The Christmas Princess
Encyclopedia
The Christmas Princess is a children's play comedy
written by Arthur M. Jolly
. It opened off-Broadway
in December 2005 at The Coop Theatre Company in Los Angeles and is published by YouthPlays,Inc. The play was written as a modern fairytale, blending elements of the western european Brothers Grimm
fairy tale
and Japanese folklore.
The Christmas Princess is a popular choice for school drama programs and community theatre
groups.
Coop Theatre Company (now closed, located on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, it was revived in 2007 at the Black Box Theatre. The 2007 production of the play was directed by Paul Messinger and choreographed by Monica Juodvalkis. The Christmas Princess marked the stage debut of noted TV and Movie teen idol Erik von Detten
, who played the role of the handsome Prince.
In December 2009, the play was revived at the 3rd Street Promenade playhouse in Santa Monica. Only one actor has played in all three of the original performances - John Frank, who originated the role of the Jester, before playing the Bear and finally The King.
The Jester has failed to make the king laugh - and the King has given him an ultimatum - to make him laugh by Christmas Day or be banished to a dungeon.
Unhappy with her parents' choice, and desperate to find a way out of the marriage, the Princess disguises herself as a maid, and seeks the advice of Watt the Witch, who sends her on a quest to find three magical gifts that will allow her to escape her wedding.
The crisis escalates when the handsome (but dumb as a bucket of rocks) prince arrives a day early - and falls for the maid, believing that she is in fact the princess.
While the Princess meets a handsome - but poor - woodsman, and tackles a scary bear and a scarier dragon on her journey, the Jester conspires to keep the King from discovering the truth.
By Christmas morning, the Princess has retrieved her magical gifts - although they turn out to be far less magical than she thought; and the King and Queen discover the Maid and the Prince - but when the Woodsman and the Prince turn out to be imposters as well, everyone, in classic fairy-tale tradition, lives happily ever after.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
written by Arthur M. Jolly
Arthur M. Jolly
Arthur M. Jolly is an American writer.Jolly was born in Lewes, England, the son of Sir Richard Jolly, a development economist, and Lady Alison Jolly, a primatologist...
. It opened off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
in December 2005 at The Coop Theatre Company in Los Angeles and is published by YouthPlays,Inc. The play was written as a modern fairytale, blending elements of the western european Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
and Japanese folklore.
The Christmas Princess is a popular choice for school drama programs and community theatre
Community theatre
Community theatre refers to theatrical performance made in relation to particular communities—its usage includes theatre made by, with, and for a community...
groups.
Productions
The original production opened on December 2nd, 2005 at the off-BroadwayOff-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
Coop Theatre Company (now closed, located on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, it was revived in 2007 at the Black Box Theatre. The 2007 production of the play was directed by Paul Messinger and choreographed by Monica Juodvalkis. The Christmas Princess marked the stage debut of noted TV and Movie teen idol Erik von Detten
Erik von Detten
Erik Thomas von Detten is an American actor. He is known for his roles in Escape to Witch Mountain, Toy Story, Brink!, The Princess Diaries, and So Weird.-Personal life:Von Detten was born in San Diego, California...
, who played the role of the handsome Prince.
In December 2009, the play was revived at the 3rd Street Promenade playhouse in Santa Monica. Only one actor has played in all three of the original performances - John Frank, who originated the role of the Jester, before playing the Bear and finally The King.
Plot
The story is introduced by a jester - the worst jester ever: A fictional medieval kingdom is ruled by an cold-hearted Queen and a gruff and imperious King (King Heironymous). They have arranged for their daughter - the most beautiful (and incredibly spoiled) princess to marry a handsome - but dumb as a bucket of rocks - prince on Christmas Day.The Jester has failed to make the king laugh - and the King has given him an ultimatum - to make him laugh by Christmas Day or be banished to a dungeon.
Unhappy with her parents' choice, and desperate to find a way out of the marriage, the Princess disguises herself as a maid, and seeks the advice of Watt the Witch, who sends her on a quest to find three magical gifts that will allow her to escape her wedding.
The crisis escalates when the handsome (but dumb as a bucket of rocks) prince arrives a day early - and falls for the maid, believing that she is in fact the princess.
While the Princess meets a handsome - but poor - woodsman, and tackles a scary bear and a scarier dragon on her journey, the Jester conspires to keep the King from discovering the truth.
By Christmas morning, the Princess has retrieved her magical gifts - although they turn out to be far less magical than she thought; and the King and Queen discover the Maid and the Prince - but when the Woodsman and the Prince turn out to be imposters as well, everyone, in classic fairy-tale tradition, lives happily ever after.