“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”

Sections: Information | Plot Description

Information

• Related books:
  • Disenchantments – An Anthology of Modern Fairy Tale Poetry
  • Revolting Rhymes
• Theater:
  • Roald Dahl’s Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs: A Glittering Galloping Musical adapted by Helen MacGregor and Stephen Chadwick
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (orchestra + narration), 1994, London, England

Plot Description

Spoiler warning! Snow White’s mother dies and her father the King advertises for a new bride. He ends up choosing Miss Maclahose, who brings to the castle with her a “magic talking looking glass.” It always provides the correct answer to any question you ask. For ten years, every day the Queen asks it “Who is the fairest of them all?” The answer is always herself. One day, though, it says that Snow White is prettier. The Queen is furious and orders a huntsman to kill her. In the forest, Snow White begs for her life and the huntsman relents and lets her go. Instead he purchases a bullock’s heart which the Queen gleefully eats. Meanwhile, Snow White hitches a ride to the city and got a job as a cook and maid for seven little men. They’re all ex-jockeys and they spend all their money betting on horses down at the track. She tells them she has an idea and sneaks back into the castle. She steals the mirror off the wall and returns with it to the dwarfs’ house. They use it to predict the winner of the next day’s horse race. Eventually they all become millionaires. “Which shows that gambling’s not a sin provided that you always win.”