Cinderella_Play

Cinderella

A Play

Cast

Cinderella_____________________________________________________ Mother_______________________________________________________ Father________________________________________________________ Mrs. Flabbergaster______________________________________________ Anastasia_____________________________________________________ Arabella______________________________________________________ King’s Messenger 1______________________________________________ King’s Messenger 2______________________________________________ Prince________________________________________________________ Narrator 1_____________________________________________________ Narrator 2_____________________________________________________ Narrator 3_____________________________________________________ Doctor: ______________________________________________________

Setting:

This story takes place long, long ago in a land far away.

1

Scene 1:

A Happy Family

Narrator 1:

Once upon a time, there was a very happy family.

Narrator 2:

There were two parents and a little girl,

Narrator 3:

named Ella.

Narrator 1:

The father was kind and handsome…

Narrator 2:

and the mother was wise and beautiful.

Ella:

And I loved them both.

Narrator 3:

Then one day, the mother got a cough.

(Mother coughs... and coughs…and coughs.)

2

Father:

At first, we thought it was just a cold.

Ella (sadly):

...but it wasn’t.

Narrator 1:

And I’m sorry to tell you this, but Ella’s mother died.

Narrator 2:

As they stood at her mother’s graveside, Ella’s father said,

Father:

Don’t worry, Ella. We’ll always miss your mom, but we have one another. And I’m here to take good care of you. And we’ll be happy, you’ll see.

Ella:

I know, Father.

Narrator 3:

And the truth was they were happy.

Narrator 1:

Oh sure they missed Ella’s mom and they always remembered her,

Narrator 2:

but they also knew that life must go on,

Ella and Father:

And it did.

Narrator 3:

One day, Ella’s father brought home a visitor.

Father:

This is Mrs. Flabbergaster, my new friend.

Mrs Flabbergaster:

And I have two lovely daughters,

Arabella:

Arabella

Anastasia:

and Anastasia.

Narrator 1:

They were very nice girls and Mrs. Flabbergaster couldn’t have been nicer.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Oh, Harold, this must be Ella. Such a peach! Such a jewel! I shall love her as my very own!

Narrator 2:

And in time, Ella’s father said,

Father:

Ella, what would you think if I married Mrs. Flabbergaster? She’ll never take the place of your mother in our hearts, but she’s a nice lady with two nice girls. Together we’ll be a big happy family.

Ella:

That’s a great idea, Father.

Narrator 3:

And in truth, they were very happy.

Narrator 1:

And then, one day, Ella’s father began to cough.

(Father coughs…and coughs…and coughs.)

Narrator 2:

They thought it was just a cold…

Ella (sadly):

...but it wasn’t.

3

Narrator 3:

And I’m sorry to tell you this, but Ella’s father died.

Narrator 1:

As Ella stood at the graveside, tears streamed down her face.

Ella:

Don’t worry, Father. I’ll be all right. I have Mrs. Flabbergaster and my stepsisters. And they will take good care of me. It was good that you married Mrs. Flabbergaster. Now I won’t be alone. I’ll always miss you, but I promise I’ll try to be happy.

Caption:

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Mrs. Flabbergaster and her servant.

Scene Two:

Mrs. Flabbergaster Shows Her True Colors

Narrator 2:

No sooner had Ella said these words than she heard‌

Mrs. Flabbergaster (screaming): Ella! Ella! Get in here!

Ella:

Is that Mrs. Flabbergaster? She never spoke that way to me before!

Narrator 3:

And she ran inside to Mrs. Flabbergaster.

Ella:

What is it, Mrs Flabbergaster?

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

We need to talk.

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6

Anastasia:

Yeah, sit down!

Arabella:

Let’s get down to brass tacks.

Ella:

Okay….what is going on?

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Now that your father is dead, I can no longer afford to pay all the servants…

Arabella:

so she’s fired them ALL.

Ella:

Fired all the servants! But this house has 100 rooms!

Who shall clean them all?

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Funny you should mention it...

Arabella and Anastasia:

YOU shall clean them all.

Ella:

ME?

Anastasia:

Is there an echo?

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Now that your father is dead, this house and all of its contents belong ...to me.

Anastasia:

Technically, you have no right to be here.

Arabella:

Technically, we can throw you out.

Ella:

Throw me out? Of my very own home!

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

It is only because of my kindness that you have a home at all.

Ella:

I can’t believe this. I am going to my room.

Arabella:

You don’t have a room.

Ella:

What?

Anastasia:

Mom has taken it over.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

I needed it for my bracelets.

Ella:

For your bracelets? But it’s MY room!

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Don’t be so selfish, Ella. My bracelets have needs! All this time, they’ve been cooped up in my jewelry box, with barely enough room to BREATHE! Well, this injustice ends now. NOW, I tell you! My bracelets need their privacy! My bracelets need their space! My bracelets need your room!

Ella:

But where am I to sleep?

Arabella:

Oh there are many options…

Anastasia:

You are welcome to sleep on the cold kitchen floor.

Arabella:

Or, if that is not good enough for you...you are welcome to sleep in the basement with the rats.

Ella:

the RATS!?

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Oh don’t be a drama queen, Ella. Rats are very sweet creatures. They’re so active! And so furry! And if you sleep in the basement, perhaps they’ll form a cozy blanket for you and warm you up at night.

Ella (crying):

I can’t believe this is happening!

Anastasia:

Now don’t waste time crying and simpering.

Arabella:

Self-pity is not a good look, Ella.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

It’s time for you to start earning your keep. First, you’ll go to the barn and milk 20 cows. Then you’ll collect the eggs from the chicken coop.

Anastasia:

Then you’ll cook us up an amazing breakfast and will serve it to us in bed.

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8

Arabella:

After that, you’ll do the washing up.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Then, you’ll clean out the ashes from the 100 fireplaces.

Anastasia:

Then you’ll make our beds and wash our clothes

Arabella:

and cook our meals

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

and brush our hair

Arabella:

and brush our teeth

Anastasia:

and iron our dresses

Arabella:

and shine our shoes

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

and make the fire

Anastasia:

and put out the fire

Arabella:

and polish the silver

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

and mow the lawn

Anastasia:

and wash the windows

Arabella:

and dust the furniture----

Ella:

Basically, I’m going to work every moment of my life…

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Basically. Better get started!

Scene 3:

A Life of Misery

Narrator 1:

Years went by and Ella grew up into a lovely young woman.

Narrator 2:

Sadly, her hair was always a mess

Narrator 3:

and her clothes were always stained

Narrator 1:

because of the hard work she had to do,

Narrator 2:

especially cleaning out the fireplaces.

Narrator 3:

The ashes in the fireplace,

Narrator 1:

also called cinders,

Narrator 2:

got into her hair

Narrator 3:

and all over her clothes

Narrator 1:

Until Arabella said, 9

Arabella:

Gee, Ella, you’re so covered with cinders these days, we shouldn’t call you Ella anymore, we should call you Cinderella!

Narrator 2:

And Anastasia said,

Anastasia:

Get it? Cinder plus Ella equals…

Anastasia and Arabella:

Cinderella!

Arabella:

That’s what we’re going to call you from now on.

Anastasia:

Do you get it, Ella? Do you get how we made your new name?

Ella:

Yes, I get it.

Anastasia:

Because you take Cinder---

Arabella:

which you’re always covered in--

Anastasia:

and then you take Ella,

Arabella:

which is your name,

Anastasia:

And you put them together and…

Arabella:

Cinder

Anastasia:

plus Ella

Arabella and Anastasia:

equals CINDERELLA!

(Arabella and Anastasia laugh.)

Ella:

10

Hilarious! I’d love to stay and chat but I have 100 rooms to clean.

Scene 4:

A Message from the King

Narrator 3:

One day the doorbell rang. Ding dong!

Mrs. Flabbergaster (screaming):

Cinderella! CINDERELLA! Get the door! Do I have to do everything around here?

Narrator 1:

Cinderella dutifully opened the door.

Narrator 2:

It was the King’s messengers.

King’s Messenger 1:

We come bearing tidings from the royal family.

King’s Messenger 2:

As you know, the King and Queen have a son.

King’s Messenger 1:

The Prince.

King’s Messenger 2:

And that prince needs a wife.

Anastasia (running into the room):

Did you say “prince”?

Arabella (running into the room):

Did you say “wife?”

Anastasia:

I’ll marry him.

Arabella:

No, I’ll marry him!

Anastasia:

No, I’ll marry him.

Arabella:

No, I’ll marry him.

King’s Messenger 1:

Silence!

King’s Messenger 2:

The King and Queen will hold a ball tomorrow night. The purpose of the ball is to find a wife for the Prince.

King’s Messenger 1:

And every girl in the kingdom is invited.

Cinderella:

Every girl?

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King’s Messenger 2:

Is there an echo?

King’s Messenger 1:

Yes, every girl.

Cinderella:

Even a maid?

Mrs Flabbergaster:

Don’t be ridiculous, Cinderella. The prince would never marry a maid.

(Arabella and Anastasia giggle maliciously.)

King’s Messenger 1:

A maid who is excellent at her job is a person with many skills.

King’s Messenger 2:

The Prince would be honored to marry such a person.

Cinderella:

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Then...can I go, Mrs. Flabbergaster? Can I go to the ball?

Narrator 3:

Of course, Mrs Flabbergaster wanted to say...

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Absolutely not!

Narrator 1:

But she didn’t risk saying it in front of the King’s messengers.

Narrator 2:

So instead she said,

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

As long as you’ve completed all your chores, you may attend the ball.

Cinderella:

Oh, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Scene 5:

Mrs. Flabbergaster Breaks Her Promise

Narrator 3:

And so what did Cinderella do?

Narrator 1:

She raced through her chores. All 100 of them!

And by the end of the day, she had done them all.

Cinderella (panting with exhaustion): Mrs. Flabbergaster, I’ve done all my chores. All 100 of them. I’ve milked the cows. I’ve gathered the eggs. I’ve made your meals. I’ve cleaned your clothes. I’ve swept out the fireplaces. I’ve scrubbed the floors. I’ve washed Arabella’s hair. I’ve blown dry Anastasia’s hair. I’ve washed the windows. I’ve polished the silver. I’ve even cleaned the bathrooms.

Can I please, pretty please, get ready for the ball?

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

What are you talking about? I haven’t even given you your chores.

Cinderella (confused):

Every day I do the same chores. There are 100 of them. I know them by heart. I milk the cows. I gather the eggs. I make the meals---

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Not those chores! I have a new set of chores for you to do.

Narrator 2:

And she held up a list of chores that was so long that it flowed from the ceiling to the floor where it pooled in a circle.

Cinderella:

That’s more than a thousand chores!

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

That’s right.

Cinderella:

But I’ll never get all these done in time for the ball!

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Exactly.

(Arabella and Anastasia laugh maliciously.)

13

Scene 6: Narrator 3:

Narrator 1:

Well, what do you think Cinderella did? She did all one thousand chores as fast as she could. She stayed up all night just working.

Five minutes before the ball was scheduled to begin, Cinderella slipped into her favorite dress. She put her mother’s pearl necklace on. She combed her hair and set off for the ball.

Narrator 2:

But Mrs Flabbergaster stopped her.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Where do you think you are going?

Cinderella:

To the ball.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Girls! Anastasia! Arabella! Just look at what Cinderella is wearing!

Narrator 3:

When the girls looked at Cinderella, they were consumed by jealousy.

Narrator 1:

Cinderella looked more beautiful than they ever could.

Narrator 2:

A rage filled the girls. A rage to destroy.

Narrator 3:

14

Mrs. Flabbergaster Breaks Her Promise‌Again!

Both girls tore at Cinderella’s dress until it was ripped to shreds.

Anastasia:

Good luck going to the ball now!

Arabella:

Have fun, Cinderella!

Narrator 1:

And with that, the girls and Mrs Flabbergaster went off to the ball.

Narrator 2:

Cinderella burst into tears.

Cinderella:

I should have known it could never happen.

Scene 7:

A Fairy Godmother

Narrator 3:

Suddenly and without warning, a fairy appeared.

Fairy Godmother:

Do not despair, child.

Cinderella:

Who are you?

Fairy Godmother:

I am your fairy godmother, Ella. And I am here to ensure that you look as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside. And that you get to that ball!

Narrator 1:

And with a wave of her wand, Ella was transformed into a beautiful princess with a diamond tiara and a dress of purest silk and satin.

Narrator 2:

On her feet, she wore glass slippers.

Fairy Godmother:

Outside I have arranged a coach with white horses to take you to the ball.

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16

Cinderella:

Oh, fairy godmother!

Fairy Godmother:

Listen closely, Ella. My magic spell ends at midnight.

When the clock strikes 12, your beautiful dress will return to rags. Please be sure to leave the castle before the gong of midnight.

Cinderella:

I promise, fairy godmother. A thousand thank yous!

Fairy Godmother:

Don’t forget, Ella! At the stroke of midnight, get out of there!!! Otherwise you’ll be returned to your rags in front of EVERYBODY. How embarrassing!

Cinderella:

I won’t forget, fairy godmother! And now, off to the ball!

Scene 8:

Cinderella meets Prince Charming

Narrator 1:

Well, I suppose you can imagine what happened next.

Narrator 2:

When Cinderella arrived at the ball, she looked so beautiful that the entire ballroom gasped.

Anastasia:

Who is that beautiful girl?

Narrator 3:

Even Mrs Flabbergaster did not recognize her.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

I don’t see what everyone else is gasping about.

She’s not THAT beautiful. Whoever she is.

Prince:

Step aside. I must meet that girl.

Narrator 1:

He walked right up to Ella and said,

Prince:

May I have this dance?

Cinderella:

Oh, prince! I’d be delighted to dance with you.

Narrator 2:

And so it was that Cinderella and the prince danced all the evening long.

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18

Arabella:

He hasn’t even asked another girl to dance.

Anastasia:

Not even once.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

It’s just rude. Rude!

Narrator 3:

Meanwhile, the Prince and Cinderella were falling in love.

Prince:

I don’t know what it is about you. You’re different from other girls.

Cinderella:

Oh, prince! This is all so sudden!

Prince:

I’ve never felt this way before. I know we’ve only just met, but I think I’m fall---

Narrator 1:

But before he could finish his sentence, the clock struck 12.

Clock:

Gong-gong gong

Cinderella:

I’ve got to go!

Clock:

gong -gong -gong

Prince:

But wait! I don’t even know your name!

Clock:

gong-gong-gong

Cinderella:

Oh no! My shoe! Got ---to ---run ---before---

Clock:

gong-gong-gong

Cinderella:

the spell runs out and I’m all alone. In rags. Again!

Scene 9:

The Prince’s Quest

Narrator 2:

Meanwhile, the prince had found Cinderella’s glass slipper.

Prince:

I shall search far and wide for the girl whose foot fits into this shoe! And when I have found her, I shall have found my bride!

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20

King’s Messenger:

Or a girl with a shoe size of 7.

Narrator 3:

And so it was that the Prince knocked on every door of every house in the kingdom, asking every girl in every house to try on the glass slipper.

Narrator 1:

He had almost given up hope when he arrived at the house of Mrs Flabbergaster.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Oh, Prince! Finally you have arrived. I have the girl right here who is your bride.

Narrator 2:

Out walked Anastasia.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Isn’t she a peach? She is the girl you fell madly in love with at the ball.

Prince:

No offense, but she doesn’t look at all like her.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

You will see when you put the shoe on her foot. PUT THE SHOE ON HER FOOT! JUST DO IT! DO IT!

Prince:

Okay, okay!

Narrator 1:

But as hard as he tried, he could not get the shoe to fit on Anastasia’s foot.

Prince:

Her foot is too wide. It won’t fit.

Anastasia:

Yes, it will! Yes, it will!

Prince:

No, it won’t. It really, really won’t. Look, she’s crying!

It’s because the shoe is too small.

Anastasia: (crying)

I am not crying! I am not crying!

Prince:

This is really unsafe. Her foot is way too big and it’s going to break.

Anastasia (squeezing her foot into the shoe): It’s not going to break. It’s almost in!

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Prince:

I think she broke her foot! Fetch the doctor.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

What for? The shoe fits!

Prince:

Look at your daughter, Ma’m. She is crying in agony because the shoe is 5 sizes too small.

Anastasia (crying):

It fits fine! I am just crying because I am so happy. I am going to become a princess!

Prince:

Um, no, you’re not…

Doctor:

Did someone say there was a broken foot?

Prince:

Help her doctor!

Doctor:

Who told this young lady to put on that tiny shoe? Her foot is five sizes too big. If we remove it now, her foot may be saved. If not, it will be crushed!

Anastasia:

Then take it off! Take it off! TAKE IT OFF! It’s killing me.

Prince (sighing):

Well, I suppose I should be going…

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Wait! What was I thinking? I have ANOTHER daughter who was the one you fell in love with.

Anastasia, get off the chair with your enormous size feet. ARABELLA! ARABELLA! Get down here!

Narrator 1:

And so Arabella came down the stairs. The Prince did not recognize her at all.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Oh, Prince! You do not have to say a word. I can see from the look on your face that you are madly in love with her.

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22

Prince:

Forgive me, Mrs. Flabbergaster, but I don’t think that this is the girl I fell in love with at the ball. I don’t think I have ever seen her before. I would never have forgotten a person with such tiny feet.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

You will see that she is the girl you danced with when you put the shoe on her.

Doctor:

Speaking as a medical professional, I have to say that I am surprised that anyone on Earth has such tiny feet. Are they even two inches long? How does she even stand?

Arabella:

With great difficulty. Most of the time, I sit…or lie down.

Prince:

There is no way that this shoe is the same size as her two-inch long feet.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Her feet are much larger than they appear. It is a trick of the light, your highness!

Prince:

All right, but I can see already that it won’t fit because her feet are miniscule. They will be swimming in these glass slippers.

Arabella:

It is true that I have unusually tiny feet but can’t it ALSO be true that I’m the girl of your dreams?

Prince:

Not really.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Oh for goodness sake, PUT ON THE SHOE! JUST PUT ON THE SHOE! JUST DO IT! DO IT!

Narrator 2:

The prince tried to put the shoe on Arabella’s feet.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Look at how easily her foot fits into the shoe.

Prince:

That’s because her feet are two inches long and the shoe is a size 7. The shoe is like literally ten times the size of her foot.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

You’re missing the point! The point is that the shoe FITS. The shoe FITS. And if the shoe FITS, this girl is IT.

Prince:

Can I just see her walk around in these shoes?

Narrator 3:

Arabella tried to walk around in the glass slipper but the shoe was so big for her foot that she immediately fell over.

Arabella:

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Doctor:

She’s taken a nasty spill because those shoes were FAR too big for her feet.

Prince:

It looks like her back is broken!

Arabella:

That’s not true! The shoes fit perfectly!

Doctor:

Then why did you fall and break your back!

Arabella:

I did not break my back.

Doctor:

Then why are you crying in agony?

Arabella:

I’m crying tears of joy. I’m going to be a princess!

Prince:

Um, no, you’re not.

Doctor:

Okay, I have to get her to an ambulance. STAT!

Prince:

See? It’s not her. (he sighs). And this was the last house in the kingdom that I needed to check. I’ve searched everywhere. Are there any other girls in this house?

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24

Scene 10:

If the Shoe Fits….

Narrator 1:

At that moment, Cinderella came in to clean out the fireplace.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

There are no more girls in this house, Prince.

Arabella:

None at all.

Prince:

But what about this girl?

Anastasia:

Do you mean me?

Arabella:

Or me?

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Or me?

Prince (pointing to ELLA):

No. I mean her.

Anastasia:

That’s not a girl. That’s just the maid.

Arabella:

A prince would never marry a maid.

Prince:

On the contrary, a hard-working maid is an honorable person with a strong set of skills. I would be honored to marry such a person.

Anastasia:

Okay. I really need to go to the hospital now.

Arabella:

Me first! You only broke your foot. I broke my back!

Cinderella:

May I try on the glass slipper?

Prince:

I thought you’d never ask.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

This is monstrous! Monstrous!

Narrator 1:

As soon as Cinderella tried on the glass slipper,

Narrator 2:

It fit like a glove.

Mrs. Flabbergaster:

Drats!

Narrator 3:

And the prince whisked Cinderella away to the castle‌

Cinderella:

where I married him.

Prince:

And we lived happily ever after.

Narrator 1:

As for Mrs Flabbergaster and her daughters,

Cinderella:

We rarely invite them to the palace.

Prince:

I offered to punish them for their cruel treatment of my bride,

Cinderella:

but I said that their being such horrible people was punishment enough!

All:

The End

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