HANSEL & GRETEL opening of Act I

From the Bel Canto Opera production:
GRETEL: Susie little Susie, pray tell me the news
The geese are going barefoot because they've no shoes
The ganders can't pay so the cobblers refuse
Pity little goslings who can't afford...
HANSEL: so who cares if they're barefoot?
GRETEL: ...shoes.
HANSEL: Goosey, silly goosey, if I had to choose
I'd rather have a plateful of food and no shoes
If goosey comes my way, I'll hazard a hunch
She'll be on my table next Sunday for...
GRETEL: All you think about is eating?
HANSEL:...lunch!
When Mother comes back she'll bring something to eat
GRETEL: If we've been good, she promised to bring us a treat
HANSEL: I'm sick to death of rancid lard
Cheese that's gone moldy - bread that's gone hard!
GRETEL: It's worse for Mother, she weeps every night
but Father's hopeful words are right
"When life brings you misery
God sends blessings down to thee"
GRETEL: I wonder what He has in mind
May His blessings be of the edible kind
God send us some butter, eggs and ham
sausage and dumplings, strawberry jam
Sauerbraten on mounds of noodles
Chocolate gateau, marzipan strudels
God ought to send food..
GRETEL: Hush! I don't like your mood.
If you just want to moan, go off on your own
Your grumpy little face! Crotchety grouse!
Bad tempered boys have no place in this house.
Out you must go! Don't tell me "no"!
I'm not just playing! Hear what I'm saying!
All that complaining! Look, it's not raining.
Crosspatch, crosspatch, be on your way,
How can you whinge on a sunny summer day?
Sourpuss, what's the use, sulking away?
Crotchety face, total disgrace!
Sullen and scowling, grumbling and growling
I'm not just playing, hear what I'm saying

HANSEL: Bossy old crone
Leave me alone
How can I be polite
when I haven't had a bite?
You must be hungry too
I'd better join with you, saying
BOTH: Crosspatch, crosspatch
Out of my way
How can you whinge on a sunny summer day?
G: Sourpuss, what's the use, sulking away?
H: Sourpuss, sweep your sulks away.
GRETEL: Calm down.
If you can be sweet and pleasant
I'll show you a wonderful secret present
HANSEL: What's the secret?
Is it a treat for me?
GRETEL: For all the family. Just wait and see.
The jug's full of milk with cream on the top
A gift from the people who run the shop
when Mother's back she'll make something nice
She might bake a pudding with jam and rice
HANSEL: Rice, hurray!
Creamy pudding covered with jam
The Lord God knows how hungry I am!
How thick is the cream on the milk. Let's taste it
Delectable! There's just enough for Hansel!
GRETEL: No, Hansel! Leave it. One taste will do.
That's for the four of us, not just for you.
And now back to work, we have had our fun
If Mother finds your chores undone
She'll smack your bottom until it's red
"No supper! You will go straight to bed!"
HANSEL: Broom making...that's not for me
that's as boring as as can be!
I'm sick of working - sitting all day
Let's be dancers and dance the night away.
GRETEL: Dancers! Dancing! I'm queen and you be the king, and then together we'll dance and sing.
Here's the old hoop that Granny brought us
Come sing the song and dance she taught us...
Brother Hans, come dance with me...etc.

words©Tom Boyd

Category:

Music

Tags:

• bel
• canto
• opera
• hansel
• gretel
• humperdinck
• benson
• johnson
• boyd

[abnerwagner]

Hello. I´m a mexican guy and I´m fan of your productions XD XD XD.

We´ll present parts from H&G this april (my school is called Bel Canto too =P =P), like an operetta, talked and sung (in spanish, of course).

But all we are almost news, just young people and for don´t suffer with the german I`m searching another version, an spanish one would be wonderful but I think it would be difficult.

Well, why so many words?? I want to know where do you find the lyrics of your version.

[hughdrover]

See the Bel Canto Opera website. The English libretto can be ordered.

[baculkar]

It is excellent production, Hansel and Gretel is my very favourite opera, can you post the father song? Thanks

[hughdrover]

Thanks for your enthusiasm for the Bel Canto Opera production. I'll be posting the Father's song soon.

[hughdrover]

I've now uploaded your request "The Father Comes Home" from Act I

[mspvillarreal]

amazing...



[broadwaybby724]

omg, i would die to play hansel.

[Strindom]

nice, the more artistic side of youtube

[EquineRider4Life]

it was so fun to do! though i didnt like our costumes all of us who had been in La boheme found them too similar lol unless you were a maid or butler. This looked like a cute production

[anboleyn]

This is excellent. My favourite opera. Thank you.