The Paper Bag Princess

by

ROBERT MUNSCH

Readers’ theatre by j chillrud

For 6 Characters 
 
CHARACTERS: (6) Narrator 1 Narrator 2 Narrator 3 Elizabeth, Dragon, Ronald
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NARRATOR 1: Elizabeth was a beautiful princess.
 
NARRATOR 2: She lived in a castle and had expensive princess clothes.
 
NARRATOR 3: She was going to marry a prince named 
 
Prince Ronald:  Ronald.
 
NARRATOR 1: Unfortunately, a dragon smashed her castle,
 
NARRATOR 2: burned all her clothes with his fiery breath 
 
NARRATOR 3: and carried off Prince Ronald. 
 
Prince Ronald:  HELP!
 
Elizabeth made a decision.
 
Elizabeth:  I’m going to chase the dragon and get Ronald back.
 
NARRATOR 1: She looked everywhere for something to wear but the only thing she could find that was not burnt was
 
Elizabeth:  a paper bag!
 
NARRATOR 2: So she put it on and followed the dragon.
 
Elizabeth:  He was easy to follow because he left a trail of burnt forests and horses’ bones.
 
NARRATOR 3: Finally Elizabeth came to a cave with a large door that had a huge knocker on it.
 
Elizabeth:  knock, knock, knock
 
NARRATOR 1: The dragon stuck his head out of the door and said,
 
Dragon:  Well, a princess! I love to eat princesses, but I have already eaten a whole castle today. I am a very busy dragon. Come back tomorrow.
 
NARRATOR 2: He slammed the door so fast that Elizabeth almost got her nose caught.
 
Elizabeth:  knock, knock, knock
 
Dragon:  Go away. I love to eat princesses, but I have already eaten a whole castle today. I am a very busy dragon. Come back tomorrow.
 
Elizabeth:  Wait
 
NARRATOR 3: shouted Elizabeth
 
Elizabeth:  Is it true that you are the smartest and fiercest dragon in the whole world?
 
Dragon:  Yes. 
 
Elizabeth:  Is it true that you can burn up ten forests with your fiery breath?
 
Dragon:  Oh, yes. 
 
NARRATOR 1: said the dragon and he took a huge, deep breath and breathed out so much fire that he 
 
Dragon:  burnt up fifty forests.
 
Elizabeth:  Fantastic
 
NARRATOR 2: said Elizabeth, and the dragon took another huge breath and breathed out so much fire that he 
 
Dragon:  burnt up one hundred forests.
 
Elizabeth:  Magnificent
 
NARRATOR 3: said Elizabeth, and the dragon took another huge breath, but this time,
 
Dragon:  nothing came out. 
 
NARRATOR 1: The dragon didn’t even have enough fire left to cook a meatball.
 
Elizabeth:  Is it true that you can fly around the world in just ten seconds?
 
Dragon:  Why, yes 
 
NARRATOR 2: said the dragon and he jumped up and 
 
Dragon:  flew around the world in just ten seconds.
 
NARRATOR 3: He was very tired when he got back, but Elizabeth shouted, 
 
Elizabeth:  fantastic, do it again!
 
NARRATOR 1: So the dragon jumped up and 
 
Dragon:  flew around the whole world in just twenty seconds. 
 
NARRATOR 2: When he got back he was 
 
Dragon:  too tired to talk 
 
NARRATOR 3:  and he lay down and went straight to sleep.
 
NARRATOR 1: Elizabeth whispered very softly, 
 
Elizabeth:  “Hey, dragon.”
 
 
NARRATOR 2: The dragon didn’t move at all. She lifted up the dragon’s ear and put her head right inside. She shouted as loud as she could
 
Elizabeth:  “Hey, dragon.”
 
NARRATOR 3: The dragon was so tired he didn’t even move. Elizabeth walked right over the dragon and opened the door to the cave. There was
 
Prince Ronald: Prince Ronald. 
 
NARRATOR 1: He looked at her and said:
 
Prince Ronald: Elizabeth, you are a mess! You smell like ashes, your hair is all tangled and you are wearing a dirty old paper bag. Come back when you are dressed like a real princess.
 
Elizabeth:  Ronald,
 
NARRATOR 2: said Elizabeth,
 
Elizabeth:  your clothes are really pretty and your hair is very neat. You look like a real prince, but you are a bum.
 
NARRARORS 1,2,3: They didn’t get married after all.