The Snow Queen

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PLAYS LILTING TUNE

Mother, look - a boy.

- Come on, Gerda - it's far too cold.

- But he looks so unhappy.

Well, here -

give him this.

It looks so soft, the snow -

- as if it should be warm.

- Colder than a devil's kiss,

your grandfather used to say.

And every bit as deadly.

In to bed with you, Gerda.

It's late.

That poor boy out there - won't you let him come in, just for tonight?

Enough, enough.

Go to sleep.

BIRDSONG:

# A boy and a girl

# An ordinary world

# Of secret dreams and make-believe

# A friendship made strong

# Through laughter and song

# And stories of great palaces And queens

# Just Gerda

# And Kay

# Happy day by day

# Lost in pleasures

# Innocent and true

# Ah-ah-ah-ah

# Ah-ah-ah-ah... #

What friends they've become, those two. I've never seen Gerda so happy.

Such appetites! That boy will eat me out of house and home!

It was good of you to take him in.

He's a different lad with some meat on his bones.

Like a million bees swarming.

There should be a queen bee, then.

Hmm, there is.

She's called the Snow Queen.

She'll be flying about, where the swarm's busiest.

I've seen her.

No, you haven't!

I have.

She's beautiful -

all in white fur and jewels.

You'll see when she comes again. I'll open the window and let her in.

Then I shall just put her on the stove and she'll melt.

You wait.

You'll see.

WIND HOWLS:

# The Snow Queen

# Imagine birds in flight

# Wrapped in the darkest night. #

Aagh! There's something in my eye!

What are you doing?

It's freezing in here.

- Kay?

- Leave me alone!

- Kay?

- Go away, you stupid girl!

Let me sleep, can't you?

- Ride it, Kay.

- Go boy, go!

What happened? Where's Kay?

What have you done?!

He's gone.

Toward the river.

KAY!

KAY!

- SHE SOBS

- Kay...

BIRDSONG:

# Do not stand

# At my grave and weep

# I am not there

# I do not sleep

# I am a thousand winds that blow

# I am the diamond in some snow

# I am the sunlight on ripened grain

# I am the gentle autumn rain. #

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there.

I did not die.

# I am

# A thousand winds that blow

# I am the diamond

# In some snow

# I am the sunlight

# On ripened grain

# I am

# The gentle autumn rain. #

Pins and needles...

Pins and needles.

Gracious, child...

What are you doing here all alone in this gloomy place?

- Thinking of Kay.

- Kay?

You see! It's so long since he went away, you can't even remember him!

So much fuss and bother.

Who knows what happened to that rascal.

But they found my old sled in the river this morning.

I expect he just threw it away when he left, my dear.

Too heavy to steal.

- Do you think so?

- Well, of course.

A typical thing for a naughty, ungrateful boy to do.

CLOCK TICKS:

TICKING STOPS:

How I wish the river could speak.

I can speak.

- What's the matter with you?

- My friend is dead.

- The river took him.

- Not this river. I live here. I see everything.

Then where is he?

- Where did he go?

- Who knows? Try downstream.

Wait!

What do you mean?

Follow the river.

Go north.

# Cruel winter, relentless and cold

# Left Gerda alone

# Kay's story untold

# North said the birds

# And the spring sunshine

# Kay is not dead

# It is not yet his time

# She dried her eyes

# And implored the river

# If precious care it could deliver

# Its silent reply

# It carried her far

# To an enchanted garden

# Under a distant star. #

There you are, my dear!

Sit down! Sit down.

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