Stand Up and Shout – Rumpelstiltskin!
Get the youngsters in your audience twitching their noses, making engine noises, bowing to the king, catching imaginary gold thread, and shouting out names, especially Rumpelstiltskin! With such audience participation, this fairy tale adaptation is loads of active fun. It features a braggart father, his long-suffering wife, their poor but beautiful daughter, a strict rule-enforcing chancellor; a monarch whose kingdom depends on straw being spun into gold, and of course, the mysterious little man who is willing to perform that exceptional feat – but at a tremendous price. Desperate measures are called for. Can the children in the audience help save the day? They’ll love the 11 energetic songs including “Twitch,” “Straw Into Gold,” “I’ll Learn His Name,” and “Like Magic.”
Productions
Behind The Scenes
Robert Kinerk and Stephen Murray Talk About
STAND UP AND SHOUT - RUMPELSTILTSKIN!
Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ADAPT/MUSICALIZE THIS STORY?
Robert: For me the story of Rumpelstiltskin had a challenge to it. The character cast as the villain plays by the rules and suffers a disability which should make us sympathize with him. The characters who ought to have our sympathy don’t earn it. The father’s foolish boasting endangers his daughter’s life. The daughter makes a horrible pact in order to extract herself from the terrible situation her father has put her in. The challenge was to write the play in a way that didn’t skirt these issues but didn’t plunge the story into gloom because of them either.
Stephen: Bob has found a new way to tell an old, familiar story. It was exciting for me to help tell this story through music.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE OR SONG?
Robert: There’s a song in the second act where the king is dazed because of his airplane crash and Miller keeps disguising him to try to trick Rumpelstiltskin into revealing his name. The song starts with an absurd premise and builds on it through the logic of farce.
Stephen: I enjoy the opening song, "Twitching," with the Miller interacting with the audience. It was fun to write and it is fun to listen to.
Q: WHAT IS IT LIKE COLLABORATING WITH EACH OTHER?
Robert: I write the lyrics and Steve not only writes the music but improves the lyrics. He can do that in such a patient and diplomatic way I always cheer his additions or changes. I rely on his ideas.
Stephen: Bob is a terrific storyteller. He also has a knack for knowing when a song is going to help move the story forward. The rhythm of his words tends to inspire musical ideas for me.
Q: ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
Robert: I love writing plays for children because I’m never in any doubt about what the audience reaction is. If a passage bores them they show it. On the other hand, when they like something they laugh and cheer and applaud and interact with the actors as naturally as if they were talking to their friends. To see them pleased by something I have done is the best reward I get for what I do.
Stephen: I think young audiences are going to have a "Grimm Dandy" of a time watching this show.