Harris The Red Shoes

stage version
ISBN: 978-1-78850-855-1
Verlag: Nick Hern Books
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 144 Seiten

Reihe: NHB Modern Plays

'What's wrong with wanting to dance?' When an orphaned young woman is taken in by some local do-gooders, she is expected to be seen and not heard. Dazzled by a pair of beautiful shoes, she sees in them an opportunity to shine - but soon her feet betray her, taking her to places she does not wish to go. Nancy Harris's version of The Red Shoes is a contemporary retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's extraordinary fairytale of dance, desire and destruction. It was first performed at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, in 2017 and revived in the version published here in 2024 at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, by the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Kimberley Rampersad.

Nancy Harris is a playwright and screenwriter from Dublin who lives in London. Her plays include: Somewhere Out There You (Abbey Theatre Dublin, 2023); Two Ladies (Bridge Theatre, London, 2019); The Beacon (Druid, 2019); The Red Shoes, after Hans Christian Andersen (Gate Theatre, Dublin, 2017); Our New Girl (Bush Theatre, London, 2012); and No Romance (Abbey Theatre, Dublin, 2011).

Autoren/Hrsg.

Harris, Nancy

Weitere Mitwirkende

Andersen, Hans Christian

Leseproben

ACT ONE

One

KAREN

PRIEST

PRIEST.…Karen? Karen, wake up now.

KAREN PRIEST

On your feet, there’s a good girl. Were you were praying all night?

KAREN

Well the Lord in his beneficence has heard you.

KAREN

There’s been a change of plan – you’re not going where you thought you were going.

Now stand up straight and make yourself presentable. None of this slouching. Dry those red eyes. You want to make a good impression don’t you. Course you do. And there’s no time to waste – they could be here literally any –

NUGENTS BOB MARIELLA

MARIELLA. I don’t believe it, Bob, do you believe it /

BOB. It’s on the map /

MARIELLA. But it’s so small and dark and –

What that smell?

BOB. I think they call it the countryside.

PRIEST

PRIEST. Mr and Mrs Nugent! Welcome. You found us alright?

MARIELLA. Just about. We drove through the town at least twice.

BOB () If you could call it a town.

MARIELLA. Well exactly.

BOB. No shops.

MARIELLA. No boutiques.

BOB. Not even a cashpoint.

MARIELLA. I mean what do people here all day –

MARIELLA KAREN .

Oh my God is that our orphan?

PRIEST. It certainly is. Mariella, this is Karen. Karen, this is Bob and Mariella Nugent. They drove from Dublin this morning, especially.

PRIEST KAREN

Mrs Nugent is a member of the prestigious Save the Orphans Foundation.

BOB

BOB. Ha! Where did you hear that?

MARIELLA BOB

MARIELLA. Bob. Well, no I’m not a member just yet, father. Though very nearly – I have an application in for the board. I’m told I’m in with a very good chance.

KAREN

You do know the prestigious Save the Orphans Foundation don’t you, dear?

KAREN

BOB. She must have seen them on the news.

PRIEST. Everybody who’s anybody is a member.

KAREN

MARIELLA. Well… I s’pose it is remote here.

PRIEST. Bob and Mariella have some good news for you, Karen. They might be able to offer you a home.

KAREN

MARIELLA. Well, we hoping for something smaller.

PRIEST. Oh she’s not as tall as she looks, are you, Karen?

KAREN

MARIELLA. Cos the small ones are quiet and keep to themselves.

PRIEST. Oh she’s very quiet aren’t you, Karen?

KAREN

() Hasn’t said a word since her mother passed, in fact.

MARIELLA. Does she eat?

PRIEST. Oh anything. Everything. And barely at all. She’s like a little bird.

BOB. And she’s not – unstable?

PRIEST () No –

BOB. Cos some of these orphans – with their backgrounds and history…

PRIEST. Karen’s a very steady girl. Despite the situation with her – mother

MARIELLA/BOB. Terrible. Terrible /

PRIEST. Karen has her head very much screwed on.

PRIEST KAREN

Haven’t you, Karen?

KAREN

MARIELLA

MARIELLA. Hmmn.

KAREN

…What do you think Bob?

BOB

BOB. About what?

MARIELLA

MARIELLA. About the orphan. Should we take her?

BOB. This is your thing, Mariella. Nothing to do with me.

MARIELLA. He was your second cousin.

BOB. Three times removed.

MARIELLA ( PRIEST) Bob knew her father as I mentioned.

KAREN

Oh that’s got her interested. Ears practically pricking up.

PRIEST. Well, no one here knows much about Karen’s father. Her mother never talked about him, understandably. I’m sure she’s very keen to hear what he was like, aren’t you, Karen?

KAREN BOB

…What he like?

BOB

BOB. Uh well… Mariella, the orphan is staring at me.

MARIELLA ( KAREN) Oh he was a terrible drinker, your father. Drank himself into an early grave. Liver as green as an olive in the end by all accounts.

BOB. Eyes as black as… onions.

MARIELLA. Most disturbing. So, when we heard the news about your poor mother, God rest her soul, we said we can’t just stand idle and do nothing to help. We must offer the girl some support… Of course we hoping you’d be smaller…

PRIEST () Just put her in a corner you won’t know she’s there.

KAREN

MARIELLA KAREN

MARIELLA. I do like her sorrow around the eyes…

PRIEST. And she’s sixteen now. Sure in one or two years she’ll be off on her own –

MARIELLA. You’re right. You know what – you’re right. I think we’ll take her!

BOB. So we’re done?

MARIELLA ( KAREN) Where are her things?

PRIEST. Oh she barely has any. These are all her worldly goods.

PRIEST

MARIELLA. A simple suitcase. () The tragedy.

MARIELLA

Thank you for all your help, father. We so appreciate it. Bob…

BOB

BOB. What do we owe you, father?

PRIEST. Oh for goodness’ sake she’s hardly for sale. I’m just glad she’s going to a loving home.

BOB. Oh grand so –

BOB PRIEST

PRIEST. – though a small donation is always appreciated…

BOB. Of course.

BOB

MARIELLA KAREN

MARIELLA. You come with me, love, we’re just parked outside. See that gold convertible out by the gate.

KAREN

Oh Bob, would you look at her face. Only this morning she thought she was going to a children’s home and now – she thinks she’s in a fairytale. ( KAREN.) Bet you can’t believe your luck.

BOB PRIEST

PRIEST. Bless you, Mr Nugent.

BOB. Yeah, thanks.

Two

ENSEMBLE

MARIELLA KAREN

MARIELLA. Here we are – home sweet home. Now don’t be alarmed by the class and style, dear. That’s just a chandelier. You’ve probably seen those in magazines.

KAREN MARIELLA

Oh no, not there, dear. It was just dry-cleaned. We’ll get you washed and dressed and scrubbed up later, then you can sit anywhere you like.

KAREN MARIELLA

Now where is Clive, he’ll be dying to – Clive! CLIVE!

CLIVE. Look what I just got!

MARIELLA. Clive – oh Jesus, it’s the Morrisons’ cat. What have you done to him?

CLIVE. Nothing. He was like...