A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Elves and the Shoemaker (Walter)

Short Play, Comedy  /  3w, 2m, 1girl(s)

"The script by Kristin Walter is a joy; true to the original story, but with enough clever asides to keep the parents in the audience laughing along with the kids." - nytheatre.com

The Elves and the Shoemaker (Walter)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 2m, 1girl(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Fantasy, Theatre for Young Audiences, Fables/Folktales
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences, Young Children (Age 2 - 5), Children (Age 6 - 10)

Details

Summary

Unfortunately, Eric, the lone shoemaker of Grimmsville, makes shoes that are miserably uncomfortable and impossible to walk in... leaving a lot of barefoot villagers and Eric without a means to provide for his family. While his wife tries to be supportive, his daughter Shannon just can't take it anymore! Sitting alone in the woods pondering her family's fate, Shannon is confronted by a stranger who offers her the deal of a lifetime. In exchange for her torturous pair of shoes, she is given a magical medallion that holds the charm of the elves. Wanting to help her family, Shannon tries the chant. Her words beckon a pair of elves that show up night after night at the shoemaker's home creating the most fabulous shoes EVER! With his shoes now wanted throughout the land, Eric and his family have more gold than they can count. But they quickly begin to realize that all the money in the world doesn't necessarily buy happiness.

History

The Elves and the Shoemaker was originally presented at Manhattan's Children's Theatre in November, 2003. It was directed by Bruce Merrill. 

ERIC - a shoemaker.
FIONA - his wife.
SHANNON -  their daughter.
A PEDDLER
HERBIE - an elf.
ZUZU - an elf.

 

Additional small roles.

  • Time Period Not Applicable
  • Features Fantasy Costumes
  • Additional Features Audience Participation/Interactive, No intermission, Physical Comedy, Stage Combat
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

REVIEWS

"The script by Kristin Walter is a joy; true to the original story, but with enough clever asides to keep the parents in the audience laughing along with the kids." - nytheatre.com

"Walter is a clever playwright. She masterfully writes one line for the children to enjoy and follows it up with a quick-witted one that seems to nudge the parent in the rib." - Off-Off Broadway Review

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: $110 per performance

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Authors

Kristin Walter

Kristin Walter is the author of The Selfish Giant, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, The Elves and the Shoemaker, and The Last of the Dragons, among others. A committed advocate for children’s theatre, Ms. Walter has toured as an actress and director with Missoula Children’s Theat ...
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