ODIN’S TALES
A Comedy in One Act
by
Forrest Musselman
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Copyright © 2010 Forrest Musselman
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CAST OF CHARACTERS
(6 M, 5 F, 8 Either)
ODIN
HE is narrator of stories and oldest of the gods.
LOKI
HE/SHE is always getting into trouble and full of mischief.
THOR
HE is god of thunder and strongest of all the gods.
FREYA
SHE is a great goddess and gives advice about love.
HOENIR
HE is an ancient god and brother of Odin.
IDUN
SHE is daughter-in-law to Odin and keeps the golden apples of youth.
THYRM
HE is a mischievous Frost Giant.
THJAZI
HE is a mischievous Frost Giant who can turn into an eagle.
SKADI
SHE is a Frost Giant and the daughter of Thjazi.
TROLL
HE/SHE is the keeper of the bridge.
GOAT 1
HE/SHE is the smallest goat.
GOAT 2
HE/SHE is the middle-sized goat.
GOAT 3
HE/SHE is the biggest goat.
FISHERMAN
HE is very kind.
WIFE
SHE is very kind as well.
DAUGHTER
SHE is very honest.
EXTRAS
Giant, one/two gods, and Njord.
All parts, with the exception of Odin, Loki, and Freya can be doubled or even tripled.
PRODUCTION NOTES
All stories are interpretations of traditional, Norwegian folk tales.
The set can be as simple as a bare set with a few large blocks to play with or as elaborate as you’d like it to be.
The costumes can also be very simple with bare representations for each character.
Essential props needed are: A feathered coat, an over-sized hammer, a stick, coil of rope, a canvas sack, a pail with
scrub brush, and possible food items.
SPECIAL THANKS
A special thanks to the Lanesboro Community Theatre for commissioning this play as
part of their summer series, especially Denny Bell who first approached me with the
idea.
To my family, Melisa, Jackson and Sophia.
ODIN’S TALES
by
Forrest Musselman
SETTING: A bare stage with a few large acting blocks.
AT RISE: Odin, the narrator of our story, enters and stands center stage.
ODIN: Welcome. I am Odin. I am also known as “wild” or “filled with fury” and many refer to me as the god of
war. I am not only the oldest of the gods but the father and ruler of the Norse gods, including the mortals,
which I created. I’m not one to talk about myself, but like any good grandparent I love to tell stories,
especially about my children and their friends. I must warn you, however, that these stories tend to get a
little violent. We gods tend to kill and ask questions later. Let me give you a little example of what I mean.
This is an old Norwegian children’s story.
(GOATS and TROLL enter.)
Once upon a time there were three billy goats, all named Gruff, who like all good Norwegians were to go up
the hillside to make themselves fat. On the way up there was a bridge they had to cross. Under the bridge
lived an ugly troll with eyes as big as saucers and a nose as long as a poker. The troll was generally very
grumpy and was always looking for a fight. It wasn’t long before the youngest Billy Goat Gruff came to
cross the bridge.
(YOUNGEST GOAT begins to cross. EVERYONE offstage says the following line to correspond with the
GOAT’s steps.)
ALL: (High voices) Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap, trip!
TROLL: Who’s that tripping over my bridge?
GOAT #1: Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff.
TROLL: And what do you think you are doing?
GOAT #1: I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat.
TROLL: I don’t think so. If you cross my bridge, I’ll come up there and gobble you up!
GOAT #1: Oh, no, please don’t eat me. I’m too little. Wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s
much bigger.
TROLL: A bigger goat, eh? Very well, be off with you.
(GOAT #1 quickly runs offstage. GOAT #2 enters and begins to cross the bridge.)
ALL: (Regular voices) Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap, trip!
TROLL: Who’s that tripping over my bridge?
GOAT #2: It is I, the second Billy Goat Gruff.
TROLL: And what is it that you think you are doing?
GOAT #2: I’m going up to the hillside to make myself fat.
TROLL: I don’t think so. If you cross my bridge, I’ll come up there and gobble you up!
GOAT #2: Oh, no, please don’t eat me. Wait until the next Billy Goat Gruff comes. He’s much bigger than I
am and he’ll make a great lunch.
TROLL: An even bigger goat, eh? Well, I am pretty hungry. Very well, be off with you!
(GOAT #2 quickly runs offstage. GOAT #3 enters and begins to cross the bridge.)
ALL: (Low voices) Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap, trip!
TROLL: Who’s that trip-trapping over my bridge?
GOAT #3: It’s I, the biggest Billy Goat Gruff.
TROLL: The biggest Billy Goat Gruff?
GOAT #3: That’s right. I’m going up to the hillside to get even bigger.
TROLL: Not today. I’m going to gobble you up!
GOAT #3: Well, come along! I’ve got two spears,
And I’ll poke your eyeballs out your ears;
My hooves are like curling-stones,
And I’ll crush you to bits, body and bones.
TROLL: Ha, we’ll see about that!
(TROLL comes out of hiding and attacks the GOAT. After a brief tussle, the GOAT gets the TROLL down.)
GOAT #3: And here are my horns, troll!
(The GOAT is about to stab the TROLL when THEY freeze.)
ODIN: I better stop it here. The rest isn’t pretty.
ALL: Snip, snap, snout.
ODIN: This tale’s told out. Now that you get the idea about how most of our stories end, let me tell you a story
about my favorite son, Thor.
(ACTORS enter and assume positions.)
One morning Thor awoke to find his hammer, which was named Mjollnir, was missing. He looked
everywhere but could not find it. Full of rage and desperation, he came across Loki lying in a meadow.
Loki was born from two Frost Giants, but left his parents to live with the gods. We all loved him like our
own son, but he was always making practical jokes.
THOR: Loki, have you seen my hammer?
LOKI: No, is it missing?
THOR: Don’t play games with me, Loki. If you took my hammer as part of some joke, I swear I’ll make sure
you never laugh again.
LOKI: Listen, Thor, I would never do anything to make you angry, especially take your hammer. Come, let us
go to Freya’s palace. Perhaps she can help.
ODIN: While Loki didn’t do it, he had a pretty good idea who did. But in order to make sure he needed the
counsel of Freya. Freya was an important goddess and one to go to if there was advice to be sought.
LOKI: Greetings, Freya. I hope life finds you well.
FREYA: And you as well. What can I do for you?
LOKI: Thor has lost his hammer. We believe it has been stolen. Will you lend me your falcon-feathered cloak
so that I may fly to the Hall of Giants? I will to speak to the Frost Giant Thrym. Perhaps he knows
something we do not.
FREYA: Of course, Loki. Take it, and may it bring you what you are looking for.
(SHE hands LOKI the coat and HE puts it on and pretends to fly about the stage.)
ODIN: The falcon feathers whistled in the wind as Loki flew to the Hall of Giants. There he found Thrym, a
great Frost Giant.
THRYM: Hello there, Loki. How are the gods? What brings you here to see me?
LOKI: Everyone is distraught, Thrym. Thor’s hammer has been stolen. Have you heard anything?
THRYM: You were wise to come to me, Loki. I have stolen the hammer of thunder and buried it eight miles
deep in the earth.
LOKI: But why, Thrym? Why would you anger the gods?
THRYM: How else am I to get their attention? Tell them I will return the hammer if Freya agrees to be my
bride. That is all.
ODIN: The feathers of Freya’s coat whistled in the wind once more as Loki flew back to Freya’s castle. Thor
and Freya were waiting for him when he landed.
THOR: I hope you have returned with a message and are not up to some mischief! What news do you bring?
LOKI: I have only news and no mischief. The Frost Giant Thrym has stolen your hammer and hidden it. He
will not return it until Freya agrees to become his bride.
FREYA: That is ridiculous. I am already married to Odr, and I certainly would not marry a Frost Giant!
THOR: But I need my hammer back. What else can we do?
LOKI: I thought hard on my journey back and I think I have a solution.
THOR: What is it?
LOKI: We will dress you as Freya.
THOR: What?
LOKI: Yes, we’ll put you in a dress, pin large brooches upon your chest, hang women’s keys at your waist, a
cap upon your hair and hide your face behind a bridal veil.
THOR: This is another one of your tricks, Loki. Seeing me dress as a bride will give you a mighty laugh.
Besides, there is no way Thrym will fall for such a trick.
FREYA: Hold your tongue, Thor. If we do not get that hammer back, the Frost Giants could decide to attack
our palaces. Without your hammer, we could be easily defeated.
THOR: Then you should go.
FREYA: I’ve already told you why I can’t. You have no choice but to try, Thor.
THOR: Fine, I’ll do it. But I better get my hammer back.
LOKI: I’ll accompany you on your journey, Thor. I’ll disguise myself as your handmaid, and together we will
make fools of ourselves in front of the giants.
THOR: Agreed. Come, we must get ready.
(THEY exit. THYRM enters.)
ODIN: And so the mighty Thor did as Loki suggested and put on the dress, all of the attachments and the
bridal veil over his face. Loki disguised himself as well. Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Giants, Thrym was
eagerly preparing for the return of his new bride.
THRYM: Arise, Frost Giants, and place straw upon my benches. The gods may arrive at any time with my
bride. I am happy that I have beautiful, gold-horned cattle grazing in my fields. I am happy that I posses a
great treasure of gold and many gems. I am happy that I have much to delight my eyes. I lack only the
beautiful Freya for my heart’s content.
ODIN: It was not long before Thor and Loki arrived in their disguises.
(THEY enter.)
THOR: This dress is ridiculous. I can barely walk and I can’t see through this veil.
LOKI: Keep it on, Thor! Thrym must not suspect a thing.
THRYM: Freya! You have arrived.
THOR: Yes. (Changes pitch of voice) Yes, I came as soon as Loki told me of your love.
THRYM: You are most gracious. And who is with you?
THOR: This is my handmaid.
(LOKI bows.)
THRYM: Of course. Well, I have arranged a giant’s feast in celebration of your arrival. Will you please join us
at our table?
THOR: Yes, of course. It has been a long journey and I am very hungry.
ODIN: Thor and Loki joined Thrym at the table. Thor was so hungry that he began to eat everything the giants
put in front of him. He quickly consumed all the sweet dainties that had been set for the women and then
moved on to eat a whole ox, eight large salmon and drank more than three horns of mead.
LOKI: Thor, slow down. You’re drawing attention to yourself.
THOR: But this is really good food.
THRYM: Has any other bride ever had such a great appetite? Has any other bride even taken such big
mouthfuls of food or drunk as much mead?
LOKI: Uhhmmm, Freya has so longed for her wedding day that she has not eaten for eight long days.
THRYM: Amazing! I truly admire a woman who can eat her fill and drink like a man. Come here, Freya, and
let me give you a kiss.
THOR: Right now?
THRYM: Yes, of course.
THOR: Isn’t there going to be desert?
THRYM: Your kiss will be desert enough.
THOR: Yes, but I really wanted some pie or something.
THRYM: One little kiss. Please, Freya.
LOKI: Thor, you must do this before he becomes angry.
THOR: Very well, you may kiss the bride.
THRYM: (HE leans forward and lifts the veil, but jumps back in surprise.) How fierce my beloved’s eyes are!
Dangerous fires blaze forth beneath her brows.
LOKI: Freya has so longed for her wedding day that she has not slept for eight long nights.
THOR: Think of it as angry passion.
THRYM: Of course. My apologies, Freya. I should like to have that kiss now.
THOR: Let’s not be hasty, Thrym. If you would honor my wishes, I should like to be married first.
THRYM: Certainly! Bring forth Thor’s mighty hammer in order to bless this bride. Lay Mjollnir upon her lap
and wish us joy as we join hands and make our marriage vows.
(A GIANT brings forth the hammer and sets it in THOR’s lap.)
THOR: Yes! Mjollnir has returned to me.
(THOR removes veil as LOKI removes his disguise.)
THRYM: Wha … what is this! I have been tricked!
THOR: And now you’ll be smashed, Thrym.
(HE raises his hammer and they ALL freeze.)
ODIN: Perhaps the tale should end here. As I mentioned before, things tend to get a little violent at the end.
Let’s just say Thor and Loki were the only ones left and Thor got his hammer back.
(The ACTORS break their pose, perhaps looking a little dejected, and exit. LOKI stays onstage. HOENIR
enters.)
ODIN: The theft of Thor’s hammer reminds me of another story. I was traveling with Loki and my brother,
Hoenir. We were walking along when we saw a herd of oxen off in the distance. Well, we were pretty
hungry go we caught one and prepared it for supper. After cooking it for a while, we sat under a large oak
tree to eat our meal.
HOENIR: What is this? This meat is raw.
ODIN: Is this another one of your tricks, Loki?
LOKI: No, I’m as hungry as you are.
ODIN: So we built up the fire and cooked it for another hour. When we tried to eat it...
HOENIR: Hey, what’s the deal? This is still raw.
ODIN: Loki, I swear if you are playing with us, I’ll…
THJAZI: (Comes out from hiding, dressed as a giant eagle.) I am preventing you from cooking your meat.
HOENIR: What? Who said that?
THJAZI: I am Thjazi.
LOKI: A frost giant! Why are you bothering us?
THJAZI: I, too, have been traveling and am very hungry. If you let me eat as much as I want from your ox, I
will remove the spell and allow your meat to cook.
ODIN: If I wasn’t so hungry, I’d destroy you right now. Very well, Thjazi, eat up.
THJAZI: (Comes forward) Don’t mind if I do.
HOENIR: Hey, don’t eat the whole thing.
THJAZI: You said I could eat as much as I wanted.
LOKI: That’s it, I’ve had enough.
(LOKI picks up a stick and is about to attack THJAZI. THEY freeze. ODIN steps forward.)
ODIN: Whoops. It’s another one of those moments. So Loki stabbed the frost giant with a stick, but before he
could let go, the giant Eagle flew into the air, with Loki hanging on for dear life.
LOKI: Thjazi, put me down. I don’t want to fall.
THJAZI: I guess you shouldn’t have stabbed me.
LOKI: And you shouldn’t have eaten our ox.
THJAZI: It wasn’t your ox to begin with.
LOKI: Please, I’ll do anything if you’ll just let me go.
THJAZI: I’ll let you down, if you promise to bring me Idun and her golden apples.
LOKI: Idun? That’s Odin’s daughter-in-law. I can’t do that.
THJAZI: Hmmm, very well. I think I’ll fly a little higher.
LOKI: Wait. What do you want with the golden apples? It is what keeps all the gods young.
THJAZI: What does it matter to you? Just bring her into the forest near Asgard. I’ll take it from there. Is your
grip loosening on the stick?
LOKI: All right, all right. I’ll do it. Just set me down.
THJAZI: You must promise to keep your word.
LOKI: I promise. I promise.
ODIN: With Loki’s promise, Thjazi flew back to the ground so that Loki could be free. When Loki returned to
camp, he was quiet and fell asleep quickly. I figured he was mad about Thjazi’s behavior. You see Loki’s
parents were Frost Giants, but he left them when he was very young and was taken in by the gods. Even
though he doesn’t associate with them anymore, I think he is always saddened when the Frost Giants do
something to anger the gods. When we arrived at Asgard, we went our separate ways. I found out later
that he went directly to see Idun.
LOKI: Good morning, Idun.
IDUN: Hello, Loki.
LOKI: Say, I was wandering through the forest yesterday when I came across a golden apple tree.
IDUN: Are you sure? I know that forest pretty well, and I’ve never seen a golden apple tree before.
LOKI: I’m pretty sure it was. Perhaps you could put some of your golden apples in a basket and we could
walk there and compare them. I think they would work well for the gods to eat.
IDUN: All right, Loki. But I’m pretty sure there are no golden apples in the forest.
ODIN: So Loki led Idun deep into the forest.
IDUN: Are you sure the apples are here, Loki? I haven’t seen anything.
LOKI: Just a bit further, Idun. I know I saw them.
THJAZI: (Comes out of hiding.) Aha! You’re coming with me, Idun.
IDUN: What! What’s going on? Loki, help me!
LOKI: I’m sorry, Idun. There is nothing I can do.
ODIN: And with that, Thjazi snatched up her and the golden apples and flew away with her. Loki returned to
Asgard with a heavy heart. It wasn’t long before the gods realized she was missing. After all, we all
depended on her golden apples to keep us young. The days passed and we all began to get older and
older. Our hair became gray, our faces and hands became wrinkled and our walk became slow and
tedious. It wasn’t long before I called a meeting to discuss Idun’s disappearance.
(HOENIR, LOKI, FREYA, and a couple EXTRA GODS enter, if needed, and gather around ODIN.)
ODIN: It is obvious that Idun has disappeared and we are all getting older by the day. Does anyone have any
idea where Idun could have gone?
HOENIR: Maybe she went on a trip to find more apples.
FREYA: No, she would have told someone if she was leaving.
HOENIR: Then something strange is going on. She must be in trouble.
ODIN: Someone must have seen something.
LOKI: Okay, okay, I can not keep it in any longer. The guilt is eating away at my insides. I led Idun into the
forest where Thjazi kidnapped her.
ODIN: You idiot! Why would you do such a thing? She is my daughter-in-law!
LOKI: I am extremely sorry, Odin. I had to promise Thjazi to do this or he would have stayed in the air until I
let go off the stick and died.
ODIN: I should kill you now. You have insulted me and my entire family!
LOKI: Please, Odin, let me make it up to you. I will go to Thjazi’s house and get her back.
HOENIR: If you can’t get her back, Loki, don’t bother coming back.
LOKI: I will not fail. I give you my word. Freya, may I borrow your falcon-cloak?
FREYA: Yes, Loki, I will give you whatever you need to succeed.
ODIN: (To audience) Loki quickly flew to Thjazi’s house. When he arrived, Thjazi was out rowing on the sea
and Idun was by herself.
IDUN: Loki, you are the last person I would want to see.
LOKI: I am so sorry, Idun, but I am here to save you.
IDUN: How can you save me? My extra weight will slow your flight home. Thjazi will be able to catch you.
LOKI: I know a few tricks, Idun.
ODIN: Without another word, Loki changed Idun and her golden apples into a nut and flew off with it firmly in
his hand. Thjazi saw Loki leaving and flew after him as fast as he could. We were all watching and waiting
for Loki’s return and soon saw him flying toward Asgard with a giant eagle behind him. We knew that Loki
had been successful so we immediately piled large amounts of woods shavings around the walls of
Asgard. As soon as Loki came flying over the walls, we set the shavings on fire, causing large flames to
leap high into the heavens. Thjazi was going too fast to change his course and the flames burnt his
feathers. In great pain, he fell to our feet.
HOENIR: You will bother us no more, Thjazi!
(Everyone closes in on him to beat him up, but freeze before hitting him.)
ODIN: Well, here we go again. This time it gets really bad. Let’s just say Thjazi truly didn’t bother them
anymore. We’ll just skip forward a couple days when a woman arrived at Asgard wearing a full coat of
armor and weapons in both hands. The gods met her outside the city walls to find out what she wanted.
HOENIR: Who are you? State your business at Asgard.
SKADI: I am Skadi, daughter of Thjazi. I am obliged to avenge the murder of my father.
HOENIR: Obliged?
SKADI: Tradition is tradition. Prepare to battle.
ODIN: Before this gets messy, I have another solution. It is customary to offer the relative of a dead man
compensation for his death.
SKADI: What sort of compensation?
ODIN: Are you married?
SKADI: No.
ODIN: Then we offer you the husband of your choice from this city. There is only one condition. You must
choose him based solely upon his feet.
SKADI: Solely?
ODIN: Yes, pardon the pun.
SKADI: This is very odd, but I will accept your compensation.
(Three pairs of feet pop up behind block.)
HOENIR: Good, here are the feet. Please choose.
SKADI: I will choose these feet.
HOENIR: Congratulations, you have picked the feet of Njord, god of fertility and ruler of the winds and sea.
SKADI: Excellent!
HOENIR: You have chosen well.
ODIN: Finally, our payment will not be sufficient unless we can make you laugh.
SKADI: Yet another odd custom. Very well, I wish you luck. Since the death of my father, I haven’t felt like
laughing much.
LOKI: Allow me, Skadi.
(LOKI makes a couple funny faces, but SHE does not laugh.)
Very well, you leave me no choice. Bring in the goat!
(One of the BILLY GOAT GRUFF enters.)
I challenge you to a tug of war.
BILLY GOAT GRUFF: Oh, no. I am much too small. Wait a minute and another goat will be coming along.
He is much bigger than I am.
LOKI: Nice try. (Produces a rope.) Grab the rope.
(The GOAT does and THEY play tug-of-war. LOKI loses his footing and falls into SKADI’s lap. SHE begins to
laugh.)
I knew my silly antics would get the best of you.
SKADI: Actually I was laughing at your idea of humor, but it worked nonetheless. Thank you, Odin, and thank
you all. I am honored by your tribute. I am at peace with you.
ODIN: Excellent. Let us eat. Meatballs for everyone!
ALL: Hurray!
(ALL exit but ODIN.)
ODIN: Meatballs. A traditional Norse food. That reminds me of another story. One that you may have not
heard before. One day Loki, the trickster god, was feeling a little extra mischievous so he decided to go for
a walk and see what sort of mischief he could get into. It wasn't long before he came to a fisherman. Loki
saw this as the perfect opportunity. He loved to pick on the mortals.
LOKI: Hello, my friend. It is a beautiful day, isn’t it?
FISHERMAN: Yes, it is. In fact, I just got back from fishing the ocean and had a very good catch.
LOKI: Really? And how good was it?
FISHERMAN: We caught many pounds of Cod. I have some of it here in this bag.
LOKI: Mmmm, Cod is my favorite. Perhaps I could buy one off of you?
FISHERMAN: I’ll do better than that. You can be my guest at supper tonight.
LOKI: That is very generous indeed. I accept your offer.
ODIN: Loki couldn’t believe his luck. He could always count on the Scandinavian hospitality to get his pranks
going. So they headed back to the fisherman’s house, where Loki was introduced to the fisherman’s wife
and their daughter.
WIFE: It is a pleasure to meet you. You’ll have to excuse the house. If I had known we were to have
company I would have cleaned.
LOKI: Don’t worry about it. I understand completely.
WIFE: Still, I think I’ll just clean up a bit, if you don’t mind. (Begins scrubbing the floor.)
FISHERMAN: I guess I’ll get to cleaning the fish for supper.
LOKI: So, how will you be preparing the fish tonight?
FISHERMAN: Oh, you know, the usual. Just fry it up with a little butter, don’t ya’ know. Good grief, Edna,
what are you using to clean the floor? It smells awful.
WIFE: Sorry, I guess I got a little heavy on the lye.
LOKI: Speaking of lye, have you heard about the new way of preparing fish?
FISHERMAN: The new way?
LOKI: Yes, you take the fish and you soak it in lye.
FISHERMAN: Uff-da. You’ve got to be kidding me.
LOKI: It’s no joke. All the rich people are doing it now. Very fashionable.
FISHERMAN: How can lye possibly be good with fish?
LOKI: Well, you want the fish to be clean don’t ya? You wouldn’t want any diseases or anything. The lye
takes care of that, you bet.
WIFE: You’ve got a point there. It would clean it up in no time.
LOKI: Sure. And to make real sure that it’s clean, you got to soak it for a long time.
WIFE: How long?
LOKI: Oh, maybe a couple months.
FISHERMAN: A couple months. We need to eat tonight.
LOKI: Well, maybe we can just soak it for a couple hours to start. Perhaps we could find some other things to
eat around here, while we’re waiting.
(The following actions can be mimed or you can choose to use actual props.)
END OF FREE PREVIEW