A scene from the Bel Canto Opera production of Hansel and Gretel. The Witch (Maria Moll) has captured the children and is fattening them up for her feast.
THE WITCH: (to Hansel) Hi, sweetiepie...I've brought you a meaty pie.
Eat, Ducky, or you'll die. You'll get fat by and by.
Hocus pocus elderbush - break the incantation...whoosh!
(to Gretel) My spell is broken, sweetest poppet,
your chubby legs can move, so hop it!
Go inside, honeybunch.
Set the table for his lunch.
Little fork, little spoon, little dish - that will do, and a napkin...serviette to you!
Make it snappy, or you'll risk my rage
Beware! I might stuff you in Hansel's cage. Hee hee hee hee!
(to Hansel) The lout is sleeping...
that's youth, they say.
They stay up all night, then sleep all day.
So slumber on, you silly sheep
Soon I'll give you eternal sleep!
But first comes Gretel, plump and sweet,
she'll make a tasty breakfast treat
Slightly toasted, topped with cream.
Gretel, you're a witch's dream!
(at oven) It's heating well...the temperature's amazing!
Wow! Now the flames of Hell are blazing!
So bakeable....that's unmistakable
Fresh, plump, fleshy rump!
When Gretel peeps in the oven
I'll creep behind for the shove-in
wn she bends down - wham!
shut the door - slam!
Soon she'll be edible.
Incredible!
I'll bake her a while, then I'll turn her
to make sure she's crisp...but not burn her.
My magic oven bakes such perfect gingerbread cakes. See? Look around. Hee hee hee hee!
Now hop hop hop
gallop lop lop
My broomstick steed...gee up with speed
Inside, each day, I mount my broom
and ride this way from room to room
and when day ends, up high I fly
to meet my friends up in the sky
I ride alone, until I see
a witch's clone - who looks like me!
We swoop and soar, we're joined by more,
first three or four, then by the score.
And in a group, we whoop and roar!
Prrrr! Broomstick, whoa!
words © Tom Boyd
Tags: bel canto opera hansel and gretel engelbert humperdinck boyd witch maria moll
