Shoestring PLUS
2003-2004 Touring Company SYNOPSIS OF FOLKTALES
The Water of Life & Other Tales
THE GIANT WHO HAD NO HEART IN HIS BODY comes to us from Norway. Here we meet three young brothers, all in search of a bride. Not heeding their father’s advice the two older brothers venture into the Giant’s woods and are turned into stone. Their younger brother John goes out to the Giant’s woods to rescue his brothers. Along his journey he feeds a hungry raven, saves a dying salmon and meets a Princess. The Princess explains the Giant has no heart in his body and finding it will be the only way to get the Giant to set his brothers free. Through a series of trials and tricks, John and the Princess, with the much needed help of the salmon and raven, find the Giant’s heart. The brothers are released from their enchantment, and everyone lives happily ever after, except the Giant.
THE LASS WHO WENT OUT WITH THE CRY OF DAWN, from Ireland, tells us the story of a girl who goes out to find her missing younger sister, who has been kidnapped by a wicked Mischanter. When she reaches the bottom of Mischanter Hill, everyone warns her not to continue, but being brave, stubborn and Irish, she continues along. She runs into a tinker without a horse and generously gives him a gold coin to buy a horse to carry his heavy load. In return he gives her some good advice to help her on her way. She also meets up with an old rag man sewing with only a thorn, and gives him her own needle and thread. The rag man rewards her with more advice for her dangerous journey. Thanks to the advice of the tinker and the rag man, she is able to defeat the evil Mischanter and free her sister from his spell. Now we know the benefit of being brave, stubborn and Irish!
THE WATER OF LIFE is the only elixir that can save the dying King, in this story from Germany. The King’s three sons all set out on a quest to find the magic potion to save their father. The youngest son, reaches an enchanted castle and frees it from a spell. He is greeted by a Princess, who guides him to the water of life, needed to save his father. Escaping just before the castle gates close, the young man is reunited with his brothers and they set off on their way home to save their father. On their journey back home the two older brothers steal the water of life from him and replace it with sea water, for fear he may become heir to the throne. Upon return the youngest son is accused of poisoning his father and thrown into a dungeon. Each brother attempts to win the heart of the Princess, by proclaiming their youngest brother is dead The Princess is too wise to fall for their scheme, and banishes them. The young son is reunited with his father and made King.
THE SKUNK IN THE OVEN, our final adventure, introduces us to Tante Odette, the stingiest women in all of Quebec. All of Tante’s neighbors offer to help her with various chores for a small fee, but she claims it’s all too expensive! One day while baking bread, Tante Odette is surprised to find a skunk in her oven. Her neighbors are too busy to help, and Tante Odette scolds them, claiming that they are no better than the village fool, Rene Echret. No matter what she does she can’t coax the skunk out of her oven. Finally Rene shows up to talk to the skunk, and convinces it to leave, becoming the town hero. Tante Odette is extremely grateful to Rene, proving that sometimes help can come from the most unlikely places.
Shoestring PLUS
2003-2004 Touring Company