This story, which first gained popularity in the 14th century, is set in Libya (or Lydda, depending on which translation you read), where a dragon was terrorising the local populace who tried to appease it by feeding it all their flocks of sheep. When all the sheep had been eaten, they turned to human sacrifices but even so the beast continued to destroy the countryside. Finally, it was decided to sacrifice the princess in a last-ditch attempt to buy off the dragon. Fortunately for her, along came St. George on his trusty white charger and duly slew the offending dragon, freeing the princess in the process. It is said that the story is allegorical, with the dragon representing Satan and the princess representing the Christian church.
St George and the
Dragon
Cast
- Narrator (s)
- Dragon
- St George
- Sheep Flock leader:
- Maiden 1
- Maiden 2
- Princess
- King
- Queen
- Townspeople
Narrator: Once upon a time …
Dragon: (shouting) There was a DRAGON !!!
Narrator: Excuse me – this isn’t really your story.
As
I was saying
Once upon a time, nearly two thousand years ago in a town in Libya – that’s in North Africa – a dragon was terrorising everyone …… … and every sheep.
Dragon: Feed
me!! Feed me!! Bring me live food.
Narrator: All the chicken, all the goats and all but one of the sheep had been sacrificed to keep the dragon happy. Now they had only one sheep left.
(A procession of townspeople led by the king and queen lead out the last sacrifice – a sheep beautifully groomed. They tie the sheep to a stake.)
Sheep: (shouting and protesting) S’not fair! S’not fair! Why’s it always the sheep what gets it!
Dragon: Yum yum yum ………
King: Mighty dragon here’s our last sheep.
Dragon: Excellent – top quality lamb – my favourite!
Sheep: I’m not a lamb. I’m the leader of the flock!
Dragon: Even better! (Dragon laughs an evil laugh and gobbles up the sheep.) More! I want more!
King: You’ve had everything. Now leave us alone.
Dragon: Everything?
… Everything????
…
I don’t think so.
Bring me your maidens!
Queen: Not our maidens! Take the grown-ups instead!
Dragon: Too stringy! Too tough! Too fatty!
No. It’s got to be the maidens.
They’re sweet and tender and oh so yummy!
(The townspeople walk sadly back to the town – the maidens are all sobbing)
Narrator: One by one all the maidens of this North African kingdom were sacrificed to the Dragon. Every day a sad procession – all dressed up as if for a wedding - would leave the city and lead out the maiden who was dressed like a bride. They tied her to the stake outside the dragon’s cave and left her to her fate.
After several weeks there were only three maidens left: the king’s daughter and her two best friends.
King: It’s your turn now.
Maidens: No, no, no – not us. Someone save us!
(The first maiden is led out to be sacrificed. She’s dressed like a bride.)
Narrator: Sadly – this being real life – no one came to save the maiden.
(The dragon gobbles up the first maiden, burps and takes a nap. He wakes up rubbing his tummy.
Dragon: I’m hungry … (He roars a mighty roar) Bring me another maiden!!!
(The second maiden is led out to be sacrificed. She’s dressed like a bride. The dragon gobbles her up.)
Narrator: The second maiden died as well – sacrificed to the terrible dragon – to keep him out of the city.
Dragon: Excellent,
excellent. Tasty maidens !
Keep them coming or I’ll come for the men (evil laugh)
King: Oh no! not the men! Here have my daughter instead. She’s the last maiden left in town.
(The third maiden, the princess, is led out to be sacrificed. She’s dressed like a bride)
Narrator: Luckily for the king’s daughter – and because this is really a fairy tale where everyone lives happily ever after – except for the sheep and the sacrificed maidens – a young, handsome hero had just arrived in town.
(Trumpet fanfare. Enter St George swinging his sword and striking heroic poses for the townspeople)
St George: What’s this I hear about you sacrificing the weakest amongst you. You wimps! I’ll rescue your maidens …
King: There’s only one left – she’s my daughter and I’ll give you half my kingdom if you can save her!
St George: Typical! Only the princess gets to be
saved!
I don’t want half your
kingdom.
I don’t want any reward
except this:
You are pagans,
You have no honour,
You have not protected
the weak and innocent.
Become Christians!
Turn every temple into a church!
Put a Cross on every building!
Do this and I will rescue the princess.
Narrator: The king ordered all the temples to be turned into churches and the city sprouted crosses everywhere.
St George galloped off
to rescue the princess.
(The dragon is preparing to eat up the princess. He’s set out his best knife and fork and is tucking in a napkin. He doesn’t notice St George arriving)
Dragon: Yum. Yum. Yum.
This is the best one yet.
Princess: Save me! Save me!
Dragon: Well, I’ll save bits of you to snack on later.
Princess: You beast!
Dragon: That’s me.
(St George creeps up behind him and thrust his sword under the dragon’s wing just as he was lifting up his knife and fork to eat the maiden.)
Princess: My hero!!
Dragon: What! I thought all the men round here were cowardly wimps.
St George: I’m not from around here. I’m a Turk!
Dragon: You’ve killed me! (makes a big show of dying)
Narrator: St George returned the princess to her
father the king.
The kingdom became Christian and St. George rode out. His legend grew throughout the dark ages and mediaeval times. To be a good Christian you must defend the weak and the innocent, turn away from all the old gods, turn your temples into churches and fight evil – especially dragons.
(St George returns to the dragon to spear a cross through his heart)
Dragon: I give up.
(The
dragon stops twisting and turning, sighs and lies still and DEAD.)
1 comment:
This is very cute, Liz, if a tad gruesome! Did it make the stage?
Alex
Post a Comment