Grim and Gruesome Grimm adapted by Mrs. Evelyn Merrit... - Theatrefolk

Grim and Gruesome Grimm

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Grim and Gruesome Grimm

adapted by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt from Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A playful and theatrical adaptation of Grimm's grimmest tales.

 About 60 minutes

Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks

 41
8 M | 12 W | 21 Any Gender, Doubling Options

Unit set

 57 pages

Drama Classical Adaptation

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.

41 Characters
8 M, 12 W, 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 [W] 22 lines
Herta [W] 10 lines
Katrin [W] 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 [W] 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 [W] 35 lines
Horst [M] 13 lines
Hans [M] 13 lines
Bird [A] 17 lines
Forrest (rest of cast)
Old Woman [W] 14 lines
Robbers x3 [A] 8 lines
Wedding Guests (rest of cast)
The Goose Girl (6+Grims+rest of cast)
Queen [W] 5 lines
Elke [W] 23 lines
Fairy [A] 2 lines
Barbara [W] 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 [W] 7 lines
Gertrud [W] 42 lines
Jacob/Bird [M] 10 lines
Marlinchen [W] 23 lines
Goldsmith (played by Ghastly) 2 lines
Shoemaker (played by Dire) 2 lines
Miller (played by Grisly) 3 lines

Subgenres
Fairy tales Adaptation Character study Fantasy Halloween Mystery/Thriller

Settings
1900s Abstract setting

Dress
Fantasy costumes Simple costumes

Audience
Pre-teen Teen

Features
Character study Choral work Ensemble Mime Music Opportunity for spectacle Sound & Lighting Design Stage combat Tableau Variable Cast Size Variable gender breakdown

Set
Simple set

Cautions
Adult themes Frank talk of death Onstage murder

Themes
Adolescence Betrayal Death Relationships Revenge

Cross-Curricular Uses
English

Other uses
Audition material Class work Competition Monologues

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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.

Related Titles

We accept orders worldwide using the following payment methods:
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.

A vignette play is a collection of short scenes on a theme. You'll love working with the variety and flexibility of the scenes. Your actors will love the fast pace and fun characters.

There's more. Every Theatrefolk vignette play holds the unexpected. A showcase monologue. A dramatic moment. A change in form. A left turn.

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