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Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
6:00 AM
I'm reading a really fun book right now. Entwined by Heather Dixon.
It's based on the fairy tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses by the Brothers Grimm.
When I realized this, I instantly wanted to read it.
Why do I have such a fascination with this tale, you ask?
When I was sixteen, I was in a musical production of the story.
(The Twelve Princesses and the meddling fairy/storyteller Gwendolyn.)
It was a hilarious retelling of the story featuring a whole mess of goofy characters, dialogue and songs.
The princesses names for example:
January. The eldest. With a heart as cold as ice.
February. Who was dangerously in love with herself.
March. Mild one moment and raging the next.
April. She cried. A lot.
May. Innocent and ridiculously happy.
June. Always the bride.
July. Hot. Smokin' hot.
August. Or, Gus. Training for the Olympics.
September. Very studious. A total bookworm.
October. A jokester. She put the trick in trick-or-treat.
November. Had an insatiable appetite.
December. The youngest and sweetest.
I played October. Cause I'm that awesome.
The princesses go through a secret passage in their bedroom every night; through forests of silver, gold and jewels to a magical ballroom where they dance the night away.
Leaving their shoes in tatters each morning.
(See? Tattered shoes.)
The King sends out a proclamation to all eligible men. If they can solve the mystery of where the princesses go every night, he can marry the princess of his choice.
Ooh look. Earl Robin of Williams is so funny and good looking!
It's love at first laugh!
Unfortunately, none of the princes are able to solve the mystery. The girls drug them. For every princess needs a mystery.
Good night sweet prince, and pleasant dreams to you.
Adios, au revoir, auf wiedershehen. Goodnight!
But because the suitors can't solve the mystery, the king tears all of the loving couples apart...
...and throws the princes in jail! Sad day!
But one handsome guy in an invisibility cloak does manage to figure out the secret.
(He loves January. He's toasty enough to melt that icy heart!)
Unfortunately, the evil shoemaker overhears the revealed secret and tells the king before Hugh McManly has a chance. That scoundrel!
He then uses this advantage to pick one of the princesses as his bride.
He then uses this advantage to pick one of the princesses as his bride.
(I'm not very excited about the idea.)
(Bald evil shoemakers like to see the state of a girl's shoes before he chooses a bride.)
But he is foiled! Huzzah!
And the princesses give puppy dog eyes to the king.
(Please give our princes back. Please!)
King Gullible is an old softy and releases the prisoners!
Princesses:
"For by dancing our sleep we would lose,
All we need now's a bit of a snooze --"
Princes:
"Now let's set things straight.
You'll be staying up late.
And believe me, you won't need your shoes!"
(Scandalous!)
And they all lived happily ever after!
(I give you full permission to mock how awkward I was as a teenager.)
This was probably the best show I've ever been a part of. Oh all the memories.
(Except maybe the one where I played an old lady. But that's a a story for a different day.)
(Except maybe the one where I played an old lady. But that's a a story for a different day.)
What are some of your favorite memories from high school?
Do you have a favorite Brothers' Grimm fairy tale?
And be sure to check out Entwined by Heather Dixon! It's really awesome! The review will be up in a few weeks!
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5 Thoughts:
Aww this was so cool! Ha I think one of my favorite high school memories was muddin/sledding...in which we turned the topper to an old pickup truck upside down and drug it behind the truck in the mud...and took turns riding in it. Not smart, and a bit painful, but still fun! Great blog, I'm a new follower!
http://marleeindebt.blogspot.com
Haven't heard of this story yet, and it is indeed funny. :)
Love your blog, btw! Found you through Comment Love <3
What a cool memory to hold on. So fun you got the change to do this specially given that it's one of your favorite fairy tales. I would give anything, although not a a Brother's Grimm fairy tale, to be part of the sound of music!!
I was in the pit orchestra for Once on this Island. It reminded me of a tropical romeo and juliet. It was sooo much fun!
Katie - such fun memories! Where did you get all those great pictures? I need copies! Miss your face. Wish I had known you were in town. I would have figured out a way to see you.
Love ya