Characters:

• Seppel (= hand puppet Hansel)

• Grandma

• Wizard (or witch, dragon Vinni)

• Kasper

• a note

• a small pouch or a bag

The play to act out

(Seppel wobbles onto the stage with a note in his hands)

Seppel:

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

(notices the children)

Oh my, the children!

(waves hesitantly)

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

(the children answer)

Seppel:

Actually my friend Kasper should have welcomed you. But when I went over to him earlier, he wasn't at home. This note was stuck on the door. I'll read it to you:

„Deaaaar Seppel, I went on the vaaaacation and you musted greet the childrun! Your Kasper”

Can you imagine that! Kasper goes on vacation without me! He knows I can't sing the welcome song. Can you help me with that?

(the children answer)

Seppel:

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

(the children answer)

Seppel:

Tri-tru-lallala?

(the children answer)

Seppel:

Oh, Tri-tra-trullala? Is that what you really mean? Great! Then I'll come back in a moment and then I can welcome you properly. So wait here and 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 onto the 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 fellow?

(Seppel sings Tri-tra-Trullala once offstage)

Grandma:

Oh? Now I hear him. Kasper must be about to come. Or what do you think, children?

(Children shout that Seppel is coming)

Grandma:

What? Who's coming? Seppel? No, he can't sing that song at all!

(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 there? Where is Kasper?

Seppel:

Kasper? Imagine, Grandma, he just went on vacation. Without me! And I'm his best friend!

Grandma:

On vacation? How can that be?

Seppel:

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

Grandma:

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

Seppel:

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

Grandma:

Where I cooked his favorite meal today? I made him tasty fried potatoes because he worked so hard studying yesterday. No, I don't believe that.

Seppel:

Oh dear! Fried potatoes? That reminds me. Yesterday the wizard was at our place and asked Kasper if he would peel a big sack of potatoes for him. But Kasper said "No" and the wizard got all grumpy and stormed off.

Grandma:

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

Seppel:

Well, Grandma, we must quickly go to the constable so he can help us find the wizard and free Kasper.

(Seppel and Grandma exit, from the other side the wizard enters with 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)

What's that? Who's shouting so loudly? Yes, children, shh! Shh! If you shout like that, Grandma and Seppel will come later. And they mustn't see me! Darn, you won't stop, I have to disappear again.

(Wizard exits again, Kasper enters from the other side)

Kasper:

Oh my, how could that happen to me! Hello children, there you are. Imagine, Seppel was supposed to wake me this morning so I could greet you. But that fool just didn't wake me! And now I overslept and couldn't welcome 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? Yes, why?

Seppel:

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

Kasper:

From the wizard's castle? No, I just got out of bed because you, Doldi, didn't wake me!

Seppel:

But I only didn't wake you because I thought you were on vacation. Because you wrote that note. And then Grandma said you weren't on vacation but the wizard kidnapped you and now everyone is looking for you…

Kasper:

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

(Kasper has an idea)

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

Seppel:

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

Kasper:

And while you look for me and I sleep, he can nick the fried potatoes! Yes, what a mean fellow!

(With two players Seppel stays onstage. With one player Seppel exits and Grandma comes onto the stage with the sack)

Grandma:

Yes, Kasper, there you are again! Thank goodness! I've been looking for you everywhere. Imagine, the constable just caught the wizard trying to steal my fried potatoes! For that he wanted to leave the sack of potatoes here.

Kasper:

Oh, Grandma, I think we need to cook another portion of fried potatoes today, I slept sooo long, I'm starved! I'll help you peel and cut them.

Grandma:

Well, Kasper, then we'll do it that way.

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