TITLE:
The Garden of Paradise
by
Hans Christian Anderson
by Ruth Willerth
copyright 1993

CLASSIFICATION:
Comedy

RATING:  G

SYNOPSIS:
The Garden of Paradise follows the original story, first created in the 1870s.  Language and technology evolved in the last hundred years. To keep the story fresh, this play transpires in the present.  A teenager flys with the wind to the Garden of Eden, and learns resisting temptation is not so easy.

CAST

MOTHER:                practical and possessive
JOHN:                  a seventeen year old romantic
CHRISTI:               full of vigor
MOTHER OF THE WIND:    an oldish woman, tall and strong enough to be a man in disguise 
NORTH WIND:            leather pants, fur jacket, winter cap,  big and boisterous
ZEPHYR:                a wild man from the woods, cowboy hat, mahogany club
SOUTH WIND:            turban and robe
EAST WIND:             oriental dress
PRINCESS:              glittering garments
DEATH:                 black hooded cape, sickle
GRANDMOTHER:
YOUNG JOHN:

OPTIONAL CAST  (group scenes)

(Stage behind John, The Mother of the Winds, and her four children.)
WALRUS HUNTERS:       
CARAVAN:
CHINESE CROWD:  (Give their line to the East Wind, if omitted.)

(Characters may be painted on backdrop.)
ANGELS:
ADAM & EVE:
PEOPLE IN HISTORY:

(If these characters are omitted, due to a lack of actors, execute their lines from off stage.)
BEAUTIFUL GIRLS:            each with a gleaming star in their hair
THE FLOWERS:

SETS/PROPS (minimum)
John's house		bare stage with a pile of books, phone
Woods			four tree cut outs, cave, burlap bag, fire, palm leaf
Garden of Eden		backdrop, 

LEGNTH:  Approximately 30 minutes

REQUIREMENTS:
Permission to freely produce this play is given by the playwright to any amatuer or non-profit organization.  The playwright asks to be informed of, and invited to any production of this work.  Please send a copy of your program, and reviews after the show.

CONTACTING THE PLAYWRIGHT:

E-mail: Rwillerth@hotmail.com

snailmail:  Ruth Willerth
                  10531 Main St Apt. 5 
                  Clarence, NY 14031