Little Red Riding Hood

The Beginning of Red Riding Hood

Characters:

Simran / Little Red Riding Hood: A young adventurous girl

Rahul: A courageous boy who wonders around the dark forest

Mother: A middle aged woman who loves her family

Grandmother: An old lady that lives alone in the dark forest

Settings:

·         Mother’s house

·         Dark forest

·         Grandmother’s house

Costumes:

·         Simran:                     Red colour Punjabi dress

·         Mother:                    Old saree

·         Rahul:                      Jippa, turban

·         Grandmother:          White saree

Props

·         Basket

·         Soup

·         Chains

·         Axe

·         Silver knife  

Scene 1

Setting: Simran’s house, inside the house.

(Curtain opens. Mother is preparing cookies for grandma.)

Narration:     Once upon a time, there lived a young girl with her mother. They lived far from the village. One day... 

Mother :	(Smelling the soup.) Wow the chicken soup smell so nice. Grandmother is going to love this. (calling casually) Simran. (looking around) Where is this girl? (calling loudly) Simran! Get me some onions. (shouting) Simran!!!
Simran:	(Enters the stage swiftly) I am here mother.
Mother:	(Angrily) Where were you? Look at you! (Moving towards Simran and cleans the dirt on her gown) Why are you so dirty?
Simran:	I was playing at the field mother.
Mother:	(Firmly) How many times should I tell you? Girls should stay in the house and learn to cook.
Simran:	Mother, but why must women do all the works while men do as they like?
Mother:	Because they are men Simran.
Simran:	But mother, girls are just as equal to any men. Women can achieve anything if they want to.
Mother:	But that is how it is.
Simran:	(music: sad piano instrumental) Mother, I remember father saying to me, we can always be better. The only thing we have to do is to have hope. (pauses)
Mother:	(crying) Your father was a great man.
Simran:	(holding her mother’s hand) I am sorry mother. Did I remind you of father?
Mother:	(sobbing) It’s okay dear. Can you do me a favour? Please send this chicken soup to your grandmother in the woods? She is ill.
Simran:	Okay mother.
Mother:	Do you still remember the way to her house? We have been there too many times together. You should remember the way.
Simran:	Yes mother, I still remember the way.
Mother:	And remember Simran, do not talk to any strangers and above all reach your grandmother’s house before sunset. You should move now. Hurry!!!
Simran:	I’ll be back before you know it mother.
Mother:	(Immediately and almost like shouting) No! Do not come back home today. Stay with your grandmother tonight.
Simran:	(Surprised but keeping calm) Okay mother. As you wish. See you tomorrow.
Mother:	Remember no matter what happens today, I will always love you. (putting her red cape on and kisses her on the forehead) Take care my little red riding hood.
Simran:	Bye mother. (leaving the stage)
Mother:	(Looking at  the audience) Tonight is the full moon. I should prepare myself. Take care Simran. I have faith in you.

(Curtain closes)

Scene 2

Setting: The dark forest

(Curtain opens. Rahul enters with ropes, iron chain and an axe.)

Background music: dramatic story telling music

Special effect: use dry ice to create smoky effect

Rahul:	(Amazed) So this is the dark forest. It is too scary. I should be careful. Not only that tonight is the full moon. (Sound of footsteps). Someone is in the forest. I should hide myself. (Hiding behind a rock. Simran enters the stage. Rahul looking at the audience) Who is this girl? She must be very brave to enter the dark forest alone. I should watch her carefully.
Simran:	(Trips and fell down) ohw. My leg!!!
Rahul:	(Puzzled look. Looking at the audience) Should I help her? (Looking at Simran again.) (sighs) (moving towards Simran) Are you alright girl?
Simran:	My leg!!! It is bleeding. (sobbing)
Rahul:	Let me see it! (Looking at the leg.) It is just a small cut. Don’t worry; I will help you with it.
Simran:	Thank you very much sir. What is your name sir?
Rahul:	(Firmly) Sorry, but my father reminded me not to talk to any strangers.
Simran:	I am Simran by the way, what are you doing in the dark forest sir?
Rahul:	I am Rahul. My father asked me to hide in the forest for tonight. You are a very brave girl. You dare to walk in the dark forest alone.
Simran:	Indeed I am. My grandmother’s house is just around the corner.
Rahul:	You are very brave for a young girl. You better be fast, it is going to be dark soon. When the moon comes, wild animals will roam the forest freely.
Simran:	(Surprised)Wild animals? What is it?
Rahul:	Don’t you know? It is said that the dark forest is the home to a wild wolf. It will come out every full moon and kill anyone on his path. My mother was killed by the wolf when I was a small boy.
Simran:	(Afraid) This is very scary. I wonder why my mother never tell me these stories
Rahul:	(coughing)
Simran:	What happened to you sir?
Rahul:	This is just an illness of mine, I will fall sick on every full moon. My family does not have any money to treat my illness.
Simran:	You should follow me then. My grandmother is a talented nurse. She will treat your illness.
Rahul:	Thank you Simran. I don’t know how to repay your kindness.
Simran:	(calmly) My father often says that always be kind and have hope. I hope that you will get better.
Rahul:	(Coughing). We better be fast. It is getting darker
Simran:	Follow me Rahul.

(Simran and Rahul leave the stage. Curtain closed.)

Scene 3

Setting: Grandmother’s house

Narration:     After sending Simran to deliver the soup, mother follows the shortcut and reaches the grandmothers house first. Cautiously she knocks the door.

Grandmother:	(Cautiously) Surjeet, is it you?
Mother:	Yes mother. Open the door. ( they hugged each other)
Grandmother:	(Cautiously) It is full moon tonight. Where is Simran?
Mother:	She is on her way here.
Grandmother:	We should be very careful Surjeet. But don’t worry we will be safe here.
Mother:	That’s why I asked Simran to stay here but she shouldn’t know about my presence.
Grandmother:	No worries my daughter, I will keep this as a secret.
Mother:	Just in case of emergency, I brought you this. (revealing the silver knife that she brought along)
Grandmother:	(Shocked) But Surjeet, you can’t be thinking about. (pauses)
Mother:	If it is the only way to safe my family, use this knife.
Grandmother:	It seems like Simran is near, you should hide yourself daughter.
Mother:	(hurriedly) I will mother. Take this knife; you might need this knife to slay the monster.
Grandmother:	Indeed I will. Don’t worry. Now sneak through the backdoor and return to your home.
Mother:	Take care mother. (hugging her mother again) I entrust you with the only family I have.
Grandmother:	Bye Surjeet, I will always love you.
(Mother sneaks through the back door. Grandmother is looking at the knife)
Simran:	(Calling loudly) Grandma! Grandma! Please open the door.
Grandmother:	(Hides the knife and opens the door) (gladly) Simran! (hugging Simran) How are you? I missed you Simran.
Simran:	(Happily) I missed you too grandma.
Grandmother:	(Curiously) Who is this young boy?
Simran:	He is a friend of mine, Rahul. He needs your help grandma. He is sick.
Grandmother:	Why don’t you children enter the house first? (looks around cautiously and closed the door)
(Simran and Rahul enters the house)
Grandmother:	(Touches Rahul’s forehead). Ohw boy, you are so cold. What is this illness of yours?
Rahul:	I fall sick on every full moon.
Grandmother:	That is strange. Why don’t you get some rest first? (Looking at Simran) Simran, why don’t you sleep in my room tonight?
Simran:	(gladly) Okay grandma. (Enters the room and sleeps.)
Grandmother:	You can sleep here tonight Rahul.
Rahul:	(coughing heavily) It’s the full moon
Simran :            This is the only place I can enjoy myself. ( Plays a ‘Bangra’ song) Grandmother:    (Hears the song and enters the room) Simran:              Grandmother, why don’t you join me to dance? ( Pulls grandmothers         hand to dance) Rahul:               (Coughing heavily) Grandmother :  Oh my boy, what is wrong with you? You are getting worse. I need to do     something now. Simran, go and get the medicines in my room. (Simran is running towards her grandmother’s room.)
Simran:	(Screaming) Grandma! Grandma! Something is happening to me.
Grandmother:	(Calmly) what is it dear?
Simran:	My ears are getting bigger.
Grandmother:	So you can hear me better dear.
Simran:	My eyes are getting bigger.
Grandmother:	So you can see me better dear.
Simran:	My nose is getting bigger.
Grandmother:	So that you can smell me better dear.
Simran:	My teeth are getting bigger. Grandma! Now I have furs all over my body. What is happening to me?
Grandmother:	Because you are a werewolf dear.
(Sound of wolf howls. Simran who is now a werewolf jumps off the bed and wants to attack Rahul and grandmother. Rahul and grandmother run to save their live. Grandmother takes the silver knife and wants to stab Simran.)
Rahul:	(Lovingly) Remember Simran. Come back to your sense.
Grandmother:	(Panting) She is a werewolf now Rahul, she won’t listen to you. Stab her heart with this knife when you still have a chance.
Rahul:	(Protesting) No! That will kill her. I will save my friend.
(Simran growls at them. Rahul takes his iron chain and chained Simran.)
Rahul:	(Panting) Remember Simran. Always have hope. This is what your father often says right. I hope that you will come back to your sense. How can you be a werewolf? It does not make any sense.
Grandmother:	Her father was a werewolf. He is the one who killed your mother. This is Simran’s first transformation into a werewolf. If you don’t kill her now, you will never get a chance to avenge your mother.
Rahul:	(After thinking for a moment) It is not right to kill anyone. I will never do that. Although her father may have killed many people, Simran never killed anyone. I will spare her life. I will give her this chain. Please tell her to chain herself on every full moon so that she will not harm anyone.
Grandmother:	(Holding Rahul’s hand with a loving voice) You are a good boy Rahul. Thank you for your help

(Curtain closed)