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Grim and Gruesome Grimm by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt play script cover

Grim and Gruesome Grimm

adapted by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt from Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

The original Grimm’s Fairy Tales are far from sweet, naive, innocent, syrupy, or charming. They are not typical at all: Death. Cannibalism. Death. Burial alive. Death. Burned alive. Death. Kidnapping. Death. Beheading and body parts. Death. These tales are not for the faint of heart! Join us for a grim and gruesome stroll through dark forests and nasty characters. Don’t keep a body count.

A playful and theatrical adaptation with flexible genders, flexible cast size, and two one act lengths.

Drama Classical Adaptation

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 60 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
41 Characters
8 M12 F21 Any Gender, Doubling Options
Set
Unit set
Length
57 pages
Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

41 Characters

8 M, 12 F, 21 Any Gender, Doubling Options

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

Ghastly [A] 46 lines
A Grim
Grisly [A] 50 lines
A Grim
Dire [A] 54 lines
A Grim
Fitcher’s Bird (4+Grims+rest of cast)
Wizard/Beggar [M] 35 lines
Else [F] 22 lines
Herta [F] 10 lines
Katrin [F] 24 lines
Guest (played by Grisly)
Family (rest of cast)
The Three-Snake Leaves (5+Grims+rest of cast)
Otto [M] 18 lines
Soldiers (The Grims + rest of cast)
Royal [A] 14 lines
Ingeborg [F] 16 lines
Guards (played by Ghastly/Grisly)
Snakes (played by Dire/Ghastly)
Skipper [M] 6 lines
Servant [A] 3 lines
The Death of Little Hen (6+Grims+rest of cast)
Rooster [A] 21 lines
Hen [A] 7 lines
Stream (played by Ghastly/Grisly)
Bride (played by Dire)
Fox [A] 6 lines
Mouse [A] 3 lines
Rabbit [A] 6 lines
Straw/Coal/Stone (one actor) [A] 6 lines
The Robber Bridegroom (8+Grims+rest of cast)
Sophie [F] 35 lines
Horst [M] 13 lines
Hans [M] 13 lines
Bird [A] 17 lines
Forrest (rest of cast)
Old Woman [F] 14 lines
Robbers x3 [A] 8 lines
Wedding Guests (rest of cast)
The Goose Girl (6+Grims+rest of cast)
Queen [F] 5 lines
Elke [F] 23 lines
Fairy [A] 2 lines
Barbara [F] 25 lines
Falada (played by Dire) 9 lines
Barbara’s horse (played by Ghastly)
Prince [M] 24 lines
Curdken [A] 6 lines
Court (rest of cast)
The Dog and the Sparrow (4+Grims+rest of cast)
Dog [A] 10 lines
Sparrow [A] 36 lines
Waggoner [A] 15 lines
Spouse [A] 4 lines
Birds (rest of cast)
Butcher (played by Dire)
Baker (played by Ghastly)
Horse (played by Grisly)
Townspeople (rest of cast)
The Juniper Tree (5+Grims+4-5 cast)
Carl [M] 23 lines
Anna [F] 7 lines
Gertrud [F] 42 lines
Jacob/Bird [M] 10 lines
Marlinchen [F] 23 lines
Goldsmith (played by Ghastly) 2 lines
Shoemaker (played by Dire) 2 lines
Miller (played by Grisly) 3 lines

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