seppel, I’ve gone on hooooliday and you must greet the children! Yours, Kasper”

Can you imagine that! Kasper goes on holiday without me! And he knows I can't sing the greeting song. Can you help me with that?

(the children answer)

Seppel:

Do you know the song Kasper always sings? Tru-li-trarara?

(the children answer)

Seppel:

Tri-tru-lallala?

(the children answer)

Seppel:

Oh, Tri-tra-trullala? Do you really mean that? Brilliant! I'll be back in a moment and then I can greet you properly. So wait here, I'll be right back.

(sings on the way behind the curtain)

Seppel:

Tri-tra-trullala, tri-tra-trullala, tri-tra-trullala

Grandma:

(Grandma comes on stage) Kasper? Kaaaasper? Hello children, have you seen Kasper?

(the children answer)

Grandma:

No? But I heard him. My Kasper always sings the same song: Tri-tra-trullala, tri-tra-trullala. Only Kasper can sing that song.

(Grandma looks around everywhere)

Grandma:

Kasper? Where are you? Kaaasper? I heard him singing. Where on earth is the chap?

(Seppel sings once behind the stage: Tri-tra-Trullala)

Grandma:

Oh? Now I hear him. Kasper should be coming any moment. What do you think, children?

(Children shout that Seppel is coming)

Grandma:

What? Who's coming? Seppel? No, he can't possibly know the song!

(Seppel sings and returns to the stage with the note)

Seppel:

Tri-tra-Trullala, Seppel is back today!

Grandma:

But Seppel, what are you doing? Where is Kasper?

Seppel:

Kasper? Imagine, Grandma — he just went on holiday without me! And I'm his best friend!

Grandma:

On holiday? How on earth is that possible?

Seppel:

I don't know either. But look — he hung this note on his door.

Grandma:

(Grandma takes the note from Seppel and reads) Listen, Seppel, something's not right. I don't think Kasper wrote this note. There are so many mistakes on it, and I practised the words with Kasper just yesterday. Last night he wrote all the words correctly — and here they're all wrong.

Seppel:

Goodness me, what does that mean? Where is Kasper then? Do you think Kasper ran away?

Grandma:

But I cooked his favourite meal for him today. I made him delicious fried potatoes because he worked so hard learning yesterday. No — I don't believe he ran away.

Seppel:

Oh dear! Fried potatoes? That reminds me — yesterday the wizard came by and asked Kasper if he'd peel a big sack of potatoes for him. But Kasper said “No” and the wizard left grumbling and scolding.

Grandma:

Oh, Seppel, maybe the wizard kidnapped Kasper. And now poor Kasper is somewhere in the deep cellar of the wizard's castle, having to peel potatoes? Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

Seppel:

Right, Grandma — we must hurry to the police officer so he can help us find the wizard and free Kasper.

(Seppel and Grandma exit; the wizard enters from the other side carrying a heavy sack)

Wizard:

Oh, this is heavy. Why does it have to be so heavy? It's a pity I don't know a spell to make the heavy sack lighter!

(notices the shouting children)

Ah — what's that? Who's shouting so loudly? Yes, children, shh! Shh! If you shout like that, Grandma and Seppel will come later. And I mustn't be seen! Drat, you just won't stop — I have to go before they spot me.

(Wizard leaves the stage; Kasper enters from the other side)

Kasper:

Oh dear, how could this happen to me! Hello children, there you are. Imagine — Seppel was supposed to wake me this morning to welcome you. But that ninny simply didn't wake me! Now I overslept and couldn't greet you. Have you seen Seppel?

(Children shout to Kasper that Seppel and Grandma are looking for him)

Kasper:

What, Seppel and Grandma are looking for me? Why on earth are they?

Seppel:

(Seppel enters from the other side with the note) I can't believe it! Kasper is here! Hello Kasper, how did you get out of the wizard's castle?

Kasper:

Out of the wizard's castle? No — I just got out of bed because that ninny didn't wake me!

Seppel:

But I didn't wake you because I thought you were on holiday — you wrote the note after all. And then Grandma thought you hadn't gone on holiday but that the wizard had kidnapped you and now everyone is looking for you…

Kasper:

(Kasper takes the note, reads it and tosses it away) Well, fry me a bucket of fried potatoes! How can you think I make so many mistakes when I was practising with Grandma all day yesterday and she wanted to make me fried potatoes for it today.

(Kasper gets an idea)

The fried potatoes! Seppel, I think the wizard wrote the note.

Seppel:

So I wouldn't wake you, because I'd think you weren't there.

Kasper:

And while you're all looking for me and I'm asleep, he can pinch the fried potatoes! What a mean fellow!

(With two players Seppel remains on stage. With one player Seppel exits and Grandma comes on stage with the sack)

Grandma:

Yes, Kasper, there you are! Thank goodness! I searched everywhere for you. Imagine — the police officer has just caught the wizard trying to steal my fried potatoes! He left the sack of potatoes here.

Kasper:

Oh Grandma, I think we should cook another portion of fried potatoes right away — I slept soooo long, I'm famished! I'll help you peel and chop.

Grandma:

Alright then, Kasper, let's do that.

(Kasper and Grandma — with two players also Seppel — exit singing)