Grim and Gruesome Grimm

adapted by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt Canadian Author 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

Running Time

About 60 minutes

Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes

Cast

41 Characters

8 M 12 F 21 Any Gender

Doubling Options

Set

Unit set

Length

57 pages

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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 Males
12 Females
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 Any gender 46 lines

A Grim
Grisly Any gender 50 lines

A Grim
Dire Any gender 54 lines

A Grim

Fitcher’s Bird (4+Grims+rest of cast)

Wizard/Beggar Male 35 lines
Else Female 22 lines
Herta Female 10 lines
Katrin Female 24 lines
Guest (played by Grisly)
Family (rest of cast)

The Three-Snake Leaves (5+Grims+rest of cast)

Otto Male 18 lines
Soldiers (The Grims + rest of cast)
Royal Any gender 14 lines
Ingeborg Female 16 lines
Guards (played by Ghastly/Grisly)
Snakes (played by Dire/Ghastly)
Skipper Male 6 lines
Servant Any gender 3 lines

The Death of Little Hen (6+Grims+rest of cast)

Rooster Any gender 21 lines
Hen Any gender 7 lines
Stream (played by Ghastly/Grisly)
Bride (played by Dire)
Fox Any gender 6 lines
Mouse Any gender 3 lines
Rabbit Any gender 6 lines
Straw/Coal/Stone (one actor) Any gender 6 lines

The Robber Bridegroom (8+Grims+rest of cast)

Sophie Female 35 lines
Horst Male 13 lines
Hans Male 13 lines
Bird Any gender 17 lines
Forrest (rest of cast)
Old Woman Female 14 lines
Robbers x3 Any gender 8 lines
Wedding Guests (rest of cast)

The Goose Girl (6+Grims+rest of cast)

Queen Female 5 lines
Elke Female 23 lines
Fairy Any gender 2 lines
Barbara Female 25 lines
Falada (played by Dire) 9 lines
Barbara’s horse (played by Ghastly)
Prince Male 24 lines
Curdken Any gender 6 lines
Court (rest of cast)

The Dog and the Sparrow (4+Grims+rest of cast)

Dog Any gender 10 lines
Sparrow Any gender 36 lines
Waggoner Any gender 15 lines
Spouse Any gender 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 Male 23 lines
Anna Female 7 lines
Gertrud Female 42 lines
Jacob/Bird Male 10 lines
Marlinchen Female 23 lines
Goldsmith (played by Ghastly) 2 lines
Shoemaker (played by Dire) 2 lines
Miller (played by Grisly) 3 lines

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