Beauty & The Beast pantomime script

Beast BEAUTY & THE BEAST
By Ron Nicol
Based on Madame Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont’s 18th Century version of the traditional story.

Plot Summary
Belle’s father has fallen on hard times, and on a journey to try to restore his fortunes he plucks a rose from a palace garden as a present for his daughter. The palace belongs to an ugly Beast who demands a life in return for the rose, but Belle saves her father’s life by consenting to live in the palace. When she eventually falls in love with Beast, he is released from a magic spell and turns into a handsome prince.
ISBN 1 904930 84 0

CAST 3 MALE 7 FEMALE PARTS

MAIN PARTS

Rosella, a good fairy (PB)
Clementina
Nectarine, her sister
Gabrielle, the maid
Belle, known as Beauty
Maleva, an enchantress Monsieur Villeneuve, a rich merchant
Claude, Villeneuve's servant
Hermione, Beast's housekeeper
Hortense, Beast's cook
Beast

3 MAIN SETS
Production notes inc FX and musical numbers suggested.

Script Sample - Beauty & Her Sisters

Clementina & Nectarina are onstage with Gabrielle, the maid when Belle enters, reading

Clementina Ah, Belle! There you are! What are you doing?
Nectarina I wish I could read …
Clementina No you don’t. You’re a lady of leisure. Reading serves no useful purpose whatsoever.
Belle I want to improve myself.
Nectarina That’s a good idea …
Clementina No it isn’t, Nectarina. Rich and very beautiful women such as we are don’t need to read. We don’t need any improvement. We’re perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Nectarina Are we?
Clementina Of course.
Gabrielle You could’ve fooled me.
Clementina What was that?
Gabrielle I said, absolutely.
Nectarina I’m glad I’m perfect. I’m delighted I’m beautiful. And I’m so relived I don’t have to read. Reading’s stupid. A waste of time.
Clementina What’s the point of reading when all you need is a man?
Nectarina A man! Ooh! The very word sends shivers down my spine.
Clementina You won’t get a man by reading. You have to go to parties, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth. Like what we does. I’ve never read a book in my life, and do you know, Monsieur Léotard proposed to me yesterday.
Nectarina Well, Aubergine proposed to moi.
Clementina I turned him down, of course.
Nectarina So did I.
Clementina/Nectarina So common!
Clementina Such a pity you don’t get proposals, Belle.
Belle Oh, but I do. I’m afraid I’ve had to refuse them all.
Clementina/Nectarina All?
Clementina How many?
Belle Oh, half-a-dozen at least.
Nectarina Half-a-dozen! How many’s half-a-dozen?
Clementina Too many!
Belle I told them, very civilly of course, that I’m too young to marry and I want to stay with my Papa a few years longer. They quite understood. They’re such fine young men.
Clementina But they’re shop keepers’ sons! Pure dead common!
Belle They sell the goods our father trades in. We couldn’t survive without them.
Clementina I couldn’t marry somebody like that. The man I marry will have to be a duke.
Nectarina An eel at least.
Clementina Earl, Nectarina, earl.
Nectarina Sorry.
Belle What do you think, Gabbi? Have you had any proposals?
Gabrielle No Miss.
Clementina One day your prince will come. Perhaps …
Nectarina Not!
Gabrielle It’s all very well to say your prince will come, but if he’s been and come and gone and you’ve missed him, you’ve had it.
Clementina Yes, I should think you’ve definitely had it, Gabbi.

Clementina and Nectarina snigger

Gabrielle Maybe I’ve had it - but am I bothered, Miss? Am I? Am I bothered? Look at my face, Miss. I’m not bothered.
Clementina Do stop that, Gabrielle.
Gabrielle Am I bothered, though? Look at me. Am I bothered?
Clementina Gabrielle! Be silent! Come, Nectarina.
Gabrielle I’m not bothered, though.

Clementina and Nectarina exit

Belle Oh Gabbi, why do my sisters dislike me so much?
Gabrielle They’re just jealous, Miss Belle. Everybody admires you, and it makes your sisters very envious. Don’t be bothered, Miss. It’s not worth it.

Gabrielle exits

Belle I know their jealousy shouldn’t upset me, but it does. I do wish I had someone to love me. Even though I’ve had so many proposals, I haven’t found the right man …

Song 1

from Beauty & The Beast, Act 1 Scene 1

Script details

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