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 perform 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 lovely day! Oh, who’s there? Hello, children! Are you feeling as happy today as I am?
(the children answer)
Princess:
How wonderful that you’re all here! Today is my birthday, and do you know what I asked my parents for? A pet! I wonder what I’ll get. Maybe a sweet cat? Or a fluffy dog? Or perhaps even a pony? Or a… a… a sparkling 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 rather mean.
Prince:
Ah, look who it is—my sister Princess Friedelinde! You’re in such a good mood. Do you already know which pet you’ll be getting for your birthday?
Princess:
No, but it will definitely be a super, super pet. I think it’s going to be a unicorn!
Prince:
Hee hee, I don’t think so. I just sneaked a peek into your room in the castle. And the animal wasn’t as big as a unicorn! Hee hee! You’ll see—you’ll be glad. Hahaha!
(the prince exits again)
Princess:
Oh dear! What does my silly brother mean by that? And why did he laugh like that? Children, what do you think—should I go to my room and see what animal it is?
(the children answer)
Princess:
Alright! I’ll do that! I am a brave princess and I’ll look at the pet now! Don’t run away, children—I'll be right back and then I’ll show you my new pet! Will you wait that long?
(the children answer, Princess goes away briefly, then comes back crying)
Princess:
Sniff, sniff, waaahhhhh, that is soooo mean! Sniff, sniff, that is sooooo mean! I am sooo unhappy! My parents said I would get a pet fit for a real fairy-tale princess. Sniff, sniff! Oh, it’s so dreadful—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 go more slowly! I have such tiny 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 would 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 join in calling; 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 surely 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 maybe I can help with your mean brother? I am not a normal frog—I am an enchanted Frog Prince!
Princess:
You’re an enchanted Frog Prince? What do you mean by that? Can you turn yourself into a pony or a unicorn?
Frog Prince:
Not that, but I can do something much better! Actually, I’m a large green dragon, but a wizard, afraid of me, turned me into a small green frog. If I try really hard, though, I can turn back again for a few minutes.
Princess:
Wouldn’t you rather be a dragon all the time? Being a dragon is 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 is scared of me. That’s much better. Shall I give your mean brother a good 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’d better 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 strange pet. If I get a pet it’ll be a terrible lion and not some puny frog! Hahaha!
Frog Prince:
Do you think I’m puny? Shall I frighten you a bit?
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; a moment later Dragon Vinni emerges there)
Dragon Vinni:
Uaaaaaaah! Who’s puny here, you puny prince? Uaaaah, shall I eat you?
Prince:
Help, help, the frog is a huge dragon! Please don’t hurt me—I’ll be kind 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 pretty frightened of me.
Princess:
Yes, that was brilliant, 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)
