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50 Reading: The Sport of Champions!
FATHER: No! It is too late for that! Go to the forest and gather wood for the fire! The walk will
be good for you. Tonight will be cold. Instead of playing computer games and watching TV we
will sit by the fire and sip hot chocolate and read a good book. Now off with you! Go on,
outside!
(Hansel and Gretel exit slowly.)
FATHER: Oh, those children. Always with the video games. Never do they go out in the fresh
air and sunshine. What is a father to do? (shakes head and exits)
NARRATOR: Hansel and Gretel walked in the woods for a long time looking for firewood.
They gathered a few twigs. Hours passed and it grew darker and darker. Owls hooted. Hansel
and Gretel grew cold and tired.
(Hansel and Gretel cross the stage three or four times while the narrator speaks. Each time they
walk more slowly. Owls hoot and the wind blows eerily.)
GRETEL: Oh, Hansel! We have been walking for such a long time! I wish I had played outside
more. Maybe then I wouldn’t be so tired.
HANSEL: Yes, me too. From now on, I’m going to play outside every day.
GRETEL: It is getting very late. Father will be very worried. These woods are so dark and
scary. Let’s go home. I don’t think I remember the way home. Do you?
HANSEL: These woods are dark and scary and I don’t remember the way we came, either. But,
don’t worry. I have been dropping M&M'S ® as we go so we can find our way back.
(The sound of birds twittering is heard and a bird flies by.)
GRETEL: Hansel, look. That bird has eaten all of the M&M'S ® . We are lost.
HANSEL: (looks around) I can’t remember the way. What shall we do?
(A cottage appears at the opposite end of stage.)
GRETEL: Look! Over there. (points to cottage) A cute little house.
HANSEL: (takes Gretel’s hand) Hurry, Gretel. Maybe they will have something good to eat and
some video games to play. And a warm fire!
(Hansel and Gretel hurry offstage and then back onstage from the opposite side. They stop
abruptly when the Witch walks on stage and blocks their path.)
WITCH: Hello, my dears. It is very late for young children to be out. You are not lost, are you?
GRETEL: (sounding afraid) Y-y-yes we are!