Beowulf: User Friendly

By Burton Bumgarner
Cast: Flexible cast of 19-22, extras, optional doubling
Set: Simple representational set
Time: About 1 hour
Pioneer Drama Service

Your students will love this entertaining play that sheds comedic light on the dark story from the Middle Ages! After an entire class fails the exam on Beowulf, their stern teacher issues a challenge—tell her the famous story. Include the characters, action, themes and history, and you might just pass. The students concoct a retelling of the tale in a way that is relevant, accurate and absurdly hilarious, producing a special newscast à la CNN, complete with reporters, video images (no technology necessary!) and interviews. When Hrothgar, King of the Danes reads the business card—“Beowulf. Professional hero. Maiden rescue, dragon slaying, revenge and monster removal. Reasonable rates. Bonded.”—it sounds like just what he needs! With Monty Python-esque humor at Hrothgar’s mead-hall to light-hearted teasing of the teacher (who could have been born in the Middle Ages herself!), students explore Beowulf with biting sarcasm and amusing stage action. If you thought Grendel’s mother butchered the Danes, get ready for monstrous laughter with the butchering of the epic poem Beowulf!