Cinderella
or The Little Glass Slipper
A
Parlour Pantomime
A
Victorian theatrical comedy-drama written for pantomime, this
version of Cinderella is a whimsical, musical reimagining
of the beloved fairy tale. The storyline features a blend
of established characters alongside fresh additions to the
cast: the downtrodden Cinderella, a prince searching for love,
a fairy godmother; but Cinderella now has a rich baron-father
and two sisters to cope with. The format injects a healthy
dose of slapstick humour and witty dialogue and singing, transforming
the familiar story into a light-hearted and interactive spectacle.
This comedic reinterpretation replaces some of the traditional
drama with silly mishaps, antics, and adventures, resulting
in a playful take on the classic tale. While core themes of
perseverance and triumph might still be present, the overall
tone leans towards light-hearted fun. The play was first printed
in 1877 by Crawford & McCabe, Edinburgh. The author has
not been identified. |
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| Dramatis
Personæ |
|
Name |
Description |
|
Prince Eglantine |
The somewhat sentimental hero. |
|
King Cashcrave |
His impecunious father. |
|
Baron Goldust |
Possessed of three charming daughters, a mint of money, and
a never-failing appetite. |
|
Lord Snuffy |
The original proprietor of Mull. |
|
Blawforth |
The herald; rather fond of 'blawin' his ain trumpet. |
|
Cinderella |
The heroine, who, notwithstanding her innumerable good qualities,
is a decidedly slippery character. |
|
Dolabella |
Her elder sister, the court beauty. |
|
Bluette |
Their eldest sister, a strong-minded lady. |
|
Margarita |
A beneficent fairy, godmother to Cinderella. |
| The
Play |
|
Scene I: Kitchen in the Ancestral Castle of the Goldusts. |
|
Enter Cinderella. |
|
1 |
Dialogue |
'Oh, it's so cold!' |
Cinderella |
|
Exit Cinderella, enter Goldust. |
|
2 |
Dialogue
|
'Breakfast not ready!' |
Goldust |
|
Enter Bluette. |
|
3 |
Dialogue |
'Good morning, pa.' |
Bluette, Goldust |
|
Enter Dolabella. |
|
4 |
Dialogue |
'Bless you, gal, ye're worth a fortune any day.' |
Goldust, Dolabella, Bluette |
|
Enter Cinderella. |
|
5 |
Dialogue |
'Breakfast's ready quite.' |
Cinderella |
|
6 |
Song—Tune, 'Old Uncle Ned' |
'I'm a poor little miserable wretched girl' |
Cinderella, Dolabella, Bluette, Goldust |
|
Scene II: A Room in the Palace. |
|
Enter
King Cashcrave. |
|
1 |
Dialogue |
'If it were done when 'tis done' |
King |
|
2 |
Song—Tune, 'Bay of Biscay' |
'I am a mighty monarch' |
King |
|
Enter
Prince Eglantine. |
|
3 |
Dialogue |
'Well, sire, you may be
precious glad you sent for me just now' |
Prince, King |
|
4 |
Duet—Tune, 'Men of Harlech' |
'See the prospect fair before you!' |
King, Prince |
| Exeunt
severally. |
|
Scene III: A Street. |
|
Enter
Prince Eglantine. |
|
1 |
Song—Tune, 'Nancy Till' |
'At daybreak, at twilight, at noon, and at night' |
Prince |
|
2 |
Dialogue |
'I see a fellow coming down the way' |
Prince |
|
Enter
Blawforth. |
|
3 |
Dialogue |
'Weel, hoo's a' wi' ye the day?' |
Blawforth, Prince |
|
Enter
Goldust, Bluette, and Dolabella. |
|
4 |
Dialogue |
'Most noble lord, it fills me with delight' |
Prince, Goldust, Dolabella, Bluette, Blawforth |
|
Exeunt
Goldust and Blawforth. |
|
5 |
Dialogue |
'I'll hope to see you there to-night?' |
Prince, Dolabella, Bluette |
|
6 |
Round |
'Softly now the hour is chiming' |
Bluette, Dolabella, Prince |
| Exeunt
omnes. |
|
Scene IV: Hall in Goldusts Castle. |
|
Cinderella
sitting. |
|
1 |
Song—Tune, 'I'm Afloat' |
'I'm alone, I'm alone in this dim, dismal hall.' |
Cinderella |
|
2 |
Song—Tune, 'La Campana' |
'Young mortal, why weep you?' |
Fairy (from behind the scenes) |
|
3 |
Dialogue |
'Who is it speaks?' |
Cinderella, Fairy |
|
4 |
Song—Tune, 'Belle Mahone' |
'Now these dingy rags must fall' |
Fairy |
|
5 |
Duet—Tune, 'Nora Creina' |
'Now I'm off to have some fun.' |
Cinderella, Fairy |
|
Scene V: Anteroom in the Palace. |
|
Enter
Blawforth. |
|
1 |
Dialogue |
'Is't no' near time tha'e dancin' fouk were comin'?' |
Blawforth |
|
2 |
Song |
'My birthplace was fair Embro' toun' |
Blawforth |
|
3 |
Dialogue |
'Oh, here they come!' |
Blawforth |
|
Bell
rings. Prince, Dolabella, Goldust, King (disguised), Fairy,
Bluette and Cinderella pass. |
|
Exit
Blawforth. Enter the Dancers. Dance off. |
|
Enter
Bluette and King. |
|
4 |
Dialogue |
'You say, sir, you're acquainted with the King?' |
Bluette, King |
|
Exit
Bluette. |
|
5 |
Dialogue |
'Ah! I cannot tell' |
King |
|
Enter
the Dancers. |
|
6 |
Dialogue |
'What a nice dance we've had!' |
Cinderella, Prince |
|
7 |
Duet—Tune, 'Love's Young Dream' |
'Oh, in all my life I never felt so happy as to-night!' |
Prince, Cinderella |
|
The
Clock strikes Twelve. Cinderella runs off. |
|
8 |
Dialogue |
'Gone? She is gone!' |
Prince, Blawforth |
|
9 |
Songs—Tunes:
'Here awa', There awa' |
'Come back to me, oh! my sweet lovely princess' |
Prince |
|
|
'Paddle your own Canoe' |
'You've taken an awfully serious fit' |
Dolabella |
|
|
'Write me a Letter from Home' |
'Lonely I stand here and weep' |
King |
|
|
'Gentle Spring' |
'Sleep, sleep, mortals sleep!' |
Fairy |
|
|
'Cheer, Boys, Cheer' |
'Stop, stop, stop, whatever is you doin'?' |
Goldust |
|
|
'Jolly Good Fellows' |
'There's naithing the maitter ava' |
Blawforth |
| Exeunt
omnes. |
|
Scene VI: A Room in the Palace. |
|
Enter
Bluette and Goldust. |
|
1 |
Dialogue |
'Father, all's right—so leave me, I implore.' |
Bluette, Goldust |
|
Enter
Blawforth |
|
2 |
Dialogue |
'Here a meenit!' |
Blawforth |
|
Exeunt
Goldust and Blawforth. |
|
3 |
Dialogue |
'If this is the beginning of the scene' |
Bluette |
|
4 |
Song |
'How long in sadness and despair' |
Bluette |
|
Enter
King (disguised). |
|
5 |
Dialogue |
'The King will see you, madam.' |
King, Bluette |
|
6 |
Duet—Tune, 'Carnival of Venice' |
'I scarce can lose the notion' |
King, Bluette |
|
Scene VII: Hall in Goldust's Castle. |
|
Enter
Cinderella. |
|
1 |
Dialogue |
'I am so tired this morning!' |
Cinderella |
|
Enter
Dolabella. |
|
2 |
Dialogue |
'Oh, Cinderella, it is precious cold!' |
Dolabella, Cinderella |
|
Enter
Lord Snuffy and Blawforth. |
|
3 |
Dialogue |
'I cam' tae see if ony o' you twa' |
Blawforth, Dolabella, Lord Snuffy |
|
Enter
Fairy. |
|
4 |
Dialogue |
'Yes, it fits well' |
Fairy, Cinderella |
|
5 |
Song—Tune, 'The Laird o' Cockpen! |
'The play's almost ended, the secret's come out' |
Fairy, Dolabella, Lord Snuffy, Cinderella, Blawforth |
| Exeunt. |
|
Scene VIII: Hall in the Palace. |
|
1 |
Dialogue |
'Oh, what a fool am I!' |
Prince |
|
Enter Fairy, Cinderella, Dolabella and Lord Snuffy. |
|
2 |
Dialogue |
'Behold your bride!' |
Fairy, Prince |
|
Enter Goldust. |
|
3 |
Dialogue |
'This can't was Cinderella?' |
Goldust, Lord Snuffy, Dolabella, Cinderella |
|
Enter Bluette and King. |
|
4 |
Dialogue |
'Any more wanted in the blessin' line?' |
King, Prince |
|
Enter Blawforth. |
|
5 |
Dialogue |
'Eh me, I'm oot o' breath, I've run sae fast' |
Blawforth, King, Bluette, Goldust, Fairy, Lord Snuffy, Prince,
Cinderella |
|
6 |
Songs—Tunes:
'Bonnie Dundee' |
'Here's a very good health to our friends one and all' |
Cinderella, Chorus |
|
|
'The Lass o' Gowrie' |
'Now I'm' the king I mean to start' |
Prince |
|
|
'Roy's Wife of Aldivalloch' |
'Poor dear Cinderella' |
Fairy, Chorus |
|
|
'The Scottish Bluebell' |
'Oh where, tell me where has my haughty spirit gone?' |
Bluette |
|
|
'A Man's a Man for a that' |
'Is there a man among us here' |
King, Chorus |
|
|
'Kelvin Grove' |
'Will you come to Sneeshin' Castle, lords and ladies, oh?' |
Dolabella, Lord Snuffy |
|
|
'What's a' the
steer, kimmer' |
'I'll come an' see yer, Dolly' |
Goldust, Chorus |
|
7 |
Round |
'Now our trials all are
past' |
|
 |
Source:
[N.N.] Cinderella, a Parlour Pantomime. [Crawford
and McRae Printers, Edinburgh] 1878.
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