Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood
There can be a fete worse than death – ask the Wolf!

To order scripts ISBN 1-873855-44-3 – Cast List – Scenes – Extract – Notes – Production photos

Introduction

A pantomime written in a traditional style, but at the same time refreshingly different, Red Riding Hood treats your cast to some well made characters and dialogue, and conspires to involve your audience to the maximum.

Lady Penelope is organising the annual fete, but plans are disrupted by reports of a Wolf loose in the vicinity!

There are many opportunities for song and dance, including 20 suggested titles, and plenty of scope for including an undefined number of senior and junior chorus members in the show.

Principals: 8 Male & 9 Female suggested, but genders can be swapped!

Cast List . . .

Larry Adams, village tradesman
Fanny Adams, his wife
Rosie Adams (Red Riding Hood), their daughter
Phyllis ffanshaw (Grandma), Fanny's mother
Edwina Noodle, widow of this parish
Ted Noodle, Edwina's son
Lord Bertie, Lord of the Manor of Woodleigh
Lady Penelope, wife of Lord Bertie
Inspector Spectre, Inspector of the local constables
Sergeant Argent, Sergeant constable
PC Dingle, Police constable
Bill Tidy, woodsman and tinker
Maggie Tidy, his wife
Gwynedd, An Elven queen
Morag, A second Elven queen
Siobhan, A third Elven queen
The Wolf
Puss in Boots (a cameo appearance)
Junior chorus of elves, wood creatures and villagers' children
Senior chorus of villagers

List of Scenes . . .

Act I

The Prologue - Lady Penelope welcomes you (Front of Tabs)
Scene 1 - May Day morning in the village (Full Set)
Scene 2a - In the dell of the Elven Queens (Half Set)
Scene 2b - A path through the forest (Front of Tabs)
Scene 3 - Somewhere deep in the forest (Full Set)
Scene 4a - Back in the Village (Half Set)
Scene 4b - In the forest again (Front of Tabs)
Scene 5 - Inside Grandma's house (Full Set)

**** INTERVAL ****
Act II
The Interlogue - Lord Bertie sums up the situation (Front of Tabs)
Scene 1 - Back in the village (Full Set)
Scene 2a - A track in the forest (Front of Tabs)
Scene 2b - Back in the dell of the Elven Queens (Half Set)
Scene 3 - At the Wolf's Lair (Full Set)
Scene 4 - Declaring the Fete Open (Front of Tabs)
Scene 5 - At the Village Fete (Full Set)

Extract from Act I Scene 4b

(The Elven Queens, Gwynedd, Morag and Siobhan enter)
Gwyn Have you got that phial Siobhan?
Siobh Sure. It's in my pocket. Why, have you broken a nail? (She brings out a nail file)
Morag Not file, nitwit - phial! The one we put the magic potion in.
Siobh Oh, that phial. That's in my other pocket. I file everything in my pockets, you see. (Brings out the phial)
Gwyn There's not much in it. Not considering we started with a whole cauldron full.
Morag The book said 'reduce to obtain desired effect'. The more we reduce, the bigger the effect.
Gwyn Sounds like weight-watchers.
Siobh I hope it does the job.
Morag We'll find out soon enough. My elven ears sense that he's coming this way.
Gwyn I'm getting a tingle too. How about you, Siobhan?
Siobh Nothing. I don't think I'm tuned in to wolves.
Morag Oh yes - he'll be here any minute. (She looks towards stage left)
Gwyn He's getting closer and closer. (She also looks towards stage left)
Siobh You're giving me the collywobbles.
(Rosie enters stage right, wearing her red riding hood and carrying a basket)
Rosie Hello, are you lost?
(The three elven queens whirl round at the sound of her voice)
Gwyn You're not a wolf.
Morag And if you are, you're coming from the wrong direction.
Rosie I beg your pardon?
Siobh Don't worry, dear - they're just getting their antennae in a twist.
Rosie Oh dear. I hope it's not painful.
Siobh It's only their pride that's hurt.
Morag You must be Rosie Adams.
Gwyn … and I claim the £10 prize.
Rosie I'm afraid you're not really making much sense to me.
Siobh That's because you're a sensible girl, and we are elven queens.
Rosie (Hesitantly) I see. And where does the wolf come into this?
Morag He's on his way to your grandmother's …
Gwyn With evil intent.
Siobh And we are here to stop him … (She holds up the phial)
Morag With a potion prepared …
Gwyn To prune his powers.
Siobh So that's where the wolf comes in.
(The wolf enters stage left to hear this)
Wolf No, this is where the wolf comes in!
Gwyn (Turning) What? Oh - er, pleased to meet you.
(Rosie hides behind the Elven Queens)
Morag There, I was right - he was coming from that direction.
Gwyn Just a little premature, Morag dear, as usual. (To the wolf) What a fine day it is. Are you just out for a stroll?
Wolf Indeed I am - and how about you?
Siobh Oh yes - we're out for a wee walk too.
Gwyn We're here to meet … a friend.
Morag Rubbish! We are elven queens of the forest, and we have every right to be here - no questions asked.
Wolf Bravo! An elf with spirit.
Gwyn Usually it's the Glen Morangie.
Morag And where is your stroll taking you?
Wolf I am a wolf of the forest, and I also have every right to be here, no questions asked.
(Siobhan is trying to give the phial to Morag without the Wolf seeing)
Wolf Your friend looks agitated. (To Siobhan) What's that in your hand?
Gwyn It's the whisky …
Siobh … for Morag.
Gwyn She can't do without it …
Siobh … not for a tiny moment.
Morag Excuse me! I'll be responsible for my own job description, thank you. (She takes the phial from Siobhan) This, is an elixir.
Siobh He does what?
Gwyn Licks ear.
Siobh Doesn't sound very nice to me.
Morag Excuse the ignorant elves with me. The liquor of life.
Gwyn That does sound like whisky!
Wolf And for whom is this liquor intended?
Morag For anyone with cause to need it.
Wolf But I think you were looking for me.
Morag Aye, maybe.
Wolf Meaning?
Morag Meaning, maybe you need it.
Wolf I've no need of your liquor. Use it yourself, elf!
(He grabs the phial from her, and empties it over her head)
(Laughing) Now see how your potion works! Meanwhile …
(He goes to Rosie and throws her over his shoulder)
… I will relieve you of your little friend here. I do so like a picnic in the forest!
(He exits carrying Rosie)

Producer's Notes

This pantomime uses four different full set scenes, separated by half set or front of curtain scenes to allow for backstage activity.

Directions are suggested, but use your imagination according to the facilities available to you.

A list of suggested songs is included for your guidance, and where special words were written these are also included, but feel free to adapt or adopt your own as required.

The concept of the Community Song is where the audience is invited to come up on the stage to help out, and some sort of raucous competition ensues between those brave enough to come up and those left sitting in the auditorium. ("Invited" is perhaps a little inaccurate on occasions, when members of the cast go down in search of friends and other victims!). The positioning of this event just before the final scene also gives people not involved plenty of time to change into their finery for the Walkdown.

I have introduced the concept of a Prologue and an Interlogue (no, the latter is not in the dictionary) as much as anything to give time for the chorus to react to the fact that the show has started, and actually get on stage! This is known as pragmatism.

So good luck with your show. Put in local variations as you wish, and if you think you can improve on the verse then do that too! Have fun - otherwise, why do it?

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