The Princess and the Vagabond
by Laura Olsher

The Princess and the Vagabond Book Cover — The Princess and the Vagabond Cover

Highlights

One Act Ensemble Cast Interior Set Fantasy Costumes Comedy

Synopsis

The play form of a tale on which The Taming of the Shrew was based.

A king's daughter has a temper that drives all suitors away.

The king gives her to a wandering minstrel who is actually one of the noble suitors disguised.

Her temper induces him to apprentice her to a cook in his palace where she learns humility and wishes she'd appreciated her "vagabond" spouse.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
GUARD a young man	male	—	a young man
NARRATOR an ageless person, either boy or girl, man or woman. Should have warm and sincere communication with the audience.	female	—	an ageless person, either boy or girl, man or woman. Should have warm and sincere communication with the audience.
KATE a young woman, 18 or 19. She is beautiful, dark, and angry. She has a sharp tongue and a sharp sense of humor.	female	—	a young woman, 18 or 19. She is beautiful, dark, and angry. She has a sharp tongue and a sharp sense of humor.
KING (Kate's father) Kate's father, about 40. Very tired of dealing with the problems of a shrewish and angry daughter. He is at his wit's end. He is NOT a bumbling fooli, simply a father who has been too indulgent, and now is seeing the consequences in his daughter.	female	40	Kate's father, about 40. Very tired of dealing with the problems of a shrewish and angry daughter. He is at his wit's end. He is NOT a bumbling fooli, simply a father who has been too indulgent, and now is seeing the consequences in his daughter.
EARLS three young men about 21, with long skinny legs.	—	—	three young men about 21, with long skinny legs.
DUKES three young men, a little taller than the Earls with elongated but NOT deformed noses. All about 21.	—	—	three young men, a little taller than the Earls with elongated but NOT deformed noses. All about 21.
PRINCES three young men about 21, a little taller than the Dukes.	—	—	three young men about 21, a little taller than the Dukes.
KINGS two young men about 21, still taller than the Princes.	male	—	two young men about 21, still taller than the Princes.
THIRD KING the Vagabond. A bold young man, about 21, with a fine sense of humor, and a strength of character apparent from his first entrance.	male	—	the Vagabond. A bold young man, about 21, with a fine sense of humor, and a strength of character apparent from his first entrance.
SERVING WOMAN a young woman about 18, very sweet, subservient to the king, and totally at a loss with Kate.	female	—	a young woman about 18, very sweet, subservient to the king, and totally at a loss with Kate.
LADIES OF THE COURT they can be of all ages, sizes, and shapes.	—	—	they can be of all ages, sizes, and shapes.
SERVANTS two young women, clad in similar to Kate's serving woman.	female	—	two young women, clad in similar to Kate's serving woman.
COOK a large, fearsome woman about 40 years old. She has a sharp and definite personality, and should tower over Kate and dominate her in size as well as character.	female	40	a large, fearsome woman about 40 years old. She has a sharp and definite personality, and should tower over Kate and dominate her in size as well as character.
SECOND GUARD young man dressed as a guard in King Father's court.	male	—	young man dressed as a guard in King Father's court.