Once Upon a Tower
The Untold Story of Rapunzel and her Twelve-Story Prison. Not many folks know the TRUE story of how the beautiful, golden-haired Rapunzel ended up alone, locked in a tower …until now! You see, her parents promised their first-born child to a witch (who preferred to be called an enchantress). But little did the witch know that Rapunzel had an ugly twin sister Ethel. By stealing the witch’s glasses, the parents are able to switch babies. Years later, the witch discovers the truth, gets the now spoiled, self-centered Rapunzel back, and hides her in a tower with a solitary window at its top. Meanwhile the parents, along with the help of their neighbors, plan to free Rapunzel and get ugly Ethel so lost she’ll never find her way back home. Overhearing this, poor Ethel plots to murder Rapunzel and cut off her golden locks to wear herself to finally be loved and happy. But will her plan be foiled by a somewhat handsome but deeply shallow prince or an ugly Beast who has kept Rapunzel company in the tower? And if she lives, will Rapunzel ever realize there is more to life than proms, dating and beauty pageants? Tacky sets, melodramatic lines, and tons of humor make this version of the beloved fairy tale one you’ll never forget!
Productions
Behind The Scenes
EDDIE McPHERSON talks about ONCE UPON A TOWER:
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY? I enjoy playing the "what if" game with popular stories. So, in this case I thought, "What if Rapunzel had an ugly twin sister that we never knew about." I knew I had a good idea so I went with it.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY? Mmmmmm, I like the Beast speaking in grunts and growls and being understood by everyone. I also liked the Beast disguising himself as a rug in the middle of the floor. I thought it was fun for the witch to raise the ugly baby and never knew she had the wrong one because she couldn't find her glasses the whole time.
TELL US ABOUT THE CHARACTERS. They are stereotypical storybook folks with sarcastic attitudes. They keep referring to themselves living in this "low-budget" world of a play and they comment about it throughout the show. So, they sort of know they're in a play, but live their lives anyway as though it were real life. Rapunzel is a true diva.
WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY? A funny fractured fairy tale. Over-the-top sight gags mixed with silly one-liners with a little moral thrown in for good measure.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? As any playwright hopes, I trust this play will find its way onto many stages across the country and that folks laugh and laugh and laugh and walk away thinking, That was kinda cute.