© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg.

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© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 2

About the Author…
Laura Lewis-Barr has been writing, directing, performing and
teaching theatre for over 15 years. Marvelous Tales, and Odysseus
Comes Home have been published by YouthPlays and The Vase is
published with Heartland Plays. She is an award-winning
screenwriter for a full length and several short films.

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advertising. You must also write to let her know that you are using her play!
Contact Laura at: lauralewisbarr@yahoo.com

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About the play…

This play offers many fantastic moments for children to create
magical environments, including a forest and an underwater castle.
It is flexible in terms of casting, number of participants and ways to
interact with the audience.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 3

 The Troll’s Heart
By Laura Lewis Barr

CHARACTERS:
(Pronouns in the script are suggestions only.)

NARRATOR 1
NARRATOR 2
TROLL
KAI
TOWNSPERSON 1
TOWNSPERSON 2
CASEY
----------Onstage opportunities for many children
TREES in the forest
ANIMALS in the forest
TOWNSPEOPLE
WAVES in the sea

Setting: Any open area or stage. Some children can be decorated as or hold cut-outs of TREES
to create a forest.

Each character can move onto the stage and act out what the Narrator says. Instead of, or in
addition to costumes, actors can carry a toy or puppet to indicate their character. (Example --
actor playing the Troll can bring on a troll-like doll to manipulate Or, when Kai is turned into a
bunny, she grabs a bunny toy.)

This script indicates only some of the many ways to include interactions with the audience.
Other ideas include: The candy trees toss candy to the audience, children help look for animals,
children help Kai feed the animals, etc...

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 4

 The Troll’s Heart
By Laura Lewis Barr

NARRATOR 1
There was a troll who lived in a magical forest.

TROLL enters and begins to pick imaginary apples.

NARRATOR 2
The Troll was wild, and strange, and always very hungry. He ate all the apples in the forest.

Troll eats imaginary apples.

NARRATOR 1
He ate all the carrots in the forest.

Troll pulls up and eats carrots.

NARRATOR 2
And he ate all the candy from the Candy Trees.

Troll gobbles up candy.

NARRATOR 1
But no matter how much he ate, the Troll was always hungry.

NARRATOR 2
This was because he had no heart.

NARRATOR 1
He had no heart?

TROLL
That’s right. I hid my heart away so no one would find it.

NARRATOR 1
This made the Troll very lonely, so he took all the animals in the forest and he hid them away in
his magic barns.

Actors dressed as ANIMALS or carrying animal toys enter. Troll chases them and
corrals them off the stage.

TROLL
Come on. Get into my barn. All of you!

NARRATOR 2
All the people who lived in the magic forest were sad because there were no animals to play
with, and no cows for milk, no bees for honey, and no chickens to lay wonderful eggs.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 5

 Townspeople wander the stage, looking for animals.

TOWNSPERON 1
Here chicken, chicken, chicken. Where are you?

TOWNSPERON 2
Moo cow, where are you? Mooooo Moooo?

Troll enters, when townspeople see him/her they all run away. The troll laughs
and begins to eat invisible food.

NARRATOR 1
One day, a young girl [or boy] named Kai came to the magic forest. She was looking for the
Chocolate trees that grew there.

KAI
Where are those leaves that taste like snickers bars? Or the chocolate bark filled with nuts?

Troll enters.

TROLL
What are you doing? You are in my forest! No one gets to eat from my candy trees except for
me!

KAI
Why? Isn’t there enough for all of us?

TROLL
You are very brave to talk to me like that. Hmmm... Maybe you want a job? I will pay you a lot
of money if you will work for me for three months. All you have to do is feed all my animals.

KAI
That’s all?

TROLL
Well, one more thing. When you are done feeding them, come to me and then you can play all
day.
Kai accepts and goes to shake the Troll’s hand, but the Troll does a wild, magical
movement instead.

NARRATOR 2
So, Kai fed all the animals the Troll kept in his barn. It took all day to feed them all. The next
day she went to the Troll.

KAI
You wanted to see me?

TROLL
Yes, now it’s time for you to play for the rest of the month. Then I’ll call you back again.
(begins to dance a magic spell)

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 6

TROLL (cont.)
Funny funny to be a bunny, run so fast, feed your tummy. Grass now yummy! Magic here and
magic there kaboo kazoo everywhere!

NARRATOR 1
Suddenly Kai was a little bunny.

NARRATOR 2
How wonderful! Kai could run so very fast and hop so very high!

NARRATOR 1
Kai played all day. But then--

NARRATOR 2
Suddenly--

NARRATOR 1
All the townspeople saw the bunny. Each wanted it for themselves because it was the only free
animal in the kingdom.

Townspeople chase Kai and call to her.

NARRATOR 2
Now it wasn’t so much fun to play!

NARRATOR 1
But Bunny Kai was very fast, and no one could catch her.

NARRATOR 2
Soon the month passed, and the Troll called her back.

TROLL
Kaboo Kazoo Kaling Kalong. Now is the time -- Bunny be gone!

NARRATOR 1
Kai was herself again! She again fed all the animals and when she was finished, she went back
to the Troll.

TROLL
Did you like being a bunny?

KAI
It was ok but why do I have to --

TROLL
No questions! It is time to play. Nerdy lerd -y how to be a bird-y. Fly so high you’ll touch the
sky! Magic here and magic there kaboo kazoo everywhere!

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 7

NARRATOR 2
And suddenly Kai was a beautiful bird. She began to fly around the forest and land high in the
trees.

NARRATOR 1
She could even find some chocolate leaves!

NARRATOR 2
But flying was so fun she didn’t stop to eat.

NARRATOR 1
Then the townspeople saw Birdy Kai and they wanted her for themselves.

TOWNSPERON 1
Let’s get the bird to come to us, with our magic bubbles!

Townspeople start blowing bubbles at Kai (or at a bird puppet or toy that is high
up on a stage structure).
KAI
Oh no! If those bubbles touch me, I’ll have to be their pet! I don’t want to be someone’s pet
bird!

NARRATOR 2
So, Birdy Kai flew and flew and soon the month was up and --

NARRATOR 1
--the Troll called her back.

TROLL
So now you know what it is to fly.

KAI
And what it is to be chased all the time!

TROLL
Now to feed the animals for your last month.

NARRATOR 2
Kai fed all the animals and came before the Troll.

TROLL
Wish upon wish --

KAI
Oh no! What are you turning me into this time?

TROLL
Wait and see. Watch and learn. Under the blue, under the swish. Magic here and magic there
kaboo kazoo everywhere! Wish upon wish, you’ll soon be a fish!

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 8

 Actors bring in blue fabric to become the WAVES. Kai swims around.

KAI
Wow! Look at that!

NARRATOR 1
It was a beautiful castle under the ocean.

NARRATOR 2
It was filled with beautiful seashell chairs and tables.

NARRATOR 1
And pearls and smooth rocks in rainbow colors were on the walls.

Kai swims while a “castle” slurps in. (One solution is to have the live actors play
in one part of the stage and miniature castle and puppets perform downstage of
them).

NARRATOR 2
A beautiful girl [or boy], swam in the castle. This was Casey. She could breathe underwater!

NARRATOR 1
She was humming a sad song.

CASEY sees Kai.

CASEY
Who are you?

KAI
A troll turned me into a fish and--

CASEY
That troll is my father! He doesn’t want me to get into any trouble, so he keeps me down here
in this castle.

KAI
It’s beautiful.

CASEY
I’m bored. Maybe you can help me get out of here?

Casey begins to whisper in Kai’s ear.

NARRATOR 1
Casey knew all about her father’s magic. She told Kai how they might be free to be friends
together.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 9

KAI
(pulling away from Casey) You want me to do what??

CASEY
Don’t worry.

Casey resumes whispering. Kai keeps shaking her head with doubts, Casey
continues to whisper.

KAI
Ok. I’ll try.

CASEY
But first you have to change yourself back from a fish to yourself. Do you remember any of the
magic words my father said?

KAI
No, I don’t!

CASEY
Even one or two words would help......! Maybe --(pointing to the audience) Maybe they
remember?

Casey and Kai ask the audience if they remember any words from the spells. As
they say some words the castle and waves will slip offstage and Kai will regain
her former costume.

CASEY
Ok, you know what to do!

NARRATOR 2
Kai ran back into the forest where she almost ran into the Troll!

TROLL
There you are! I was about to call you back. How did you stop being a fish?

KAI
Uh....uh....

NARRATOR 1
Then Kai remembered what Casey had told her.

KAI
I was so anxious to see you that I must have accidentally said your magic words.

TROLL
Hmmmmm. Ok. Well. Here is the money I owe you for all your work.

Troll brings in a large box or wheelbarrow filled with money and gold.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 10

KAI
Wow!

NARRATOR 2
Then Kai remembered what Casey had said.

KAI
Hey, I like you and have decided that you can keep all the money.

TROLL
What? Why? Why would you give me all the money?

KAI
Because I like you. And ---

TROLL
And --?

KAI
I have one request. I would like you to let Casey out of the castle, so that we can play together.

TROLL
Never! It’s for her own good. She’d get into too much trouble in the world.

KAI
Ok. What if I give you all the money and then answer three of the hardest questions you can
think of? Then would you let Casey out? And free all the animals too?

NARRATOR 1
The Troll looked at all the money and thought and thought.

TROLL
Ok. I’ll let Casey and all the animals be free -- if you give me the money AND answer three
questions. (laughing to the audience) She will never answer my tough questions. They are in
my mind and no one knows the answer! (to Kai) Ok. First question: how can you get away from
me when I come to eat you?!

Troll runs toward Kai as if to devour her.

KAI
(running away) The most important thing is to change directions fast. As the bunnies do.

TROLL
(unhappy) That is correct. Very good.

NARRATOR 1
Kai was relieved! Casey hadn’t told her that! What else would the Troll ask?

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 11

TROLL
Question two: I have 357 magical powers. I am thinking of one of them. Name the one I’m
thinking of.

NARRATOR 2
Name what the Troll is thinking? How could Kai do that? She thought and thought. What could
it be??

TROLL
Your time to answer is almost up!

NARRATOR 2
Casey had told Kai many things, but Kai couldn’t remember them now!

NARRATOR 1
Oh no! She should have listened more closely!

NARRATOR 2
Or written it down!

TROLL
I’m waiting......

KAI
(to the audience) What do you think? What are some of the Troll’s magic powers?

Audience responds. For each response Troll says it is correct but not the answer
he is looking for.

KAI
I know it! The ability to see far, far off in any direction. Like a bird you can see miles and miles
away.

TROLL
(unhappy) That’s right! It is one of my favorite powers. Ok. You’ve answered well but you will
never know this answer. No one knows this answer. Where did I hide my heart?

KAI
If I answer this question you will let Casey and all the animals go?

TROLL
Sure. Sure. No one knows where I put my heart. Even they [indicating audience] don’t know!
Go ahead, guess.

Troll listens while audience guesses where he hid his heart. He tells each one it
was a good guess. Meanwhile, Kai pulls out a large shell from behind a tree. The
troll gasps.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Troll’s Heart pg. 12

KAI
I found it under the sea, when I was a fish. It made a large thumping sound and it was crying
to be with you. Here, take your heart back.

The troll runs away from her.

TROLL
No! Put it back where you found it.

KAI
You will be happier with your heart. You’ll be able to share again.

Casey and all the animals come on the stage. They are happy to be free.

CASEY AND ANIMALS

Please, please. Take your heart back so you can smile again.

The troll stops and regards them all. Slowly he comes to Kai and puts out his
hand. Kai gives him an invisible heart which he puts back into his chest. He
begins to smile. Everyone onstage cheers!

NARRATOR 1
So, the Troll took back his heart and shared all the candy and the animals with the
townspeople.

NARRATOR 2
Kai always remembered the lessons she learned from the animals.

NARRATOR 1 AND 2
And Casey and Kai became best friends and played in the magic forest every day.

CURTAIN

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