Robin HoodROBIN HOOD | THE UGLY DUCKLING | SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS | RUMPLESTILTSKIN
All Misdirected Theatre Company scripts available at STAGEADAPTATIONS.COM
Many times over the years I've been asked to come up with theatrical concepts that entertain without straining the budget of individual theatres. A few years ago, I wrote and directed a number of chidren's shows for the Foothills Theatre in Worcester. My initial idea was to create a concept in which the theatre's representative, as she is giving the curtain speech introducing the famous 'Misdirected Theatre Company,' is challenged to present the show herself--along with her stalwart theatre crew--because the famous 'Misdirected Theatre Company,' for one reason or another, has not shown up. Here, then, are the four shows we staged, and which have been staged successfully elsewhere, now packaged as THE MISDIRECTED THEATRE PRESENTS...Classic titles, economically and creatively delivered:
Robin HoodMargaret LaFontaine, representing the producing theatre, learns that the famous 'Misdirected Theatre Company,' hired to present ROBIN HOOD, has been...misdirected, and will not appear. With a full house to play to, Margaret rounds up her loyal theatre crew--the stage manager, the sound designer, the costumer, the technical director, and the UPS guy who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time--and 'tells the story.' All the most beloved Robin Hood tales are covered--the challenge in the woods between Robin and Little John, the face off between Robin and Friar Tuck, the sweet romance with Maid Marian and, of course, the encompassing exciting story of Robin's battles with the evil Sir Guy of Gisbourne and the treacherous Sheriff of Nottingham. Margaret brilliantly drives the story as her associates use the UPS crate--fortunately filled with the ROBIN HOOD props and costumes that DID arrive, and the performance is saved. Many laughs, lots of adventure and swashbuckling action. Best of all--the parents who attend the show have as good a time as the kids. PHOTO FROM MAKESHIFT THEATRE.
Cast: MARGARET, the Artistic Director / OZZIE, the Stage Manager / LARRY, the Sound Designer / CYNTHIA, the Costumer /WARREN, the UPS Guy / JASON, the Technical Director
As the show progresses, these actors take on many roles in telling the story of ROBIN HOOD, including Maid Marian, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Sir Guy of Gisbourne, King Richard, Friar Tuck and, of course, Robin Hood himself.
Setting:
The bare theatre stage, utilizing anything and everything the actors can find to effect the telling of the story.
Click here for an EXCERPT
You may purchase a perusal script via PayPal by visiting Jack Neary's ScriptStore.
The Ugly DucklingThe same basic set up as ROBIN HOOD, except this time the 'Misdirected Theatre' doesn't get lost, they just show up (unseen) and leave because they found out they were booked elsewhere at the same time. So, again, Margaret must fend for herself and present the classic Andersen tale utilizing her stalwart company--once again including Warren, the UPS guy. THE UGLY DUCKLING is a goofier script than ROBIN HOOD, with an excellent role for Jason, who will play the duckling. As the story enfolds, Mother gives birth to a set of very cute ducklings, and one very large, very awkward...thing...that might be a duck, or a turkey, or...who knows what. When the weird duckling realizes he is a laughing stock and is making everybody in the barnyard unhappy, he decides the best thing to do is to run away. When he does, he encounters a number of wild and crazy characters as he tries to find a new home. Among his new acquaintances are a group of Wild Ducks (one named Ibsen), who ride motorcycles, and the craziest farmer's wife on the planet. Of course, the last group of friends he meets is a flock of swans, who will show him how important and beautiful he really is. BIG laughs for the kids and for adults, with a sweet and moving message for the whole family. ILLUSTRATION FROM ELDRIDGE PLAYS AND MUSICALS.
Cast: MARGARET, the Artistic Director / OZZIE, the Stage Manager / LARRY, the Sound Designer / CYNTHIA, the Costumer /WARREN, the UPS Guy / JASON, the Technical Director
Same cast as ROBIN HOOD, again with six actors playing many roles.
Setting
As with ROBIN HOOD, a bare stage. This time the UPS guy is delivering props and costumes for an upcoming production of DAMN YANKEES, so the telling of DUCKLING with these materials becomes quite...interesting.
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Snow White and the Seven DwarfsThe third adaptation in the Misdirected Series is one more attempt on the part of stalwart Artistic Director Margaret Lafontaine to bring the celebrated Misdirected Theatre company to her theatre to perform for her loyal audience. After twice having to cover for the Misdirected no-shows, Margaret PROMISES her audience that this time, they are on board and ready to tell the story of SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. Of course, hijinks ensue and the Misdirecteds bail out, leaving Margaret's endlessly creative company of techies to tell the story, which they do, admirably. Ozzie, Larry, Cyndi, Jason, Margaret, and even Warren the UPS guy take stage and bring to life the often scary story of the sweet, gentle, humanitarian princess whose wholesome beauty drives her wicked stepmother to unheard of acts of treachery, treachery which is ultimately thwarted by seven tiny workmen who lives in the forest, the young girl's timid but loving father the King, a very talkative mirror, a wily Wizard, and a handsome Prince on a toy horse. Richly humorous from beginning to end, still, it's a mysterious and intriguing story which entertains kids and parents alike. PHOTO FROM MAKESHIFT THEATRE.
Cast: MARGARET, the Artistic Director / OZZIE, the Stage Manager / LARRY, the Sound Designer / CYNTHIA, the Costumer /WARREN, the UPS Guy / JASON, the Technical Director
Same cast as ROBIN HOOD and THE UGLY DUCKLING, again with six actors playing many roles.
Setting
The Setting:
The bare stage of a theatre with a big box that holds props and costumes.
Click here for an EXCERPT
You may purchase a perusal script via PayPal by visiting Jack Neary's ScriptStore.
RumplestiltskinThis is a truly nutty and funny adaptation of the classic fairy tale, with a great, great role for a comic actor as the lead. Again, the Misdirected Theatre is involved, with Margaret, Ozzie, Larry, Cynthia, Jason and Warren the UPS guy all participating. This time, though, there's no waiting for the Misdirected Players to show up. Margaret and her troupe have formed their own company, the Theatre In A Trunk players, and they are fully prepared to tell the exciting story. After a bit of comic difficulty convincing Jason to take part--he's hiding in the audience--the players tell the story of the miller and his very, very pretty daughter who find themselves in the predicament of having to spin straw into gold for the haughty King who specializes in parodying show tunes. When a strange little man makes a deal to do the spinning--in payment for a number of things the miller's daughter has to offer, the story takes off. Ingenue Cynthia takes the role of the very, very pretty miller's daughter; Larry the stage hand plays her father, the miller; Jason reluctantly takes the role of the King; Margaret plays the hideously ugly castle wench; Warren the UPS guy tells the story, and Ozzie, the stage manager, gets the plum role of the little man who claims nobody in the kingdom knows his name. He is sadly mistaken. PHOTO FROM WORCESTER FOOTHILLS THEATRE.
Cast: MARGARET, the Artistic Director / OZZIE, the Stage Manager / LARRY, the Sound Designer / CYNTHIA, the Costumer /WARREN, the UPS Guy / JASON, the Technical Director
Same cast as ROBIN HOOD, THE UGLY DUCKLING and SNOW WHITE, again with six actors playing many roles.
Setting
The bare stage of a theatre with a big box that holds props and costumes.
Click here for an EXCERPT