Cast of Characters:

NARRATOR
LEALE
KEIRA
MAYBELLE
NESTOR
RAGA
STAGEHAND

The Narrator smiles quietly at the audience as she walks on stage and takes her place on a small stool.

The Narrator says:

Thank you all for joining us today, I hope you enjoy the story we’re about to perform.

The Narrator opens her book and begins to read.

The Narrator recites:

Once upon a time there was a Elven chief named Nestor. He ruled a large and mighty clan deep in the forest. He was very sad, for he was growing old and had no child to inherit the throne.

The Narrator recites:

Then, happily, a daughter was born. A princess he named Keira. Lords and Ladies came from all around the realms to offer their gifts to the child.

The Narrator smiles softly at the audience.

The Narrator recites:

Among the gathered gentry was the widow Maybelle and her young son, Leale. It was that evening Maybelle and Nestor happened upon the same idea. Leale and Keira would be brought together each summer in hopes that they would fall in love and join their clans forever.

The Narrator’s voice takes on a mysterious and spooky tone as she continues reading from her book.

The Narrator recites:

However, unknown to all was another plan – that of the evil Gor’Tog Raga. Keira’s birth was of little concern to him, for he was preparing to take chief Nestor’s clan by means of the Forbidden Arts.

The Narrator recites:

Word spread about Raga and his evil plan to attack and invade Nestor’s clan, but Chief Nestor and his warriors were ready and waiting for this attack. On the eve of Raga’s assault, Nestor’s warriors preemptively attacked – defeating Raga and plunging his powers into darkness. Despite calls for his death, the Gor’Tog was only banished from their lands.

The Narrator shakes her head.

The Narrator recites:

However, our story actually begins 16 years later on a hot summer’s evening in Maybelle’s palace, when Nestor and Maybelle announce to their children they are to be wed.

The Stagehand recites:
The curtains rise and you see inside a large palace in Maybelle’s kingdom. It is elegantly decorated and filled with festive ornaments depicting a party. In the center of the grand ballroom you see a group of people talking.

Leale smiles warmly at Maybelle, while placing his hand on her shoulder.

Leale says:

Yes, mother. If this is what you want, arrange the marriage!

Keira gasps.

Keira gawks at Leale.

Keira loudly says:
Wait! Not so fast! Why do you want to marry me?

Leale glances at Keira.

Leale shrugs.

Leale says:

Why do you ask me that? You’re all I ever wanted. You’re the most beautiful princess I have met.

Leale rushes over to her and picks her up and swings her around in the air.

Keira blushes.

Keira pushes Leale away and slowly backs away.

Keira says:

Thank you. But what else? Why do you want to marry me?

Keira stares at Leale.

Leale sharply inhales and exhales a heavy breath in annoyance.

Leale says:

I told you already, you are beautiful! What else do you want to hear?

Keira frowns at Leale and sighs in frustration.

Keira says:

Is beauty all that matters to you?

Leale stares at Keira in disbelief.

Leale says:

What else is there? You are the hottest woman around!

Leale smiles at Keira in a warm but slightly leering way.

Nestor coughs.

Maybelle says:
All these years of planning… Wasted! Why are you such a shallow man, Leale?

Maybelle shakes her head in disbelief and runs through her hair, shocked by what she just heard.

The Narrator gawks.

The Narrator says:

Did he really just say beauty is the only thing that matters? Well, he certainly has a way with women. Glad he is not my problem!

Leale shrugs as he looks at the Narrator.

Leale says:

It was dumb, I know. I probably should have told her she was kind, loving, and sweet of heart.

The Narrator snorts a derisive laugh, sneering in mockery.

The Narrator sarcastically says:

He should write a book: ‘How to Offend Women in Five Words or Less’.

Leale glares at the Narrator.

Leale grumpily says:

Oh shut up already! Let’s get on with the story.

The Narrator shakes her head sadly with a sigh and turns to the next page of her book.

The Narrator recites:

After the sad and awkward scene at Maybelle’s castle, Kiera and Nestor left for home. Unknown to them, Raga was plotting to take action against them as to finally get what he had wanted sixteen years ago, prior to being defeated.

The Stagehand recites:

The curtains close. After a few moments they rise and you see Raga, sitting on a tall horse next to a winding path. A large red dragon is circling overhead.

Raga attempts to look villainous as he twirls his mustache with a nefarious gleam in his eyes.

Raga says:
Today is the day Nestor! Everything you own, everything you love, will be mine. I shall take what I deserve and what I want.

The Stagehand recites:

A loud and rhythmic beating sound fills the hall. It sounds like the pounding of horse hooves galloping at full speed. The sound gets louder and louder until you see Nestor and Keira arrive on stage in a golden carriage driven by four white stallions galloping at a good pace. Inside the carriage you see the two are having a deep conversation.

Nestor gazes at Keira and sighs.

Nestor says:

I just don’t understand… What else did you want him to say, my dear?

Keira sighs sadly and gazes out the window.

Keira sadly says:

I need to know that he loves me for just being me. There is a lot more to me than just how I look. I do not want to be a trophy for him to put on display. I want him to love me completely for everything I am.

The Narrator recites:

As Nestor and Keira continue to talk inside the carriage, it suddenly comes to a jarring halt and Keira is knocked to the floor of the carriage. Nestor climbs out of the coach to investigate why the carriage had stopped. As he gets out of the carriage, a large red dragon swoops down and nearly hits him in the head with its long, sharp claws. After a short struggle with the dragon, Nestor hears a loud ruckus and screams of fear echoing from inside the carriage holding his beloved daughter Keira.

The Stagehand recites:
Keira’s voice carries loudly from inside the carriage, “No! STOP. Leave me alone. HELP!!! Where are you taking me? Help!”

Nestor runs back to the carriage and discovers that Keira is gone.

The Narrator recites:

As Nestor watches in horror, Raga pulls Keira onto his horse and rides off into the woods leaving Nestor behind. Once safely away with his captive, Raga, he signals to the dragon to leave.

Nestor yells:

Keira!

Nestor scans the area for signs of Keira.

Nestor sighs heavily when he realizes she’s gone without a trace.

The Stagehand recites:
The curtains close slowly as you see Keira being carried away kicking and screaming by Raga on horseback and the dragon flying behind them. As the curtains open again, you are back at Maybelle’s Palace. You see Leale and Maybelle sitting in the throne room reading a book.

Nestor frantically runs back to the palace hoping to get help locating his beloved daughter. As he rushes inside the door, he collapses onto the floor in complete exhaustion.

Leale runs to his side and looks around for Keira.

Leale appears concerned as he paces back and forth looking around for Keira.

Leale asks:

Chief Nestor, what happened? Where is Keira?

Nestor sobs.

Nestor says:

We were attacked. A dragon! It was a dragon! Keira was kidnapped and is nowhere to be found! We need to find her. I need to find my beloved daughter!

Leale shakes his head in disbelief.

Leale exclaims:

We must find her!

The Stagehand recites:

The curtains close quickly. You hear the sounds of movement behind the curtain. When they reopen, you see a large, white, stone tower surrounded by a green moat filled with stones and lily pads.

The Narrator recites:

Raga brought Keira back to his castle after he kidnapped her. Once they arrived he made his plan known to her.

Raga kneels in front of Keira.

Raga asks:

My dearest, sweet Keira, wIll you please become my queen?

Keira slaps Raga.

Keira yells:

NO WAY! I will NEVER be your queen.

Raga grins evilly.

Raga coldly says:

Very well. Have it your way.

Raga waves his magic wand and *POOF* Keira is transformed into a frog.

The Narrator glances out at the audience in disbelief.

The Narrator says:

I mean, well…that’s one way to handle rejection. But seriously? A frog? How is she supposed to live as a frog?

The Narrator turns her book to the next page and says, “We’ll just have to find out I suppose…”

Raga laughs evilly.

Raga says:

You will stay a frog until you agree to marry me. You will be my queen, whether you like it or not.

Keira says:
I refuse to be your queen! I will never marry you. Like I could ever marry an ugly, heartless Tog like you.

Keira turns her back to Raga and waits for him to leave.

The Narrator says:
These people make the oddest decisions…personally, I’d take being queen over being a frog any day. Even if he is a nasty old man.

The Narrator recites:

Later that evening as the sun sets behind the tower Raga emerges to find little froggy Keira, sitting on stone in the moat sobbing as she waits for the moon’s light to fall upon her and turn her back into her elven form. Raga quietly walks up behind her with a smug look upon his face and watches her cry. She turns and realizes he is standing behind her, her sobbing becomes uncontrollable.

Raga smiles warmly at Keira.

Raga sweetly says:

Now don’t let my little spell make you sad, Keira. It doesn’t even last the whole day. As soon as the Katamba comes up you will turn back into your elven form.

Raga shrugs.

Raga matter-of-factly says:

That is how it works. You have to be in the pond, of course, for that to happen. When the moonlight touches your head you will change back to your normal form.

Keira turns her back to Raga and continues to sob.

Raga says:
Now look Keira, this sort of thing doesn’t give me any pleasure.

Raga ponders.

Raga says:

Well, maybe a teensy bit. But what I really want is your father’s clan and power. Agree to marry me right now and this will be but a bad memory.

Keira screams angrily.

Keira angrily says:

Take it, then! You have enough power. You do not need me to be your queen!

Raga says:
Nah, tried that already. Once you steal something, you spend your whole life fighting to keep it. But if I marry the only heir to the clan, that is another story. We’ll rule your father’s clan together, legally, you know?

Keira shouts:
Never! I shall run away and die before that will ever happen!

Raga says:
Where are you going to go? As soon as moonlight leaves the pond you turn back into a frog. No matter where you are.

Raga laughs evilly.

Raga says:

You can run away and you will still be a frog forever!

Keira sobs.

The Stagehand recites:

The curtains close silently. After a short pause they raise and we are back at Maybelle’s palace, watching Nestor and Leale sitting at a long table in a very engaged discussion. There is a plethora of maps laying on the table and strewn about the room. Leale looks as if he has not slept in weeks and has a desperate look on his face. Maybelle watches from across the room with concern for her son.

Maybelle walks up to Leale and places her hand on his shoulder.

Maybelle says:

Oh Leale, you’ve looked everywhere for her. She’s not coming back. The whole clan knows it. There is nothing more we can do. We must accept the fact she is gone. It is time you move on. You need to find a new bride. I need grandkids!

Leale stands up and paces around the room.

Leale says:

The whole kingdom is wrong mother! Keira is alive, and I’m gonna find her. If it is the last thing I do, I will find my love and bring her back home to me.

The Narrator says:

Hmm, maybe he’s got more to him than I realized.

The Narrator turns the page and begins reading again.

The Narrator recites:

Day after day, Leale studies the maps of the land intently. He is determined to find Keira. Tirelessly, he hunts orcs and gryphons and train his broadsword and axe as he prepares for the day he once again meets the dragon and rescues his beloved Keira.

The Stagehand recites:

The curtains close as the scenes change. When they rise you see the lighting depicts sunset as Raga’s tower and pond, preparing for the night. You hear the chirp of crickets and hoots of owls off in the distance. Sitting on a large stone near the edge of the moat you see Keira gazing up at the stars above.

Raga walks on stage with humming a happy tune as he walks over to Keira.

Raga says:

All it takes is one little word to change you back to an Elf. I will ask you one more time. Will you marry me? Let me be your love.

Keira flatly says:

Every night for over a month, you have asked the same question. It is getting rather old.

Keira glances at Raga rather bored and then returns her gaze back to the sky.

Raga says:

No, no, no! You will change your mind and be my queen so I can take over your father’s clan.

Raga stomps his foot and glares at Keira.

Keira scoffs.

Keira curtly says:

I will never change my mind.

Keira stomps her foot and shakes her finger and points at Raga to emphasize her point.

Keira matter-of-factly says:

You can ask me that same question every night until you are blue in the face. I will always give you the same answer.

Keira turns her back to Raga in disgust.

Keira yells:

I will never be your queen! I will remain like this until the day I die. I am ok with that.

Keira grins widely and walks away before she looks over her shoulder.

Keira emphatically says:

It is better than having to kiss you!

Keira cackles:

Raga glares at Keira in a rage.

Raga angrily says:

You’re really starting to annoy me!

Keira says:
I should think you’d be used to it by now. This is nothing, compared to you. You have kept me prisoner here for over a month.

Raga loudly says:

That’s it! Just keep pushing it. But someday I’m going to boil over! I will turn you into a delicious meal of fried frog legs.

Keira shrugs.

Keira says:

Go ahead then! But I’ll never give you my father’s clan and power. If you eat me, then you have nothing.

Raga says:
I was hoping you’d say you’d be mine. But it looks as if you need another day to think about it.

Raga laughs evilly.

Keira says:

No! Let me go! I have been your prisoner for long enough!

Raga laughs as he walks off toward his tower leaving Keira in tears behind him.

Keira glances around the area and begins to cry.

The Narrator smiles sadly across the stage at Keira, then turns the page of her book and continues reading.

The Narrator recites:

As the day went on, Keira began to think about her past and the events that had lead her to where she was today. As she begins to think of Laele, her eyes fill with tears. She had not realized until that moment, the she was in love with him.

The Narrator blinks.

The Narrator glances about with a disgusted look on her face.

The Narrator recites:

Meanwhile back in the garden of his castle, Leale was also thinking of Keira. He realized that she was the perfect woman.

The Narrator says:

This is starting to sound like a tale about star-crossed lovers? But, that is another story…

The Stagehand recites:

The curtains close quickly. As they rise again, soft music begins to fill the air. On the right side of the stage and facing away from the center, Keira sits on a large rock next to the pond staring at the moon. Off on the left side of the stage, you see Leale sitting on a another rock lost in his thoughts.

Keira sings:

Why am I here? What did I do?

I sit and dream of nothing more than you

This is not where I belong, helpless and alone

I wish your arms were around me, and I was back at home

Why do I think about your smile, the way that you grin at me?

Is the smile I used to see, what was meant to be?

I should have stayed with you that night, and ran into your arms

Time would help me love you and find your many charms

Keira gazes off into the distance with a starry, dreamy look in her eyes as she wraps her arms around herself.

Keira sings:

For now until forever

I’ll hold you in my heart

It’s almost like you’re here with me

Although we’re far apart

As sure as the dawn brings the sun into my eyes

We’ve an unshakable bond

No matter where my fate lies

I will think of you until I am gone

Keira sadly glances down at a nearby rock lost in her thoughts. Tears glimmer in her eyes as she gazes up into the stars above.

Leale sings:
For now until forever

As constant as a star

I close my eyes and dream

That I am where you are

Leale gazes at the stars in the night sky.

Leale sings:

I was such a fool, to make you run away,

The thought and love I feel for you gets stronger every day.

When you are lost and lonely, I feel pain deep inside my heart.

My heart aches and cries and longs for you every day we are apart.

We are destined to last forever

A lifetime and beyond

For now until forever

I swear that you will be found.

Leale weeps.

Keira sings:
I make an everlasting vow

To find a way back to you

You are like no love I’ve ever known

And with your love I’ll never be alone

Keira stands up tall as she stares off into the distance, before wrapping her arms around herself to give herself a hug.

Keira sighs.

Leale sings:
For now until forever

With your love I’ll never be alone

As constant as a star

I close my eyes and I am where you are

Laele stands up and points off in the distance, as if he was pointing at the star he was looking at. Then he places his hands over his heart and returns to sitting on the rock.

Leale sighs.

The Stagehand recites:

The music slowly fades out and the lights begin to dim as Leale sadly walks off stage and the curtain closes behind him.

The Narrator recites:

Time goes on and Raga continues to beg for Keira to be his wife. Her answer never changes. Weeks go by and Keira wonders and plans on how she can break her curse. Leale, on the other hand, has decided to go on a quest to find his lost love.

The Narrator sighs and smiles out at the audience.

The Stagehand recites:

The curtain quietly rises behind the narrator. Keira, in her frog form, is sitting on a stone near the moat sadly looking up at the sky.

The Narrator recites:

We come back to our story as a long lonely night comes to an end as the sun rises. Keira has turned back into a frog and is sitting and contemplating how to get out of the spell. Suddenly, she hears a voice in the distance calling her name. Who could that be? You only get one guess…

The Narrator continues reading from her book.

The Narrator recites:

A few roisaen later, Leale walks up next to the moat where Keira is sitting on a stone as a frog daydreaming and does not notice Leale is next to the moat with his horse. As Leale sits by the moat and lets his horse have a drink, he looks around at the tower next to him.

Leale says:

I wonder who lives here. I wonder if this is where I will find that evil dragon who stole Keira away from me.

Keira gasps.

Keira fidgets with her gown and hair.

Keira says:

Leale! He’s here! I am a mess! What will he think of me now? What should I do?

Keira frowns and panics before she jumps into the moat and swimming to the other side to be closer to Leale.

Leale looks around and looks toward sounds coming from next to the moat.

Leale yells:

Who is there? Come out into the light!

Leale runs back on stage.

Leale says:

Oh, I’ve got you now!

Leale chuckles.

Leale says:

Don’t give me that innocent look. Change! Go ahead, change into a dragon!

Leale looks around startled as a mouse jumps out of the bushes and runs straight at his feet.

Leale watches the mouse with amusement until his eyes happen upon a frog sitting on a stone on the other side of the moat.

Leale says:

A frog? A frog! Of course it is a frog. How I wish this was the evil dragon I was looking for…

Leale says:

On the other hand, maybe the dragon is a tricky one. Maybe he appears to be something not so obvious.

Leale begins to advance on the frog.

The Narrator recites:

Just as Leale was getting closer to attack the frog, he heard more sounds and hid in the bushes to observe and watch what was going on around the moat. He hopes this what he has been waiting for.

Leale dives into a nearby bush.

Raga says:

I thought I heard a voice.

Keira says:

A voice? Maybe you should have your head examined. The only voice I hear is your loud, obnoxious voice day after day, begging me to marry you. I think you are hearing things.

The Narrator recites:

Keira quickly glances over to the bushes where Leale was hiding. Raga notices her glance and gets suspicious. He starts to walk over to the bushes to see what she was looking at. Keira panics and calls out to Raga.

Raga says:

Yes?

Keira quietly says:
Well, I…

Raga peers quizzically at Keira.

Raga asks:

You what?

Keira meekly says:

I’ve decided to become your queen if you let me see Leale one more time.

Raga says:

No! What? Huh? You mean, Huh-huh!

Raga says:

Oh, oh, you’ve made me so happy, Keira, oh… By the way, you wouldn’t happen to know who is hiding in the bushes do you?

Keira says:
Um, no. However, you told me you would lift the curse if I agreed to become your queen.

The Narrator looks down at her book again.

The Narrator recites:

With a wave of his wand, Raga transforms Keira back into her Elven self. In the bushes nearby, Leale, who had been watching the whole event unfold, gasps when he sees Keira returned from a frog to her normal elven self. Keira realizes what happened and makes an attempt to grab and kiss Raga but he lunges toward the bushes. In the blink of an eye, Raga drags Leale out of the bushes and pulls him over to the moat.

Raga chuckles to himself as he drags Leale out of the bushes.

Raga says:

No matter what you do, I’m always one step ahead, my dear princess. On the other hand, I could not let Prince Leale’s vow of love ruin everything. No more Mr. Nice Guy, no sirree!

Raga laughs.

Raga says:

Hello, little prince.

Leale struggles and squirms trying to get loose from Raga’s grip.

Leale asks:

And who are you?

Raga mockingly says:
I am your worst nightmare! I stole Keira and she agreed to be my queen! You are too late! She is mine!

Leale glances at Keira in disbelief.

Leale says:

Is that you, Keira? I knew you were alive. I knew one day I would see you. I made a vow to find you. I asked the wind to lead me to my love. Here you are.

Raga laughs at Leale.

Raga says:

You made a vow, all right, a vow of everlasting death! You need to kiss her and make her your queen to break the spell. She agreed to be my queen so you can not have her. Now my dragon will eat you for dinner! You should have left her for dead.

Raga points his hand and the red dragon appears beside him.

The Narrator recites:

With a flick of Raga’s wand, Keira magically turns back into a frog and he places a large glass jar over her. Raga signals the dragon to attack Leale, the gigantic red dragon slowly begins to approach and fiercely focus his gaze on Leale. As the dragon draws closer, Leale draws his broadsword and axe and prepares to defend himself against the wild and angry beast.

Leale yells:

Keira! NO! I will save you… I just need to take care of this dragon first.

Keira gasps.

Keira struggles against the jar trying to free herself to no avail. Leaning against the glass, she gasps for breath as the air inside the jar grows thin.

Leale runs to Keira to free her from the jar, but the dragon blocks his path and swats him aside with his large claw.

Leale shouts:

Keira! Please hang on!

Raga says:

She’s fading fast, little prince. Now in order for her to live, you must face my dragon. You have sealed both of your fates. If I can not have her, no one will.

Raga laughs evilly.

Leala yells:

NO!

Keira snuffles and gasps, making an enormous production out of simply breathing.

Raga says:

If you hurry, little prince, I’ll let you see her one last time before my dragon eats you!

The Narrator recites:

Raga leads Leale over to the jar and lets him see Keira one last time. Weakly, Keira, who is still a frog, looks up at Leale with tears in her eyes.

Keira asks:

Will you love me, Leale, until the day I die?

Leale smiles at Keira.

Leale lovingly says:

Much longer than that, Keira… Much longer. You are the one who makes me complete and happy. I am lost without you.

The Narrator recites:

As soon as Leale makes that vow, Raga’s magical hold on the dragon was broken and the dragon lunges up into the sky free. You see, Raga had been keeping the dragon as prisoner to carry out his evil plans. Once the dragon was free, he turned on Raga.

The Narrator smiles at the audience.

The Narrator recites:

The dragon attacks Raga and swallows him in one bite before flying away. Leale runs to the jar and removes it from Keira. He was so happy to see her, he did not care she was a frog. So without thinking he holds her in his hands and kisses her.

Leale kisses Keira tenderly.

The Narrator recites:

As soon as his lips touch hers, she was instantly transformed back into her true form. For, you see, the key to undoing this horrible spell was a vow of true love sealed with a kiss. They sat next to the moat embracing in a loving hug.

Kiera hugs Leale tightly.

Keira says:
Thank you for rescuing me, Leale. I am sorry for causing you all this trouble!

Keira takes Leale’s hands in hers and looks deep into his eyes as she begins to sing.

Keira sings:
I knew that we belonged together

Long before I knew your name

The only thing I longed for

Was a sign to prove you felt the same

Leale sings:
Somehow I knew your every secret

Just by looking in your eyes

From the very moment I met you

I was thinking of the rest of our lives

Leale gazes at Keira.

Keira sings:

Just say to me

I’m gonna love you deeply until the end of time

Somehow two hearts have made a friend of time

Eternity, eternity is at our side

Laele sings:

I am not afraid to stay forever

You have made me feel so sure

Cause I know it’s everlasting

And I’ve never felt this way before

Keira sings:

I am not afraid to stay forever

You have made me feel so sure

Cause I know it’s everlasting

And I’ve never felt this way before

Leale sings:

Just say to me

I’m gonna love you deeply until the end of time

Somehow two hearts have made a friend of time

Eternity, eternity is at our side

Leale smiles at Keira.

Keira sings:
Eternity, I’ll love you for eternity.

Keira hugs Leale tightly.

Leale kneels before Keira.

Leale lovingly says:

I love you, Keira. You are the best person I could have ever met. Will you do me the honor of becoming my bride? You are more than a beautiful prize to be won. You are my one true love.

Leale gets a diamond ring from his pocket.

Leale gives the ring to Keira.

Keira says:

Of course I will. I just needed to hear that you loved me.

Keira accepts the diamond ring.

Leale stands.

Leale brushes Keira’s lips with a loving kiss.

The Narrator recites:

Happy at last to be together, Leale lifts Keira up gently and carries her to his horse. He places her onto his horse before climbing up behind her. They ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. The lesson this tale teaches is simple and true. You never know what you have, until you lose it.

The Narrator closes her book and looks out at the audience.

The Narrator says:

And so, true love did conquer all…even if they didn’t know they were in love to begin with.

The Narrator says:

Personally, I want to know where I can get myself a dragon…And maybe an evil Tog.

The Narrator chuckles.

The Stagehand recites:

The curtain slowly drops as the Narrator walks off stage. The lights in the room raise to signal the end of the play. Music begins to fill the air as the curtain lifts to reveal that the cast has all returned to the stage for a final bow.