The Queen Bee
A first grade play based on the Grimm’s fairy tale
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Cast:
Simpleton
2 brothers
Ant king and 5 ants
5 Ducks
Queen bee and 4 bees
2 stone horses/ musicians
Little grey man
3 princesses
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Entering Song: Throught the sunlit meadows
And leafy glades we sing.
As side by side and merrily
We go a-wandering.
Two clever brothers, sons of a king
Set out to find what their fortunes would bring.
Tra la la la, tra la la la,
Tra la la la, tra la la la.
Song: Listen as we sing and tell
How Simpleton became the king so well.
So kind he was to all he met
That he slowly but surely did win the bet,
While his two brothers who were so clever
Thought they should rule the land forever.
All: Twas long ago the two set out.
Both far and wide they wandered about.
Away so long the brothers did stay
That Simpleton thought he’d make his way.
Brothers: Poor little Simpleton stands no chance at all.
He’s not very clever, and he is rather small.
But as long as he has come all this way,
I suppose he might as well stay.
Glockenspiel
All: Onward together the three did go
Until they came to an anthill below.
The two eldest brothers were ready for fun.
And thought that some mischief should quickly be done.
Brothers: Oh, an anthill! We should destroy it!
To see ants creep about—we would enjoy it!
All: In stepped Simpleton to rescue the ants.
Listen to how he took his stance:
Simpleton: Leave the creatures in peace.
I will not allow you to disturb them.
Glockenspiel
All: And so they went on to a lovely blue lake
With so many ducks, for goodness’ sake!
Brothers: To roast a couple, now that will do!
No one will miss just one or two.
All: Up stepped Simpleton to rescue the birds.
Now listen carefully… These were his words:
Simpleton: Leave the creatures in peace.
I will not suffer you to kill them.
Glockenspiel
All: Next they came to a sunny bee hive
With so many bees, good gracious alive!
All around the tree flowed honey.
The two eldest brothers thought it looked very yummy.
Brothers: Around this tree, let us build a fire.
Then we shall have this honey for ours.
All: Up stepped Simpleton to rescue the birds.
Listen now—These were his words:
Simpleton: Leave the creatures in peace.
I will not allow you to burn them.
Glockenspiel
All: At last they came to a castle of stone,
But all they saw were stone horses alone.
They wandered around in the royal house,
Where not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
At the end of the hall, they at last found a door
With one, two, three locks secure.
Inside the room sat a little gray man.
3: Let’s call him out as best as we can!
Song: Knock, knock, knock,
Please open the door.
Knock, knock, knock,
We’ll try just once more.
Knock, knock, knock,
Now that makes three.
Please little grey man,
Open up for me.
All: Once, twice, thrice they called
Until he stood and came out in the hall.
Without saying a word, he invited them in
Where they’d eat their fill and a restful night spend.
All through the night they took their rest.
Then in the morning, he gave them a test.
At first the eldest came to the stone table
To prove whether or not he was worthy and able.
Right there on the table were inscribed three tasks.
If done, the castle would be free at last.
The one to succeed would be king alone,
The ones who did not would be turned into stone.
In the forest beneath the moss,
A thousand of the princess’s pearls were lost.
Every single pearl should be found
And returned to the castle before the sun went down.
Glockenspiel
When the first brother went out to search the ground,
Only one hundred of the princess’s pearls were found.
Just as the words on the table had shown,
The eldest brother was turned into stone.
Glockenspiel
The next day the second brother was ready to try,
But only two hundred pearls could he find.
What happened next might already be known.
This brother, too, was turned into stone.
Glockenspiel
On the third day, Simpleton was ready to go,
But the pearls were so many, and his searching was slow.
Then Simpleton sat down and started to weep
When along came the ants and put the pearls in a heap.
The king of the ants with five thousand more
Remembered how Simpleton had helped them before.
Glockenspiel
When Simpleton came to task number two,
It brought him back to the lake deep and blue.
Somewhere below was the princess’s key,
And when he looked out, whom did he see?
Ready to help bring Simpleton luck
Were his old familiar friends, the ducks!
From below the surface of the deep blue water,
They brought him the key of the good king’s daughter.
Glockenspiel
The last task for Simpleton would be the toughest:
From among the king’s daughters to find the youngest.
But each daughter looked the same as the next,
And Simpleton could not tell which daughter was which.
The only difference was a little bit funny:
One had had sugar, one syrup, one honey.
Then out to taste the lips of the three
Came whom do you think but the old Queen Bee.
When on the lips of the youngest she came to rest,
Simpleton knew he had passed the test.
At last the enchantment was finally over,
And all in the kingdom their form could recover.
Simpleton gave the princess a wedding ring,
And when the time had come, he became the new king.
What happened, you ask, to Simpleton’s brothers?
They were married as well—to the princess’s sisters!
Song: Listen as we sing and tell,
How Simpleton became the king so well.
We was gentle and kind in every endeavor,
So joy was returned to the kingdom forever.
;)
