Beauty and the Beast E-Book

Lucy Kirkwood

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Lucy Kirkwood's delightful version of the classic fairytale, first seen in a production devised and directed by Katie Mitchell at the National Theatre for Christmas 2010. 'I expect you have been told fairytales before. But you have never really heard a fairytale until you have heard it told by a real fairy.'  The theft of a single rose has monstrous consequences for Beauty and her father. Because this is no ordinary rose...and this is no ordinary fairytale. Narrated by a pair of mischievous fairies, a very helpful Rabbit, and a Thoughtsnatcher machine, this timeless story is sure to surprise, delight and enchant. A wild and twisted tale, full of exciting and intriguing challenges for drama groups wishing to stage their own production. Lucy Kirkwood's Beauty and the Beast was first performed at the National Theatre, London, in December 2010.

Leseprobe

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

text by

Lucy Kirkwood

devised by

Katie Mitchell and Lucy Kirkwood

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Original Production and Author’s Thanks

Characters

Act One

Act Two

Appendix

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Beauty and the Beast was first performed in the Cottesloe auditorium of the National Theatre, London, on 1 December 2010 (previews from 24 November) with the following cast:

THE MAN IN PINKJustin SalingerCECILEKate DuchêneBEAUTYSian CliffordLETTICE / RABBITKristin HutchinsonFATHERSean JacksonBEASTMark ArendsDirectorKatie MitchellDesignerVicki MortimerLighting DesignerJon ClarkMusicPaul ClarkMovement DirectorJoseph AlfordSound DesignerGareth FryPuppetsMatthew RobinsVideoFifty-Nine Productions

Author’s Thanks

To Katie Mitchell

To the cast, crew and design team, Helena Lymbery, Charlotte Roach and Matthew Poxon

To Mel Kenyon and Rachel Taylor

And especially to E.H. The Beast of Brixton Hill.

Characters

THE MAN IN PINK, our narrator

CECILE, his French assistant

BEAUTY, our heroine

LETTICE, her unfortunate sister

FATHER, her even more unfortunate father

BEAST, a sad and frightening creature

GEORGE, a handsome prince

MOTHER, a ghost

RABBIT, a helpful mute

Note on the Text

A forward slash (/) in the text indicates the point at which the next speaker interrupts.

Text in bold indicates sounds or words transmitted by the Thoughtsnatcher machine.

ACT ONE

THE MAN IN PINK SAYS A FEW WORDS

The MAN IN PINK enters with some ceremony.

He stands very still.

He regards us for some time.

Perhaps he is wondering if we are a worthy audience.

PINK. Welcome.

Cecile!

He claps his hands. CECILE enters.

I expect your parents often tell you that it is very wicked to steal things.

They are wrong, of course (as they so often are).

The important thing to remember is this:

It is only wrong to steal if you get caught.

Cecile! The rose!

CECILE passes to him… a rose.

Merci.

CECILE. De rien.

She remains, a little too close to him. Hovering.

PINK. The rose you see in my hand, my friends, is a stolen rose.

Stolen from the palace of a Beast on a winter’s morning, and tonight, here, on this very stage, I will show you how the theft of this single rose, in itself nothing but a soft fist of petals and scent, will have catastrophic consequences. I expect –

CECILE coughs. He turns, irritated. She holds out some sheet music.

What is it, Cecile?

CECILE. It is the music. For my song. You said tonight I could have a / song –

She tries to give him the sheet music. He dismisses her.

PINK. Yes, yes, later! You’ve put me off my stride now, Cecile, Cecile, my stride is off, where was I, Cecile, where was I before you put me off my stride?

CECILE (prompting). I expect.

PINK. Yes! Yes:

He takes a breath. He gathers himself.

I expect you have been told fairytales before.

But you have never really heard a fairytale until you have heard it told by a real fairy.

And I, my friends, am a real fairy.

CECILE. So am I.

PINK. Yes, yes, so is she (don’t interrupt, Cecile).

The Health and Safety Officers of this theatre have demanded I warn you:

There will be magic here tonight. But do not be fooled: I will not pull rabbits from hats, or pluck pigeons from my eyes, or saw Cecile in half (much as that would give me pleasure)

no.

I have real magic at my fingertips.

PINK performs a piece of magic.

Please: do not be frightened!

For some of these things will be frightening but all is within my power. Everything is under my control. Even poor pathetic Cecile here.

See how I make her dance!

He gestures to CECILE, as if casting a spell. She does not dance.

CECILE. I would like to discuss my song.

He ignores her, repeats the gesture, more forcefully.

PINK. See! How I make her dance!

CECILE. Non, ce n’est pas juste! Every night you say to me I can sing and then this you do not allow, every night the same, I will stand it no more. I put down the foot.

PINK. Cecile! S’il vous plaît!

CECILE stamps her foot, and performs a small, sarcastic dance.

I’m so sorry, ladies and gentlemen. She’s French. Cecile! Fermez la bouche! We begin!

Pause. They take their positions. PINK takes a breath.

Once upon a time

CECILE. Il était une fois

PINK. Once upon / a time.

CECILE. Il était une fois.

Pause.

PINK. In a faraway land known as France

CECILE. Dans un pays magnifique! Ah la France!