A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Princess and the Vagabond

Short Play, Comedy

Laura Olsher

The play form of a tale on which The Taming of the Shrew was based. A king's daughter has a temper that drives all suitors away. The king gives her to a wandering minstrel who is actually one of the noble suitors disguised. Her temper induces him to apprentice her to a cook in his palace where she l…

The Princess and the Vagabond

  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Theatre for Young Audiences
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary
The play form of a tale on which The Taming of the Shrew was based. A king's daughter has a temper that drives all suitors away. The king gives her to a wandering minstrel who is actually one of the noble suitors disguised. Her temper induces him to apprentice her to a cook in his palace where she learns humility and wishes she'd appreciated her "vagabond" spouse.
<p>GUARD - a young man<br />NARRATOR - an ageless person, either boy or girl, man or woman. Should have warm and sincere communication with the audience.<br />KATE - a young woman, 18 or 19. She is beautiful, dark, and angry. She has a sharp tongue and a sharp sense of humor.<br />KING - Kate's father, about 40. Very tired of dealing with the problems of a shrewish and angry daughter. He is at his wit's end. He is NOT a bumbling fooli, simply a father who has been too indulgent, and now is seeing the consequences in his daughter.<br />EARLS - three young men about 21, with long skinny legs.&nbsp;<br />DUKES - three young men, a little taller than the Earls with elongated but NOT deformed noses. All about 21.&nbsp;<br />PRINCES - three young men about 21, a little taller than the Dukes.<br />KINGS - two young men about 21, still taller than the Princes.<br />THIRD KING - the Vagabond. A bold young man, about 21, with a fine sense of humor, and a strength of character apparent from his first entrance.<br />SERVING WOMAN - a young woman about 18, very sweet, subservient to the king, and totally at a loss with Kate.<br />LADIES OF THE COURT - they can be of all ages, sizes, and shapes.<br />SERVANTS - two young women, clad in similar to Kate's serving woman.<br />COOK - a large, fearsome woman about 40 years old. She has a sharp and definite personality, and should tower over Kate and dominate her in size as well as character.&nbsp;<br />SECOND GUARD - young man dressed as a guard in King Father's court.<br />
  • Features Fantasy Costumes

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $65 per performance

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Authors

Author

Laura Olsher

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