KING GRISLY-BEARD

ONE ACT ADAPTATION FROM THE BROTHERS GRIMM FAIRY

TALE, KING GRISLY-BEARD

By Dan Neidermyer
Copyright MMIV by Dan Neidermyer
All Rights Reserved
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BY DAN NEIDERMYER

KING GRISLY-BEARD
A GRIMMS FAIRY TALE
KING GRISLY-BEARD is a little-known, but centuries-old folktale
told from parent-to-child, generation-to-generation, throughout all of
Germany in the days when stories were the way parents taught important
lessons to their children.

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During the early 1800s, two scholarly brothers traveled throughout their
country listening to the folks and peasants of the countryside telling and
re-telling the very same stories they were told and re-told when they were
children. Then, the Grimms Brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm, wrote down
what they had heard, the stories they had been told. These stories
became the GRIMMS FAIRY TALES, a collection of many stories,
yarns, folktales, and legendsmost little known, others as well-known as
Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin.
Many storiessuch as King Grisly-Beardhad a reason for their
telling and re-telling. Woven into the exciting action was an important
lesson all children should learn, even children of the 21st century.

Sostage King Grisly-Beard and through your actorsbreathe life

into its pages and its charactersand in doing so, youll thrill and inspire
your audiences of all ages to learn and to live the truths found within this
hundreds-of-years-old folktale.
KING GRISLY-BEARD is a one act that can be produced and staged
in any size/any type facility, with or without a stage. No special lighting
and/or audio effects are needed. Not even a setsince KING GRISLYBEARD is in essence, an ancient story being re-told yet again. And,
as everyone knows, stories are best and the most exciting when we, cast
and audience alike, enter into the fun by using our imaginations! After
all, there is no set yet constructed that can out-do what our imaginations
can dream up!

KING GRISLY-BEARD
Of course, each storyteller (interpret director.) tells a story differently.
So, you might design and have constructed a grand set. Ditto the props
and costumes. So, embellish this very old story as best you will and as
you will, always keeping in mind the lesson meant to be shared by the
very telling of KING GRISLY-BEARD!

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CAST OF CHARACTERS
Highly-flexible cast of 3 Women, 3 Men or Four Women, Two Men
Note: The Herald can be played by a female. Also, as many Ladies-inWaiting as desired can be cast simply by sharing Elsas lines of dialogue
and stage business.

HERALD ............................... The presenter of all royal proclamations.

(10 lines)

ELFRIEDA ............................ A wise and most gracious counselor to the

King. In fact, her name means good
counselor. (30 lines)

KING ABELARD.................. A grand monarch with a pain in the neck!

(71 lines)

PRINCESS GRISELLA......... The Kings pain in the neck! (87 lines)

KING GRIZLY-BEARD ....... Who also doubles as a Beggar for a very
good reason. (46 lines)

ELSA...................................... A Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Grisella.

(18 lines)

All action takes place once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away!
IMPORTANT NOTE
This Grimms fairy tale is written in such a way so as to provide all the
members of the audience, regardless of age, opportunities to interact,
almost continuously, with both the storyteller (Elfrieda) and several of
the characters (actors). Doing so makes the telling of this story much
more fun for all involved, cast and audience. Also, the interaction makes

BY DAN NEIDERMYER
the lesson of the story ever more clear and very much a story for todays
children.
PROPS

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ELFRIEDA ............................ brides bouquet and veil; also a royal

overcoat or glittering stole or a regal cape
for the Princess
GRISELLA ............................ sign that states: UGLY PEOPLE NEED
NOT APPLY
KING...................................... sign that reads: THE FIRST BEGGAR
WHO KNOCKS AT THE CASTLE
DOOR WILL MARRY THE
PRINCESS!
HERALD ............................... message from the King (best if a scroll.)
COSTUMES

Medieval fashion would be great. As elaborate or as simple as desired by

those responsible and whose task it is to do such things.

KING GRISLY-BEARD

KING GRISLY-BEARD
By Dan Neidermyer
FROM OFF IN THE DISTANCE:
Outside the staging area, A HERALD announces

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HERALD: Be it known throughout all the kingdom, by order of his

Majesty King Abelard, all suitors for his daughter the Princess
Grisellas hand in marriage will be invited to attend a grand
banquet and ball at the palace.

MOVING CLOSER TO THE AUDIENCEjust inside the staging

area
HERALD: Be it known throughout all the kingdom, by order of his
Majesty King Abelard, all suitors for his daughter the Princess
Grisellas hand in marriage will be invited to attend a grand
banquet and ball at the palace.
VERY CLOSE TO THE AUDIENCE

HERALD: Be it known throughout all the kingdom, by order of his

Majesty King Abelard, all suitors for his daughter the Princess
Grisellas hand in marriage will be invited to attend a grand
banquet and ball at the palace. (Completing his announcement
as HE exits.)
BEFORE THE HERALD COMPLETES HIS ANNOUNCEMENT
ELFRIEDA, one of King Abelards finest and closest advisors and
counselors, enters the staging area. SHE is clothed as only a
royal counselor can be-very elegantly. But clothes do not
make this woman. Rather her demeanor truly befits one who
has lived a long, long time, seen and experienced a great deal,
and gained great wisdom through her many years-most
gracious.
ELFRIEDA looks at the HERALD announcing the royal
proclamation, then observes for all-

BY DAN NEIDERMYER
ELFRIEDA: (Indicating the Herald; explaining to the audience.)
That royal proclamation brought our kingdom much happiness,
but only after our Princess Grisella endured much hardship and
even some heartache. Difficult experiences she would neverever-forget. Arduous happenings that would change her
attitudes and actions toward others forever. And for that, we
can all be truly grateful.
SHOUTING OFFSTAGE:

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GRISELLA: (Shouting.) No! No! NO!

GRISELLA enters.

GRISELLA: (Her demeanor reflecting her protesting shouts.)

NO! NO!! NO!!!

Following close behind. The PRINCESS is moving quickly across

the staging area, obviously intent on going somewhere and also
just as intent on not listening to what her father, the KING, has to
say.

KING: But why? Why? WHY?

GRISELLA: Have you looked at him?!
KING: Often.
GRISELLA: AndKING: He has a great personality.
GRISELLA: A possum looks better! A dead skunk run over by a
horse and wagon looks better!
KING: (Exasperated.) Really, Grisella, youve seen how many
princes from how many kingdoms near and far?
GRISELLA: And none-NONE!-is worthy-ofme.
KING: Surely one?
GRISELLA: (Exiting, but not before delivering one last salvo.)
NONE!
KING: (Turning to his counselor for guidance.) Elfrieda, whatever
can I do?
ELFRIEDA: (Becoming the diplomat.) Shes very particular, your
daughter, the Princess.
KING: Shes exasperating!
ELFRIEDA: With that I would agree.
KING: Then, help me. Tell me what I should do.

KING GRISLY-BEARD
ELFRIEDA: When dealing with the Princess, I fear it would take
an advisor far more intelligent than I to be able to tell you what
to do.
KING: There must be something I can do!
ELFRIEDA: To accomplish what, Your Majesty?
KING: To teach my daughter other people have feelings too. That
she simply cant go around telling everyoneFROM OFFSTAGE:

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GRISELLA: (Making snotty and snide remarks.) That one is too

fat! Hes as round as a tub. That one is too short! Hes a round
little dumpling.
KING: (Hearing his daughters unkind remarks, HE groans.)
Hahh! (then puts himself into the pose of the sculptor Rodins
The Thinker.) I must think.
KING ABELARD remains posed thinking while ELFRIEDA
speaks directly to the audience.

ELFRIEDA: (Asking the audience, most graciously.) Do you think

he is the first father ever to face such a difficult challenge with
his daughter or son? But what to do to help his daughter? That
is a most vexing problem. A problem that many, many parents
tried to face for hundreds and hundreds of years in the country
of Germany. But try as they might, these many, many parents
couldnt seem to develop an answer. So, they told their
daughters and sons a story. (Indicating King Abelard.) A story
about a king and his daughter. This story was told thousands
of times from parent-to-child, from generation-to-generation.
For the fun of the story and for the lesson the story taught.
KING: (To his counselor.) Im in a story?
ELFRIEDA: A very fine story.
KING: About?
ELFRIEDAS answer: SHE points offstage, obviously indicating
the Princess Grisella.
JUST ASFROM OFFSTAGE:

GRISELLA: (More loud protestations.) That ones much too pale.

He looks like a wallface!
KING: (Never heard that term before!) A what?

BY DAN NEIDERMYER
ENTERING TO EXPLAIN:

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GRISELLA: (As SHE enters.) He looks as if some painter took a

brush and whitewashed his whole entire face. Hes as white as
the walls in the palace. Hes wallface.
KING: Not a very nice thing to say, my Princess.
GRISELLA: Truth is not always nice.
KING: But wallface has feelings. Your remarks could hurt his
feelings.
GRISELLA: (Pointing to an imaginary someone offstage.) If
thats so-if that one can get his feelings hurt just by one word
from me-than he shouldnt even be coming here hoping to
win my hand. Ill have nothing-nothing-nothing-to do with
wallface. Send him away!
KING: I am getting very tired, Grisella, of bringing princes to our
kingdom and castle for your consideration...only to hear(Imitates his bratty daughter in his tone and demeanor.) Ooh,
not him! Hes so ugly, ugly, UGLY!
GRISELLA: Thats the truth.
KING: In whose eyes?
GRISELLA: The only one whose eyes count-mine!
ELFRIEDA: (Breaking into the conversation.) Perhaps I could tell
you both a story.
GRISELLA: (Exiting abruptly.) I dont have the time.
The KING looks at his quickly exiting daughter, then looks at
Elfrieda. Helpless, he shrugs his shoulders and throws up his
hands.

ELFRIEDA: The story I would tell is hundreds and hundreds of

years old.
KING: Then how could it possibly have any bearing on today?
ELFRIEDA: Ah, thats the joy of stories and storytelling. Ancient
tales, modern connotations.
KING: What?
ELFRIEDA: Meanings. These ancient tales told from parent-tochild over and over again had a reason for their telling. That
reason was a meaning.
KING: Who determines the meaning?
ELFRIEDA: Actually, the one listening to the story.
(Explaining.)Let me tell you, my King, so youll better
understand. More than two hundred years ago, two very

KING GRISLY-BEARD

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learned and quite educated brothers in Germany journeyed

throughout the whole of their country, listening to stories.
Listening to stories that were folktales told and re-told by
peasants. Told and re-told because very few people were
able to read. Thus, telling and re-telling the same story from
generation-to-generation is how the stories remained in tact.
So thrilled were the two brothers with the stories, they wrote
these tales and yarns and legends down in a book. And ever
since then-ever since the early 1800s-these stories have
been known by the name of the two brothers who wrote them
down-Grimms Fairy Tales.
KING: And you tell me Im in a Grimms Brothers story?
ELFRIEDA: Most definitely.
KING: A story that is hundreds and hundreds of years old?
ELFRIEDA: At its youngest.
KING: So what did I do?
ELFRIEDA: (Becoming the storyteller.) Listen closely, Your
Majesty. Perhaps you too will learn from this fun story.
KING: (With much excitement and joy.) About me!
ELFRIEDA: (With a nod of her head.) About you, Your Highness.
(Beginning the story.) Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far
away, there lived a young princess and a very kindly king. The
kings daughter was very beautifulGRISELLA enters. SHE is primping herself. (If desired, GRISELLA
could be surrounded by LADIES-IN-WAITING and/or PERSONAL
SERVANTS, all of whom are working to make GRISELLA quite
stunning, even glamorous.)

ELFRIEDA: -but so proud and haughty and conceited that none

of the princes who came to the palace to ask for her hand in
marriage were good enough for her. She only made fun of
each of them.
GRISELLA: (To one of her Ladies-in-Waiting.) Did you see that
absolute bore my father brought here last Friday?
ELSA: (Nodding; quietly; graciously.) I saw him, Your Royal
Highness.
GRISELLA: (Like a shark smelling blood.) So what did you think
of him?
ELSA: (With sincerity and honesty.) How fortunate you are,
Princess.

BY DAN NEIDERMYER

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GRISELLA: What?! You obviously didnt get a good look at that

that-that geek. Not only did he look like a pinhead, but he
was so boring he only opened his mouth when he had nothing
to say.
ELSA: I found him charming.
GRISELLA: (Quite condescending.) Only if youve never met
anyone else.
ELSA: Quite true, princess. Youve met so many.
GRISELLA: Like that beanpole two days later. He was so tall, he
had snow in his hair. Wed have giant string beans for children!
ELSA: But he was quite handsome, Grisella.
GRISELLA: How could I tell? I had to climb a ladder just to see
his waist.

The KING-who has been standing beside ELFRIEDA listening

to/watching the story-now inserts himself into the story. HE
crosses quickly to his daughter, irritated and perturbed and letting
her know.

KING: No more! I will listen to your whining no more!

GRISELLA: (Sniffing.) There is no-one worthy of me.
KING: Why is it, Grisella, that every time you look into a mirror,
you feel as if you surely must take a bow?
GRISELLA: (A verbal jab.) I am my fathers daughter.
KING: Youre royal, yes, of course. But being royal doesnt give
you the privilege of putting everyone else down.
GRISELLA: Honestly, father, you live in a dream world. Me, I see
things the way they are.
KING: Seeing things is one thing; seeing people is quite the
other. Look beyond appearances, Grisella.
GRISELLA: (Oh, honestly, father!) If appearances sicken me,
how can I possibly look any further?
KING: Look with your heart, Grisella.
THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR
GRISELLA: (Hearing the knock.) Not another one. Father, I cant
see any
ENTERING KING GRISLY-BEARD, a very scruffy, dirt-encrusted,
rumpled and wrinkled Royal.

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KING GRISLY-BEARD

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GRIZLY-BEARD: Excuse me. The footman at the door said I

could enter.
KING: Yes?
GRISELLA: (Takes one look at the man, turns, and gags.) Ugh!
Ugh!
KING: (Embarrassed by his daughter.) Grisella, pleaseGRISELLA: (To her father.) Each and every person who enters
this castle gets uglier and uglier and UGLIER!
KING: Again-in whose eyes?
GRISELLA: (Turning to the audience, seeking their opinion.)
Everyones!!
GRISELLA now works the audience, seeking the opinion of
everyone present. SHE interacts and reacts to many of the
comments from the audience. If the comments agree that the
character is ugly, GRISELLA becomes quite smug, grinning and
beaming with an I told you so to her father. If the comments dont
agree that the character is ugly, SHE shrieks at the audience,
Where are your eyes? And all to chagrin of her father. FINALLY:

KING: STOP! STOP!!

GRISELLA: What!?
KING: STOP being so rude!
GRISELLA: Whos being rude? Im taking an opinion poll. Im
getting a man [or woman or kid] on the street reaction.
KING: (Turning to the visitor.) Kind sir, I must beg your
forgiveness of my daughter.
GRISELLA: (Snapping.) Youll do nothing of the kind, Father.
Begging forgiveness only is needed when one has done
something wrong. (Playing the innocent.) All Ive done is tell
the truth.
GRIZLY-BEARD: (Slightly defensive.) I know I may look much
like an unmade bedGRISELLA: Try something trampled on by a runaway horse.
KING: Thats enough, Grisella! (Turning to the visitor.) Your
business here?
GRIZLY-BEARD: Ive come to meet the princess.
GRISELLA: (Curtly.) So now that weve met, be gone.
KING: (Correcting his daughter.) You havent met. You dont
even know his name.

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BY DAN NEIDERMYER
GRISELLA: Oh, yes, I do. (Pointing at the visitors unkempt
beard.) With a beard like an old mop, he can only be called,
Grisly-Beard.
GRIZLY-BEARD: I have come to seek the Princess Grisellas
hand in marriage.
At that, even the gracious ELSA gasps. Ditto ELFRIEDA.

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GRISELLA: You have got to be kidding!

GRIZLY-BEARD: No. Im not. I could offer the PrincessGRISELLA: (Turning to exit; sharply.) Nothing! Anyone as ugly
as you can offer meKING: (Hurrying to his daughters side.) You have no right to hurt
someone elses feelingsand especially, much, much worse,
in front of everybody!
GRISELLA: When that one presents himself in this castle as a
possible suitor to me, then I have every right to say exactly how
I feel!
GRISELLA moves quickly toward the audience and takes another
opinion poll. SHE asks the audience, Dont I have the right to say
exactly how I feel? Once again, SHE interacts with the audience.
If they agree with her, she smiles, and thanks them ever so
sweetly. If they disagree with her, she sneers, Get a life. Finally:
GRISELLA: (Stomping offstage; ELSA following.) No! No! NO!
(Pointing at the visitor.) Hes ugly, ugly, UGLY!!!
KING: (His daughter gone, HE feels as if he must say something
to the stranger, but what?) Im-Im-sorry for my daughters
very bad and most impolite manners. Believe me, she was
brought up better.
GRIZLY-BEARD: (With a gentle demeanor.) I can little help my
appearance, Your Majesty. Thats what I was born withKING: (Pointing in the direction of Grisella who is now offstage.)
And thats what was born to me.
The KING has barely made this last statement when GRISELLA
comes barreling back onstage, carrying a sign. In the center of the
stage, GRISELLA holds up the sign for all to read. SHE points to
the sign, urging the audience to read out loudGRISELLA: Everyone, read this!

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KING GRISLY-BEARD
AUDIENCE: (Reading the sign.) UGLY PEOPLE NEED NOT
APPLY!
GRISELLA: Im going to hang this outside the palace door.
GRISELLA crosses to a section of the staging area that might be
considered outside the palace door and hangs up the sign.

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GRISELLA: (Pointing to the sign hanging there.) Perhaps this

will give everyone even thinking of entering here for my hand in
marriage pause. (Reading the sign.) Ugly people need not
apply. (Turning to Grisly-Beard and pointing at him.) And that
means you.
SHE exits quickly.

KING: (With real determination.) Two can play at this game!

The KING crosses offstage, then returns within a second. HES

carrying his own sign which he hangs beneath GRISELLAS.
KING: (Reading from his sign.) THE FIRST BEGGAR WHO
KNOCKS AT THE CASTLE DOOR WILL MARRY THE
PRINCESS!
KING ABELARD turns to the audience, asKING:

KING: Now what do you think of that?

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