Plays for Young Audiences
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The Red Shoes
By
John Clark Donahuse
From the Story by
Hans Christian Andersen
The Red Shoes was originally produced by the Children’s Theatre Company in the 1982-83 season.
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Characters:
Karen
Hans
Mrs. Sorensen
Mother
Old Ragface
Old Lady
Helga
Queen
Princess
Shoemaker
Soldier
Preacher
Coachman
Angel
Executioner
Ensemble includes: Doubles for Hans and Karen, Shoe Shop Customers, Church
Congregation, Confirmation Class, Dancers at the ball, and Vain Girls
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
1
As the play opens, we see the bedroom of a young girl which has been outfitted as well as upper
middle class nineteenth century Danish society will allow. There are dolls and toy animals all
about the room as well as a substantial window seat set up as a bed. In addition, the walls
contain shelves of porcelain figurines and bric-a-brac of all sorts. It is mid day and Mrs.
Sorenson is sitting on the bed of her daughter, Karen. To all intents, Karen is very ill. It is only
after Mrs. Sorenson leaves that we see that Karen has been feigning her illness and is, in fact,
very well indeed. As the lights cm up, a distant bell strikes one.
MRS SORENSON
And what is the ninth commandment? Oh Karen... if only I knew
what was affecting you so... Every day you seem the same... No
better... No worse... I don't know what to do... (Rises to leave the
room) Perhaps some stories would help ... like in the old days ... I'll
summon Hans the story teller... Yes, that's it... Hans the story
teller... . (As soon as Mrs Sorenson has left the room, Karen springs from
her bed.)
KAREN
I don't want to study my catechism... Besides I have better things to
do.. Like be beautiful... Studying my catechism is boring ... and I
plan to lead a life of play ... And Hans the story teller won’t change
anything .... (picks up a doll) ... and don't you say anything back
either... (slaps the doll).. . And now I must rest... after all, the famous
Hans is coming to cure me... And I'll need to be rested... (throws doll
against the wall) Ha... Ha... Ha... (She lies down in bed as the lights go
out.)
As the lights come up, the distant clock is striking three. Karen is alone in her room, brushing
her hair.
KAREN
Don't worry Rag Face, I'll pick you up again ... But first I have to
brush my hair and make sure Mother isn’t coming ... I know you're
angry with me Rag Face... But I had to throw you... You were
playing Mother... Oh, you'll never understand.... All right, mother
isn’t looking now.... I'll brush your hair.... (Picks up doll, brushes hair
sm and then brings her to the toy theatre) ... On day, Rag Face jumped
off the top of the theatre... there was no water at the bottom... but
she lived anyway and so we danced. ... and danced ...(While Karen is
dancing, Hans enters and watches her from the far corner of the room.)
And danced....
The music from the music box which has been playing softly during this scene winds down.
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
2
KAREN
Oh dear...And just before the romtic duet. .. Maestro Premmer, you
must pay attention!! (She re-winds the music box and continues to
speak) ... That's better... Now once again... step!..spin and leap ...
together and glide .... And then... the villian appears... (She runs to
the toy theatre carrying the doll she's been dancing with) ... Aha, he
cries... and the heroine says ..."O h, oh, oh,...he’s come at last," and
faints dead away... (She falls on the ground. We hear the voices of Hans
and Mrs Sorenson off stage.)
HANS
This is Karen's room, isn’t it? I'll knock. (Karen runs back to her bed,
maintains her sick pose again.) (Still calling from off stage) Hello there!!
MRS SORENSON
Welcome Hans... I’m so glad you could come...
HANS
And how is little Karen?
MRS SORENSON
Not so little anymore... Oh Hans, I’m so worried... the girl just isn’t
herself these days. ...
HANS
Oh really, who is she then?
MRS SORENSON
I've had the doctor here three times, but nothing seems to help. ..
she's so melancholy and always sleeping ... I don't know what to
do...
HANS
It sounds serious.. . What did the doctor say?
MRS SORENSON
He can find nothing... nothing at all...
HANS
I saw the Pastor this morning and he tells me Karen hasn't been to
church either. . .
MRS SORENSON
I tell you it's a mystery... and with her confirmation coming up...
she's so behind in her catechism studies... (When Karen hears
"catechism" she groans, both Hans and Mrs Sorenson look at her, then
look at each other.)
HANS
Well, I'll do what I can to comfort her...
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
3
MRS SORENSON
Oh Hans, I’m sure she will love to see you... Remember when she
was young and you used to tell her stories?
HANS
No. Ja, Ja.
MRS SORENSON
You always could calm her... Remember when she had the fevers?
HANS
It's been a while, but I think she’ll remember.
MRS SORENSON
I’m sure she will. Dear - Hans is here.... You remember, don't you ?
Hans the storyteller? (They cross to Karen's bed.)
HANS
How I remember this room... All the toys ... Little Karen...Where
are you?
KAREN
I’m here, Herr Hans... (coughs) I am so glad to see you...
MRS SORENSON
I just don't know.. . I just don't know what’s wrong with her...
HANS
Mrs. Sorenson, if you would make us some tea, I’m sure that we
can catch up on old memories very quickly ...
MRS SORENSON
I'll only be a minute... Karen is so glad to see you ... Only a minute...
HANS
Take your time... (Holding flowers behind his back) I've brought you a
present little Karen, for that is what you'll always be to me...
KAREN
(excitedly) What is it?
HANS
A nosegay from my garden.
KAREN
Oh! Beautiful! (weakly) I mean. . . (cough) how nice of you.
HANS
Ah, I see you have a toy theatre, so do I, at my house.
KAREN
You do?
HANS
I spend my hours with my theatre, making plays and giving life to
little paper actors. I know, we can do a little play ... if you like.
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
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KAREN
Oh, I would.
HANS
That is if you're not too weak...
KAREN
I think I could manage dear Hans... barely ...
HANS
Sit down Karen. Of course, we will need some inspiration for our
story... Now let me see... (he picks up Karen's catechism) I have it... a
play based upon the writings in the "LUTHERAN BOOK OF THE
CATECHISM". . . It will be a morality play...
KAREN
(quietly) Oh no.. . I’m so faint...
HANS
What's the matter? Perhaps I should go then?
KAREN
No... No.. don't go.. . I'll manage... anything's better than... Well
what’s the play about?
HANS
I don't know yet ... We’ll make it up as we go along.. We’ll need....
let me see... a soldier ... and townspeople. .. your dolls will do
nicely. .. quick ... gather them up, if you can... (Karen hurries about
the room, forgetting her sick condition) ... There will be a church scene
of course, and a pastor ... add some others... I know, a shoemaker
and a...
KAREN
What do we need a shoemaker for?
HANS
Everyone needs a shoemaker... Now... Yes, and a princess and a
queen...
KAREN
(Karen takes down the porcelain Queen and Princess dolls from the shelf.)
I'll be the princess ...
HANS
Oh no, you won't be the princess ... You must be the heroine, for
this is to be a story about a girl very much like you...
KAREN
What's it about? ... What happens?
HANS
All in good time... Now do we have all the characters assembled?
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
5
KAREN
I have a soldier somewhere, but I can't seem to find it.
HANS
This old red wooden peg doll will do nicely. .. and for the coach...
I'll make some paper cut outs... I’m very good at that you know...
(While making the paper cut outs, Hans hums and occassionally asks
Karen the following questions) ... Do you have a sore throat?
KAREN
Yes, Very sore.
HANS
Aha, is it swollen, your throat and red?
KAREN
Yes, very red, and very swollen, too.
HANS
Have you had a fever?
KAREN
Yes, very fevers ... I mean,... many fevers...
HANS
Ah-ha, many fevers... And now, if only we had some music...
KAREN
What about the music box?
HANS
Yes, by all means... the music box... (Doubles of Karen and Hans
appear on the large stage through the scrim. They look as the Old Lady
Doll and Helga cross and the Old Lady offers the Karen Double a candy
cane.) Come Karen, the music...
KAREN
Oh look, Hans! (As the image fades, focus returns to Karen's room.)
KAREN/HANS
Ah!
HANS
Now, let us begin ... Once there was a little girl... very nice and very
pretty. . .
KAREN
Like me?
HANS
Yes, much like you... only this girl was very poor and had to go
barefoot all summer...
KAREN
Oh dear. (Through the scrim we see Karen #1 greet her mother. They
dance together both barefoot, and the sunarer trees are in on the big stage.)
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
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HANS
She loved her mother very much. She and her mother would spend
long hours up in the madow and Karen picked flowers there. They
danced together and her mother put flowers in the girl’s hair...
KAREN
She was a very good dancer... (Karen #1 and her mother exit.)
HANS
But in winter... (Hans begins to make wind sounds which become louder.
He takes out his hankerchief and drops it in the little theatre. Through the
scrim we see Karen #1 alone with the winter trees in and a large
hankerchief placed on the floor.)
HANS
She wore old wooden shoes through the deep snow that cut her
here and chafed her ankles until they were red, oh, as red as red
could be...
KAREN
She could barely lift her feet.
HANS
Her feet were very heavy.
KAREN
And frozen. (Off stage a woman calls "Karen, Karen.”)
HANS
Her mother called for her. (Lights go down on the big stage) In the
middle of the village lived Old Mother Shoemaker... I told you we'd
need a shoemaker...
KAREN
Oh, Old mother Shoemaker? Let's use Old Rag Face for her... She'll
be perfect...
HANS
Let me see... Oh yes.. Well, Old Rag Face it is.. (music. Through the
scrim we see Old Rag Face in her little house.)
RAG FACE
La la la la la
This is my house
Fit for a king
But nice for a mouse
I cook and I bake
The things I choose
And sometimes I make
Some little red shoes.
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
7
Karen #1 crosses carrying a bundle of wood.
RAG FACE
Oh, little girl. Come in. Come in my dear.
HANS
Come in. Come in my dear.
RAG FACE
You must come in out of the cold. Come sit down by the fire. Take
off those clumsy wooden shoes. Warm your feet. .. Oh look at how
red and chafed they are... You poor little thing ... What's your
name?
KAREN &
KAREN #1
Karen.
RAG FACE
Oh Karen, what a lovely name. Where do you live?
HANS
(With Rag Face.) ...Live, Karen?
KAREN &
KAREN #1
Right over there.
KAREN
With my beautiful mother. I've brought my mother.
KAREN #1
Some wood for the fire.
RAG FACE
What a good little girl you are to take care of your mother. Here,
drink this.
HANS
Well, Old Rag Face took some scraps of red cloth and did her hest
to make them into a pair of shoes.
KAREN
I'll make some shoes, but I only have red paper.
HANS
She used cloth because the girl’s feet were so sore...
RAG FACE
There's never enough material when you need it. I've a mind to...
Yes, by jingo, I'll cut some off my red petticoat. Careful there, not
too much, the wintery wind can give one a smart if their
underclothes are too short.
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
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HANS
Too short.
RAG FACE
Lift your feet my dear.
HANS
(Karen laughs at Hans) Hurry Karen, the shoes. The shoes were a bit
clumsy but well, for she intended to give them to the little girl.
Look Karen, look what I've made for you. Come over here and try
them on.
KAREN
Thank you ma’am.
HANS
It's a bit chilly don't you think?
KAREN
Oh no, with these comfortable shoes, why I’m as warn as a piece of
strudle bread hot from the oven.
HANS
Very good, Karen. Just the same I feel a bit chilled.
RAG FACE
(With Hans.) ...Little chilled.
HANS
Hurry along with you and don't be walking in those clumsy
wooden shoes anymore.
Karen#2 does dance of the red raggy shoes.
HANS
Lord, it's cold... (Image behind the scrim fades.) Oh yes, Karen. Now
(pause), the first time Karen really wore her new red shoes was on
the very day her mother was buried.
KAREN
Her mother was what?
HANS
She was buried.
KAREN
You mean her beautiful mother died?
HANS
Yes, Karen.
KAREN
Why?
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
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HANS
She just did! Of course they were not right for the funeral, her red
raggy shoes, but they were all she had so she put them on and
walked bare legged following the funeral procession as it went over
the barren and lonely countryside, the coffin first, and then the
pastor and little Karen. (Through the scrim we see the black funeral
procession). Now what we need is a grand Old Lady and a carriage.
Here, you find the lady and I’ll cut out the carriage from this black
paper. (Karen runs to find the doll, Hans cuts the carriage out of black
paper.) Karen, not so fast... You've been ill... no need to set you off
again.
KAREN
Sorry... I know what doll will do nicely ... here she is...
HANS
Yes, she’ll do well... Just then a large old carriage came by, with a
large old lady inside it. She looked at the girl and took pity on her...
And she went to the parson and said, “Give the girl to me and I
shall take care of her.”So the little girl went to live at the house of
the rich lady ... Now let me see.. Yes, over there... Let's use the vase
with the flowers I brought you to represent the rich lady's house.
She always had fresh flowers at her house.
KAREN
Every day. Here's the Old Lady and here's Karen. And they have a
maid, and her name is (pause) Helga.
HANS
All right ... now we continue...
KAREN
With the story of Karen. . . I bet that’s me . . .
Lights come up behind the scrim and we see Helga, the Old Lady and Karen in a room
with a large vase with flowers in it and two chairs.
KAREN #1
I bet you picked me because...
KAREN
(With Karen #1) .... of her red shoes.
OLD LADY
What? Picked you to bring home with me because of your red
shoes? Those red raggy shoes? Take those off. Take off those shoes
and give them to Helga. Those old things. Were did you get those
awful shoes anyway? Helga? Throw them into the fire. Such
terrible shoes. Take those away, only good for the fire. (To Helga)
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
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There did the girl go? Helga, where did she go? Over there? Now
why are you over there?
HANS
She couldn't see.
OLD LADY
Certainly not feeling bad because of your shoes, are you? You'll
have new shoes. Some proper shoes and clothes. A proper dress for
a little lady. And that’s what you'll be - now that you are living
with me in a grand house, such a grand house. (Music, Dance of the
Old Lady's house. Scrim comes up). Why Look, over here at my oil
painting ... it's of a fish. And here, my vase... real china. And here,
very soft... try it... Play on my piano ... Notice all my big books.... I'll
teach you manners and get you books... See my clock... Everyday
fresh flowers... I like things to smell fresh and sweet. You'll have to
learn manners now, like how to take tea. Come sit. Look out the
window, out there... There's the palace. The queen and princess live
there... and someday you might see their carriage passing ... But
now... go upstairs ... (Karen #1 exits with Helga.) You must wash
your feet - take a bath... and get her some new clothes. Wash those
feet. Where are my glasses?
As lights fade Old Lady is frozen pulling her glasses out of the vase of flowers. Mrs. Sorenson
enters quietly with tea service. Scrim goes down.
HANS
Where are my glasses?
KAREN
Why did she say that?
HANS
The one problem with the Old Lady was she had poor eyesight. She
would always lose her glasses and she couldn't find anything. She
would misplace her books, and her teacup... Once she stepped right
in the tea. (He gestures to Mrs Sorenson to put down the tea. Karen
laughs.) Oh look, Karen... our own tea service.
KAREN
Where did that come from?
HANS
Why magic, of course.
KAREN
Magic? Would you care for some tea? Cream?
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
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HANS
No, thank you.
KAREN
Sugar?
HANS
No, thank you.
KAREN
Here you are, magic tea.
HANS
Very proper, Karen. Of course, little Karen grew older and learned
to have tea too, just like the Old Lady said she would.
Through the scrim we see Karen #2 and Old Lady sitting at a table in the Old Lady's house.
OLD LADY
Now that you've become older there are certain rules of etiquette as
pertaining to the likes of young girls such as yourself. First, never
under any circumstances sit in such a way as to show your knees....
very bad... very bad indeed, right little Biddle? Second, never slurp
your tea when dining with folks of a gentil nature, such as your
pastor, teacher or your aunt Freda... Third, don't discuss money
matters before noon or after sundown, unless it is of personal
advantage to yourself. And last, always stand up straight and obey
your elders... then someday you will become an elder yourself, and
be able to order people about... and that’s a mercy. More tea
please... (Old Lady and Karen#2 freeze as the lights fade.)
HANS
Karen learned her manners and when she was old enough to...
KAREN
Go to her first dance?
HANS
No, no Karen.
KAREN
To ride with the Old Lady in her carriage?
HANS
She'd done that many times already.
KAREN
To visit the queen and the princess?
HANS
No. Think Karen. (He holds up her catechism book.)
KAREN
To study her catechism?
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
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HANS
Very good Karen. (He hands her the book.)
KAREN
Oh.
HANS
But as she was studying in her room, it happened that one day
Karen was looking out the window of her lovely home and saw the
Queen who was travelling through the country side with her little
daughter, who was, of course, the Princess. (Through the scrim we
can see Karen #2 standing at the witidow, and the Queen and
Princess at the other window, waving, as if to the crowds.) As they
stopped the royal coach and alit to allow the throng to admire
them, Karen saw that the Princess didn't wear a crown or a royal
train, but she did wear a pair of splendid red...
KAREN
What?
HANS
Red Morrocan Shoes.
KAREN
What were they like?
HANS
They were the finest, smoothest, most comfortable pair of shoes in
the entire world. And every time Karen looked at herself in the
mirror, after this, all she could think of was the Princess and her
splendid red shoes.
The Red Shoes by John Donahue
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