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Hansel and Gretel with Music from the Opera - Storynory

2012-12-01 13:38:18 UTC

This Christmas (2012), our extra special production brings you a delightful introduction to opera. Our production of Hansel and Gretel is specially crafted for children but anyone who loves music will enjoy it.

The opera of Hansel and Gretel by the German composer, Englebert Humperdinck (1854 -1921) is traditionally performed at Christmas. The celebration of sweets and food makes a seasonal delight. Or course, if you know the story, you will realise that the section with the witch is spooky enough to listen to at Halloween too.

We have adapted Humperdinck's opera to bring you the most charming and catchy tunes, with spoken narration and acting in between. But make no mistake, the singing is real opera - be prepared to be thrilled and amazed.

Music by Englebert Humperdinck, played arranged and produced for Storynory by Joe Davison of Auburn Jam. Additional instruments (flute, oboe, ukulele) by Nikki Davison.

Original libretto by Adelheid Wette (Humperdinck's sister). Storynory would like to thank Lewis Reynolds for allowing us to use his translation of the words for the songs.
Dialogue by Bertie drawing freely from the verse translation of Constance Bache for the witch's speeches.

The original story was of course written by the Brothers Grimm and you can hear it told by Natasha in one of our first story productions. Proofread by Claire Deakin.

The original pictures for Stornory are by CaiJia Eng who illustrates Katie the Witch for us. More pictures for Hansel and Gretel will be coming very soon.

NARRATOR

Long ago, in a cottage on the edge of a dark wood, two children were busy doing boring jobs. Hansel was making a broom for their father to sell. Gretel was patching up the holes in some old socks. Both were hungry, but they tried not to think about their empty stomachs. As they worked, Gretel sang a simple song.

If only our mother would come home at last.

GRETEL
Oh yes, I need to eat something pretty fast

HANSEL
For weeks; dry bread without a break.
I can't take more of this tummy ache.

HANSEL speaks
Oh Gretel, I wish I had something to eat. Your song makes me feel all the more hungry. I can't remember the last time we had anything but rough old bread.

GRETEL
Well I've got a secret. Tonight, we shall have rice pudding!

HANSEL
Rice Pudding! Don't torture me with your fibs! You know how I love rice pudding!

GRETEL
It's true, it's true! A lady in the village took pity on us. She filled mother's empty jug with milk. Look up! There it is on the top shelf.

HANSEL
Wow! Milk! Has it got the cream on it? I'll climb up and stick my thumb in.

GRETEL
You'll do no such thing. But isn't it wonderful? I can't work any more - I'm dreaming of rice pudding.

HANSEL
Me too.

GRETEL
I'm so happy. Come on Brother dance with me!

HANSEL
I don't dance with little soppy girls.

DANCING SONG

HANSEL
With my head I nick nick nick,
With my fingers tick tick tick.
One by here,
One by there,
Round without a care.

GRETEL speaks
SHHH! Look busy. Here's mother.

MOTHER
What's all this horsing around? Stop it at once. Playing is for rich kids! We're too poor. There will be no supper until you finish your work.

HANSEL
Oh mother, is it true that there will be rice pudding tonight? I'm so hungry."

MOTHER
Didn't you hear what I said? Give me that broom. It's not half finished. What have you been doing all this time? Take that, you lazy child!

SOUND FX
[Bang!]

HANSEL
AAAAGH! Don't hit me!

GRETEL
Oh no!! Look out!

SOUND FX
[Crash! Smash!]

MOTHER
Now see what you've done! You wicked, wicked children!

GRETEL
Oh the milk is all over the floor!

MOTHER
It's spilt. All spilt. There is nothing for dinner now, nothing - nothing! (bursts into tears)

GRETEL
Dear mother. Don't be so upset!

MOTHER
Silence both of you! Go out to the woods and find strawberries!

GRETEL
But mother! It's getting late. It's the wrong time of year for ...

MOTHER
Do as I say or you'll be sorry! Out, out of my sight! Why did I ever have children? Just eat and sleep, sleep and eat; play around and break things, make noise, make trouble - that's all you two are good for. Get out! And don't come back until your basket is full of berries! Or I'll whip you both!

[BRING UP SOME INCIDENTAL MUSIC]

NARRATOR

Hansel and Gretel, both down at heart, left the cottage to look for strawberries. They did not hear their mother, inside, quietly praying to herself.

MOTHER
Dear God. Help me feed my children. I haven't got a single crumb for them. They are naughty but I love them with all my heart. I feel so hopeless. Send us some relief from our suffering.

[FX: Walking along a path]

HANSEL
This is silly. How shall we find strawberries? They are not out yet.

GRETEL
Perhaps the little man of the wood will help us.

HANSEL
The who?

GRETEL
The little man of the wood.

The little man is balanced up on one leg,
He wears a little bonnet up on his head.
Say what sort of man can be,
One who stand on just one knee,
And a little bonnet on his head?
And a little bonnet on his head?

HANSEL
Hey look! I don't know about your little man, but there's a little strawberry!

GRETEL
And where's there's one, there's bound to be more.

HANSEL
We're in luck!

NARRATOR

The children, in their excitement, left the path and wandered through the bushes, filling their basket with strawberries as they went. There were pretty wild flowers too, which Gretel picked up when she saw them. As the sun was setting, they found themselves in a clearing, and they sat down beneath a fir tree. Gretel began to join the flowers together in a ring.

HANSEL
What's that for?

GRETEL
You shall crown me The Woodland Queen.

HANSEL
All hail The Woodland Queen! Let's celebrate with strawberries!

GRETEL
Oh go on, just one.

HANSEL
Or two....

GRETEL
Cuckoo!

NARRATOR

Gretel takes a strawberry from the basket and pops it into her brother's mouth. He sucks on it. It is the most delicious taste in the world, and it is far too good to resist another one. Of course it is not long before the strawberries are all gone.

GRETEL
Whoops! What naughty children we are! Mother will whip us if we go back with an empty basket.

HANSEL
Go back? How shall we go back? It's almost dark. We can't see the path.

GRETEL
Oh! Oh oh oh! What shall we do?

HANSEL
What can we do? We must stay here the night. In the morning we'll pick more berries, and find the path home.

GRETEL
You're right. I'm so tired I can feel the Sandman closing my eyelids already. But we mustn't forget our evening prayers.

GRETEL sings
When at night I go to bed,
Fourteen Angels watch my head;
Two are here beside me.
When at night I go to bed,
Fourteen angels watch my head;
Two are here beside me,
Two are here to guide me,
Two are by my right hand,
Two are by my left hand,
Two are here to guide me,
Two are by my right hand.
Two are by my -
Two are there to lull me,
Two are there to wake me,
Two are there to guide me to my left hand,
Two are there to lull me,
Two are there to wake me,
Two to guide to highest heaven paradise,
heaven paradise.

GRETEL
(yawns) Where am I? Is it still a dream? Is this the wood? Why am I here...?
Hansel, Hansel, wake up you lazy bones.

HANSEL
Did you see them?

HANSEL
The fourteen angels! They just went rushing by.

GRETEL
You were dreaming, my silly brother.

HANSEL
Oh I must have been... but hold on! Is that a dream?

GRETEL
What, was that there last night?

NARRATOR

For now, in the clearing, in a spot that was empty the evening before, stood a cottage. It was no ordinary house - for it was not built of wood or bricks. It was all made of the sweetest, most delicious things! The hedge was gingerbread; the windows glistened with sugar, the roof was Turkish delight! At first it smelled of marzipan and nuts, and the sweetest raisins. And then - oh yes; of hot, yummy, gooey chocolate sauce. You could breath it in, and it made you feel all warm and happy.
But as you can imagine, something that looked so tasty had a magical attraction. You just felt like you were being pulled towards it, that you had to reach out and touch it, taste it, devour it ... and you knew that you shouldn't. You knew that you should keep back... but you just couldn't help yourself.

HANSEL
Oh Gretel, let's nibble the garden gate a bit. I'm sure it tastes delicious.

GRETEL
I don't think we should. A house like that must belong to a princess.

HANSEL
Then she can afford a few crumbs. Hmmm. Yes, the gate does taste SO good! Even better than it looks. I'm going to try the doorknob. It's made of marzipan. Come on sister, tuck in. When are you going to get a chance to feast like this again? Uh-oh! Hold on.

[HOCUS POCUS MUSIC]

Who's that? The princess's grandma? She looks like a bit of an old hag!

GRETEL
Hansel. Don't be so rude!

THE WITCH
Nibble, nibble mousekin
Who's nibbling at my housekin?

HANSEL
Who are you, ugly face?

GRETEL
HANSEL!!!

THE WITCH
Now darling, that's not nice. I'm Rosina Dainty-Mouth. Children are dear to me. I so love to eat - I mean - meet them.

HANSEL
Get back! Don't come near us!

THE WITCH
Come little mouse, come into my house. If you think my garden gate tastes nice, wait until you try my cooking. Oh deary-dear, aren't you hungry?

GRETEL
Well yes, we are. Could we take something back for our mother and father?

THE WITCH
Of course. Come inside. I have rice pudding!

GRETEL
Rice pudding! I'd love to try some.

HANSEL
Gretel, don't go inside... Let's run.

THE WITCH
Hold!
Hocus pocus, witch's charm!
Move not as you fear my arm!
Back or forward do not try,
Fixed you are by the evil eye!
Children watch the magic head,
eyes are staring dull as lead.
Now you kids, off to bed!

GRETEL
I suppose I had better do as she says... It's not good for children to disobey grown ups.

Maiden Gretel!
Bring some raisins and almonds sweet.
Hansel wants some more to eat!

Yes, we'll soon fatten him up...

GRETEL
But he can't move his mouth because of the spell you put on him.

THE WITCH
Oh yes...
Hocus pocus elder bush,
Stiffen body, loosen. Whoosh!
Hehe, my-my little miss,
Give your brother this.
Don't cry, there's no matter
Cakes will only make him fatter.

HANSEL
Sister dear, beware!

THE WITCH
She makes my mouth water-
This pretty little daughter.
Come Gretel fine,
Sugar maiden mine,
Open up the oven door.
Should we bake the cake some more?
Carefully look, my little pet,
is it ready yet?

GRETEL
Uh, I don't understand what I have to do.

HANSEL
Sister, take care.

GRETEL
I'm such a goose, I don't understand. Please show me what to do.

WITCH
Like this you see,
Open the oven, it's easy

HANSEL
Come on sister, now!

HANSEL
Hurrah! Now sing the witch is dead, no more to dread!

GRETEL
Hurrah, the witch is still!
Now we can eat our fill!

SHORT SONG

SONG
The spell is broke and we are free.
We'll sing and we'll dance and we'll shout for glee.
Come children all, and form a ring.
Join hands together while we sing.
Then sing and spring,
then dance and sing,
for cakes and all good things we bring.

HANSEL
Mother!

Mother
Oh come to me my naughty, darling children.

SING
When past bearing is our grief,
then 'tis heaven will send relief.

[Music - lively dance]

End.

Paula Cob

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD (also LITTLE RED-CAP)

Brothers Grimm

" CAPERUCITA ROJA"
EN VERSION BILINGÜE

Little Red Riding Hood PAGE 1/2
Caperucita Roja PAGINA 1/2

"Good-day, Little Red Riding Hood," said he.
"Thank you kindly, wolf."
"Whither away so early, Little Red Riding Hood?"
"To my grandmother's."
"What have you got in your apron?"
"Cake and wine. Yesterday was baking-day, so poor sick grandmother is to have something good, to make her stronger."
"Where does your grandmother live, Little Red Riding Hood?"
"A good quarter of a league farther on in the wood. Her house stands under the three large oak-trees. You surely must know it," replied Little Red Riding Hood.

"Buenos dias, Caperucita Roja," le dijo.
"Gracias , lobo."
"¿Andando lejos tan temprano, Caperucita Roja?"
"A la casa de mi abuela. "
"¿Qué traes en tu delantal?"
"Torta y vino. Ayer fue dia de hornear, así que la abuela enferma tendrá algo bueno que la fortalezca."
"¿Dónde vive tu abuela, Caperucita Roja?"
"A un buen cuarto de legua en el interior del bosque. Su casa está debajo de los tres grandes robles. Seguramente usted la conoce", respondió Caperucita Roja.

The wolf thought to himself, "What a tender young creature. She will be better to eat than the old woman. I must act carefully." So he walked for a short time by the side of Little Red Riding Hood, and then he said, "See Little Red Riding Hood, how pretty the flowers are about here — why do you not look around? I believe, too, that you do not hear how sweetly the little birds are singing; you walk gravely along as if you were going to school, while everything else out here in the wood is very merry."

El lobo pensó: "Qué criatura joven y tierna. Será más fácil de comer que la anciana. Debo actuar con cuidado." Entonces caminó un rato al lado de Caperucita Roja, y luego dijo, "Observa Caperucita Roja, qué hermosas son las flores por aquí — ¿ por qué no miras a tu alrededor? Creo, también, que no escuchas lo dulcemente que están cantando los pajarillos; caminas seria como si fueras a la escuela, mientras que todo aquí en el bosque es muy alegre."

Meanwhile the wolf ran straight to the grandmother's house and knocked at the door.
"Who is there?"
"Little Red Riding Hood," replied the wolf. "I am bringing cake and wine. Open the door."
"Lift the latch," called out the grandmother, "I am too weak, and cannot get up."

Mientras tanto el lobo corrió directamente a la casa de la abuela y golpeó la puerta.
"¿Quién es?"
"Caperucita Roja," contestó el lobo. "Traigo la torta y el vino. Abre la puerta."
"Levanta el cerrojo," gritó la abuela, "Estoy demasiado débil, y no puedo levantarme."
.
.
.

Miriam Aguado:

Our activities with flash cards

There are a plays or activities that you can do with your students:

Flashcards

Download Flashcards

1. Flashcards page.

2.Flashcards page.

3. Flashcards page (Miss Hernando's blog)

4. María's Flash Cards

5. Alicia Reyes Flash Cards

Activities to work with children

A good book for you!

Festivities

Christmas Day Activities.

Handprint Reindeer

What You Need:

Light brown construction paper

Dark brown construction paper

Red pom pom

Pencil

Scissors

Glue

Wiggle eyes

Sock

Tape

What You Do:

Help your child trace her foot on a piece of dark brown construction paper.

Let her use scissors to carefully cut out the foot. This shape will be her reindeer's face.

Next, have her fold a sheet of light brown construction paper in half.

Help her trace on of her hands on the light brown construction paper.

With the paper still folded, have her cut out her traced hand from the paper. She should now have two hand shapes.

Let her tape the cut-out hands behind the reindeer head to create antlers.

Have her glue two wiggle eyes in place to give the reindeer goofy personality.The last touch is the "Rudolph red" nose! Help your child glue the red pom pom to the center of the reindeer's face.

              Rudolph Craft

What You Need:

Mini terra cotta pot

Wiggle eyes

Red pom pom

Ribbon

2 brown pipe cleaners

Black marker

Glue gun

What You Do:

Have your child set his terra cotta pot upside down.

Let him glue a large red pom pom right in the center of the pot. This will be his reindeer's bright red nose.

Help him glue the wiggle eyes in place over the red pom pom nose.

Have him use a marker to draw goofy eyelashes above the wiggle eyes.

To make the antlers, help your child curve a brown pipe cleaner into a "U" shape.

Use the glue gun to attach the curved brown pipe cleaner onto the top of the terra cotta pot. The ends of the pipe cleaner should be pointing up.

Let him take another pipe cleaner and cut it in half.

Help him twist one of the short pipe cleaners around the ends of the first pipe cleaner, creating antlers.

Glue a looped ribbon to the top of the pot to create a handle for the ornament.

Let the entire craft dry over night.

In the morning, have your child hang his Rudolph ornament on your family's tree.

Father's Day Activities.

Bookmarks

Pictures of kids hanging (like off the monkey bars) or just standing with their hands over their heads, scissors, ribbon, laminator or contact paper, hole punchCut away the entire background of the pictures leaving only the cutout of the child.Run through the laminator or cover with contact paper.  Cut off extra plastic.  Punch a hole between the hands on the pictures and add a ribbon.   A perfect gift for the avid reader in your life!

A Super Hero Father's Day Card.

You start with a double sided piece of scrapbook paper measuring 10 x 7. Then you fold both sides to meet in the middle. Next cut out a tie to add to the front. 

You bent down the corners to look like a collar and glu a few buttons down the middle as well.

Found a dark denim paper and glue it in the middle to have a solid background (measuring 5 x 7).

Finally, glue the tie on the front, left side.

 

You can use a Superman Cricut cartridge to cut out the Superman emblem and Mickey Mouse cartridge to cut out the letters.

And them you have you awesome Superman style card!!

Mather's day activities.

'You are my sunshine!'

At the top of the card it says “Mom, You are my sunshine!” which is perfect for Mother’s Day but you could use it for any occasion.

Isn’t it cute?!You will need curly noodles, yellow paint, white cardstock paper, a black marker, glue, and a paintbrush.
Start by squirting yellow paint on a plate and have the kids roll each noodle with a paintbrush.After the noodles dry, the kids will have to pick them off the plate because they’ll be sticking. Have them paint a yellow circle on the white folded paper and put lines of glue around the outside. Have them press the noodles against the glue and hold for a few seconds.Add a smiley face with a black sharpie and write “Mom, You are my sunshine!” at the top!

Flower Photo Magnet.

Supplies Needed:

• 2 - Cupcake Liners

• 1 - Tongue Depressor

• Green art foam sheet

• 1-1/2" square photo

• Water color paints or markers

• Elmer's glue

• Hot glue gun

• Paint brush

• Magnetic tape

To Assemble:Flatten one cupcake liner completely. Fill the inner circle with Elmer's glue. Place the second cupcake liner on the first.Using the hot glue gun, glue the cupcake liners to the top of the tongue depressor. Glue the child's photo in the center of the top cupcake liner. Glue the leaf shape onto the bottom of the tongue depressor.Measure a strip of magnetic tape to fit the back of the flower and you have a refrigerator magnet.

Directions:Decorate the cupcake liners with watercolor paint or markers. Paint the tongue depressor with the green tempera paint. Cut leaf shape from the green art foam sheet.

Halloween day activities.

Along came a spider treats.

Need a super-quick, super-easy Halloween treat? Here you go! These spider cookies come together in no time at all. Twist open the chocolate sandwich cookies, add some black lace licorice strands and white candy coating, close up the cookies, and add the eyes—that’s all it takes!

Makes 12 cookiesBlack licorice laces (about 16 feet long)12 chocolate sandwich cookies1 cup white candy coating24 candy eyeballs1. Cut the licorice into 48 strips, each approximately 4 inches in length.2. Gently twist open the chocolate sandwich cookies.3. Place four licorice strips onto the side of the sandwich cookie with the filling, and press gently into the filling.4. Prepare the candy coating according to package directions. Working one cookie at a time, spoon approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons of the candy coating on top of the licorice strips and cookie filling. Place the top back on the sandwich cookie.5. With a spoon, place a small amount of candy coating on top of the sandwich cookies where the spider eyes will be placed. Immediately place two candy eyeballs onto the candy coating. Repeat with the remaining cookies. Allow to dry for at least 2 hours.

Carnival day activities.

Costume Party!

When you celebrate carnival, the best you can arrange with children is a costume party. You can choose a topic or each go of what they like.

Elephant stilts.

What you'll need:

• Two clean tin cans
• Colored paper
• Glue
• Paint and paintbrush
• Nylon stretch cord
• Knife

Directions:

1To start, make two holes in your tin cans, one on either side. We used 28-ounce cans, but the size of the can will depend on the child. Obviously, this step should only be completed by an adult — safety first!2Decorate the cans! We used pink paper and black puffy paint to make the elephant toes, but let your creativity shine through. Paint, cut and color to your heart's content. We're envisioning an entire jungle of stilts.3Cut your nylon stretch cord. If you don't have a stretch cord available, twine or heavy-duty string will also do the trick. The length of your cord will depend on your child's height, but a good starting point is 60 inches. Thread the cord through the holes in the can, knot the cord at the top and take it away!

Seasons activities

Season Tree.

To start, choose three light green sheets of card, then draw a tree in pencil. This should include a thick trunk, approx 16cm at the widest part and a bushy head of leaves approx 24cm at the widest part.

Once you have drawn your tree onto card with pencil, cut it out with scissors. To save time, use this tree as a template, draw round then cut out a further two trees from light green card. Once you have three trees, fold each of them neatly in half.

Once folded, secure the three trees together with staples, staple once at the top and once at the bottom. Do this by stapling the top of the tree, facing the stapler down into the centre crease, to help keep the staples hidden.

Turn over the front cover of your tree. Now get a piece of light brown card and based on the measurements of the trunk on the first and second page, draw a tree trunk that will fit the width and height of the trunk, then glue in place. Do this again for the third and fourth page.

Now repeat this process for the fifth and six page and the seventh and eighth page, but this time use dark brown card. The top of the tree on these pages needs to be blue, not green, so paint with light blue paint of use light blue card to stick over the top of the green card. Now add branches to your tree. Draw branches onto dark brown card then cut out before gluing to the trunk.

Spring page

The first and second pages can be entitled spring, use self-adhesive foam letters and carefully stick at the base of your tree. Now decorate the leaf area of your tree with flowers. To do this, we used self-adhesive foam sheets in white and pink. Firstly, draw your flowers, then cut out and peel off the backing before pressing firmly down to stick on your tree. Repeat this until your tree is covered with pretty flowers. Now get a sheet of blue self-adhesive foam and draw a bird. Cut out and stick to the left hand side of your tree, then draw an outline and wing detail with a dark blue felt pen. Now add a wiggle eye and colour the beak in yellow. Finally cut out small strips of brown felt and stick at the base of the bird to make a nest.

Summer page

The third and fourth pages can be entitled summer, again, use self-adhesive foam letters to do this and place towards the base of your tree. Underneath the word summer, affix some green strips of self-adhesive foam, these are your flower stems. Do this five times and place each green stem 3cms apart. Complete this beautiful array of flowers by adding a flower foam sticker to the top of each stem and firmly sticking down.

Now add a selection of green and yellow leaf felt stickers to the top of your tree to complete.

Autumn page

Entitle your autumn pages using foam letters and place at the base of pages five and six. Fill the very bottom of the trunk with leaf foam stickers, we used a selection of orange, red, yellow and green leaves. Now do this again for the leafy section of your tree. Use a variety of different sized leaves to fill up the whole of the green area.

Winter page

Entitle your winter pages using foam letters and place at the base of pages seven and eight. Now add snowflake felt stickers to the pages, spreading them out to look like falling snowflakes. Add a coloured gem to the centre of the larger snowflakes for a sparkly finish.

Finally, use a white acrylic pen to draw snow of the winter tree branches, then finish by writing your name followed by the words ‘season tree’ on the front cover of your book.