B EO W U L F
The epic poem Beowulf was written sometime between 900 and
1000 A.D. It is a narrative about the adventures of an epic hero
named Beowulf. It is considered an Anglo-Saxon masterpiece
written in Old English. Its story is just as exciting today as the
day it was first told. As a matter of fact, Beowulf is the earliest
account of written literature in the English language. The entire
original manuscript has survived and is kept at the British
Library in London.
T H E O R I G I N A L S T O RY
For years Danish King Hrothgar’s kingdom was under attack by
a hideous monster named Grendel. The creature would lie in wait
until least expected and then at night attack and kill the king’s
sleeping warriors.
Word of these constant attacks spread across the sea to the land
of the Geats. King Hygelac, the great ruler there, had a nephew
named Beowulf who was extremely brave and exceptionally
strong. Beowulf took it upon himself to sail across the waters to
free the land of the Danes from the demon-creature. Along with
fourteen of his best warriors, Beowulf set off on his journey.
The captain of King Hrothgar’s coast guard met Beowulf and his
men as they landed on the beach. With reservation, the captain
allowed them to pass. King Hrothgar welcomed Beowulf with
open arms and, upon the arrival of he and his men, spread a
banquet feast in Beowulf ’s honor. There, the people learned of
Beowulf ’s bravery and how he had slain sea-monsters and
dragons. One man named Unferth was unimpressed and
extremely jealous of Beowulf.
One night while the kingdom lay sleeping, Grendel attacked.
Beowulf, hidden in the dark shadows, took hold of the beast and
ripped one of Grendel’s arms completely off. The maimed Grendel
cried out in pain and retreated to his home in a marshy bog. The
kingdom rejoiced and Grendel’s arm was hung in the rafters
above the door in the mead hall. Beowulf was honored more than
ever before.
The next night, however, Grendel’s mother sneaked into the hall,
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killed one of Hrothgar’s men, and stole her son’s arm from above
the door. When Beowulf learned of the attack, he and his men
(along with Unferth) made their way to the mother-monster’s
hellish abode. Unferth wanted to kill Grendel’s mother so he
might receive fame and glory. He was voted down. Beowulf sank
beneath the murky waters and approached the cave where
Grendel’s mother dwelt, and a battle between the two ensued.
With a great sword, Beowulf struck and killed her. Beowulf
turned and saw Grendel’s dead body. He cut off its head and,
returning to King Hrothgar, presented it so all would remember
they were safe from the creatures for good. Again Beowulf was
honored.
Upon returning to his homeland, he was revered and rewarded
with riches and high position. After several years, Beowulf was
crowned King of the Geats. When Beowulf was a very old man, one
of his servants stumbled upon a great treasure guarded by a
dragon. The servant secretly took a golden goblet. The dragon
awoke, discovered the goblet missing and attacked and killed many
men. Beowulf, not as strong as he used to be, fought the dragon
with the aid of one of his servants named Wiglaf. The dragon was
slain but it had struck Beowulf and caused him to bleed badly.
Beowulf rewarded Wiglaf with great jewels and armor.
Weak from his last battle, Beowulf died. The Geat troops honored
their lord with a majestic funeral and buried the precious hoard
taken from the dragon’s lair with their king’s ashes. The Geats
mourned the passing of their fearless Beowulf, who had crowned
a gallant life with an equally noble death.
R u n n i n g Ti m e : 25 minutes
S tory of the Play:
Just before the opening of a small-town theatre’s staging of the
classic Beowulf, a thief gets clean away with all the props and
costumes for the show. In an attempt to save the situation, the
stage manager runs home, rummages through her attic and
brings back a box full of … well, junk. But it’s that or nothing and
the audience is getting restless. So the director makes a decision
to go ahead with the show. But was that such a good idea?
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P R ODUC T IO N NOT E S
Beowulf is an Old English poem that is studied in high schools
and colleges all over the world. The poem is the oldest piece of
written English literature that exists. This retelling focuses on
only a few key episodes and does so in a comedic way. To
appreciate the poem’s history and style, the poem itself should
be read from beginning to end. Hopefully this silly adaptation
will whet the participants’ appetites to examine it more closely.
This play is easy to perform anywhere with minimal rehearsal
time. Few lines must be memorized since the Director speaks
for the actors much of the time as the actors act out the scenes.
The actor who plays the Director should be assured that she/he
doesn’t have to memorize the narration lines. The lines should
be read as though the Director is telling an old ghost story
around a campfire using heightened projection, enunciation
and emotion. This adds to the fun of the play.
Each time an actor has to pantomime something that the
Director is telling, he/she should use large arm and leg motions
and exaggerated body language for best effect. For example,
when Beowulf and Grendel walk toward one another in their
first fight scene, they walk like someone in a bad Western.
For best comic effect, when Beowulf wears his bikini top, it
should first be stuffed with socks.
The costumes and props are easy to find and/or put together.
It’s important that everything has a homemade look for the
comedy to work.
The “Cricket Co. Free Press” news bulletin included in this
packet may be modified to fit your show or used as a sample
for your own design. This bulletin was distributed to the
audience by newsboys and newsgirls just before the show. It
helps to create suspense while also setting up the theme for
the show.
Easy-to-obtain Props and Cos tumes:
Lectern, large cardboard box, plastic mop bucket, child’s bed
sheet, plastic or cardboard crown, pair of long johns, cookbook,
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roll of paper towels, pants and shirt covered with envelopes,
child’s wagon, cardboard waves, snorkel, child’s inner tube,
flippers, pants and shirt covered with postcards, business
envelopes, large manila envelopes, large bathrobe, rolled-up
newspaper, pages from a phone book, an old ragged blanket,
toy train engine, several burlap sacks, flip flops, woman’s
girdle, bikini top, brown paper bags, old sweat suit, jump rope,
rubber gloves, doll’s arm, paper cups, box of Twinkies, ugly
wig, mop, broom, cardboard horse head, balloons, child’s
umbrella, garbage bags stuffed with newspapers
Suggested Hero Songs:
“We Are the Champions,” written by Freddie Mercury,
performed by Queen
“Wind Beneath My Wings” (the chorus), written and performed
by Bette Midler
“Holding Out for a Hero,” written by Jim Steinman and Dean
Pitchford, performed by Bonnie Tyler
P ronunciati on G ui de:
The accent always falls on the first syllable. When “H” comes
before “R,” it’s a strong breathy sound as in H rothgar. When
“C” and “G” are placed together (cg), it makes the same sound
as “dg” does in the word “edge.”
Beowulf
Grendel
Hygelac
Hrothgar
Wealhtheow
bay oh wolf
gren dull
high guh lak
hroth gar
weel thee oh
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CAST OF CHAR ACT ER S
Flexible cast of 22. Approximately 4 men, 4 women,
14 flexible with doubling, extras if desired.
Director
St age Manager
F i rst A u d i e n c e M e m b e r
Se co n d Aud ie nce Me mbe r
Wi f e
Beowulf
King Hy gelac
Bard
Capt ai n of the Coa st Guard
F i rst A s s i s t a nt t o Be o w ul f
S e c o n d A ssi sta nt t o Beow ul f
T h i r d A ssis tant t o Beowul f
F i r s t K i n g ’s P a g e
S e c o n d K i n g ’s P a g e
Kin g Hro th g ar
Q u e e n We a l h t h e o w
S ervant Girl
To w n s p e r so n 1 , 2 , a n d 3
Grendel
Unferth
G r e n d e l ’s M o t h e r
Ext r as
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The Cricket Co. Free Press
“Gossip You Can Trust”
(Dateline)
Local Theatre Robbed Last Night!
The local theatre was robbed late last night
according to Sheriff J. P. Hound of Cricket
County, U.S.A. Hound reported that all props,
costumes and sets were taken out of the theatre
after thieves broke in around midnight. “Them
no-good villains came in through the backstage
door and took darn near everything that whut’n
bolted down!” Hound said. An investigation is to
take place as soon as the local police department
finishes their coffee and doughnuts. As of press
time, there were no suspects being held for
questioning. The famous play Beowulf will be
opening tonight and is already sold out. Brianna
Canners, the director, is not exactly sure of what
she is going to do, although she did make the
statement:
“The Show Must Go On!”
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