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Red Riding Hood - 2005

by John Desbottes

Synopsis

The King has crossed the Forest Fiend and the people suffer under his curse which condemned the King’s eldest son, Sebastian, to die and the land to be laid waste but the Woodland Fairies weakened the effect of the curse and now Malefice has returned to exact revenge.

Ferdinand, the King’s second son is being pressured into marrying the King’s ward, the Lady Mary, but he does not love her and is determined to marry only for love.  She in turn is betrothed to Sebastian and waits in hope for his return.  Whilst posing as commoner, he meets Red Riding Hood and it is love at first sight.

Mary is unhappy and is befriended by the wolf, who is not as frightening as legend has it and seems to be rather sophisticated.  Mary is unusually drawn to him.

Red Riding Hood’s Grandma is in financial difficulties and unable to pay her taxes, is appointed as teacher at the local school where the local cub pack acting under Malefice’s spell try to kidnap her but are foiled by Ferdinand.  The villagers believe it is the work of the wolf and resolve to deal with the wolf once and for all.  But once at the wolf’s layer, there is no sign of the wolf.

Grandma returns to her cottage in the woods, and Red Riding Hood follows with a basket of food, but is met by the wolf who, again under the spell of Malefice, delays her and rushes off to the cottage locks Grandma in a cupboard and dresses up as her.  Red Riding Hood arrives to see Grandma – and the well known exchange “What big eyes you have” -  “All the better to see you with”  proceeds to its conclusion when Ferdinand saves Red Riding Hood and the wolf is chased into another cupboard.

Ferdinand reveals to Red Riding Hood that he is really the Prince but the curse is not lifted even though the Fairy had explained it would be once someone truly loved the heir to the throne.  They decide that perhaps the wolf is the key to the curse and resolve to kill it.  Mary stops them declaring that she loves him.  The curse is broken as the wolf, it transpires, is Sebastian.  He is transformed back and he and Mary will be married and Ferdinand, no longer the heir to the throne, is free to marry Red Riding Hood.

Cast