The Nights that Jacob Sings

A Stage Play by Kate Baedecker

Jacob Grimm's siblings never seem to be able to get to sleep, especially when there's storytelling. Experimental opening scene for a play to be produced at First Stage Theater Academy.

Brother’s Grimm - The Siblings

Possible Scene for Wordplay 2016-2017

There is a Single spotlight is shining on a bed. The bed is inhabited by Jacob Grimm,thirteen years old. He is asleep. A small figure begins to approach the bed and tugs on Jacob’s sheets. It is Friedrich Grimm, the second youngest of the Grimm children.

Friedrich

Jacob… Jacob, Jacob, Jacob.

Are you sleeping?

Jacob groans and sits up slowly.

Jacob

Friedrich, go to bed, I’m too tired.

Friedrich

But Jacob… The monster’s back.

Jacob’s tone shifts and he now quieter. He pulls Friedrich up onto the foot of the twin bed and wraps him in a blanket.

Jacob

Oh, is it?

Friedrich nods.

Jacob

Ah, I see… the others came with didn’t they?

Friedrich

No, just me.

Jacob

Okay. Georg, Phillip, Charlotte, Carl, Herman, Ludwig, Wilhelm?

All siblings walk into the light and give responses to their names. “Here! Hi, Jacob. Sorry Jacob. We’re here. I only came cause Phillip came”

Jacob smiles.

Jacob

Okay, well, if none of you got scared, you’ll all be fine going back to bed, right?

All siblings cry “No, No! Don’t put us back in bed!”

Jacob smiles and the children gather around the foot of his bed.

Jacob

Alright, alright. But be very quiet so you can all hear.

The children shush each other and impatiently wait for Jacob to start the show.

Jacob

(singing)

Snow in the winter

Will sparkle and fall

Through the dark, and frozen night

And how I will smile

When the snow does shine

And fill all the forest with bright-ness

For all that we see here is perfect

For all that we see here is pure

And even the storm that may chill us

Cleanses us every year

When the winter falls upon us here

The children stare at Jacob, amazed, and hoping for a story as well.

Herman

Jacob, can’t we get a story too? Please, please, please?

Charlotte

Yeah, what about a story? For good dreams.

Jacob

Ooh, I don’t know. I’m awfully tired, I might fall asleep.

Herman

No, Jacob, please? We’ll be so quiet after! We’ll be like mice-

Charlotte

and we’ll stay in bed, and not bother you at all again! At all!

Jacob

Okay, okay, one short story. Which one would you like?

Charlotte

The frog king!

Herman

Yeah, frog king! That one!

All the children voice agreement on The Frog King, so Jacob begins to spin his tale. It is not audible, the storytelling and children’s reactions are pantomimed as a soft yet playful piano tune plays over them. The lights begin to dim as the children's excitement and movements slow while they begin to fall asleep. Jacob smiles and pulls the sheets over his shoulder. The lights go out with a click.