Cinderella

(the Budget Version)

A Lazy Bees Best Seller (and used in Channel 4’s The Write-Offs - see About page)

One-Act Pantomime

Playing time: about 60 minutes

Published by Lazy Bee Scripts

Songs: some songs are suggested.

A short version of Cinderella intended for companies with a limited budget or for any company which wants a shorter version. There's no pumpkin, no coach, no glass slipper... but no shortage of magic and humour. We have the same story (well, almost) and the same main characters, with the Fairy Godmother taking a more prominent role. There are some surprising twists – see how Cinderella gets to the Ball, what happens when she gets there, and who ends up marrying whom!

This script has been performed in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand, and the Czech Republic, as well as in many locations in the United Kingdom.

Characters

Buttons: And, while Cinderella's doing all this work, she's studying for a degree. (Pause) Oh yes, she is. She's studying Art History.

Cinderella: It's quite true. I once wrote an essay on the Mona Lisa.

Buttons: Fortunately no-one ever noticed.

Cinderella: My parents used to keep a Constable in every room.

Buttons: Which certainly surprised all the visitors. It must have been a law-abiding house. Oh, look! The Ugly Sisters are coming! They are dreadful – and do you know, they think they're really lovely! They're called Flora – and Fauna.

(Enter Flora and Fauna Stage Left. Fauna holds an Eeyore toy. Flora holds a potato – or, if possible, has it concealed in a pocket)

Flora: Hello, boys and girls! (Waits for audience response) I'm Flora. Isn't that a lovely name? I'm called Flora because I'm so beautiful that I'm like a flower. I'm like a little daffodil with my gorgeous yellow hair.

Buttons: Or a snapdragon. Or a stinging nettle.

Flora: Sometimes I'm like a rare orchid.

Buttons: Not rare enough.

Flora: And this is Fauna.

Fauna: Hello, boys and girls! (Waits for audience response) And say hello to Eeyore! (Waits for audience response) I have lots of Eeyores. Five hundred and ninety-four, and all different colours.

Flora: It's the worlds's finest collection of Eeyores. I have a quite different collection. I collect interesting potatoes.

Fauna: She has the world's largest collection of interesting potatoes.