Illustration:
https://imgur.com/a/pXkN0uq
The Pushy Matchstick Girl
Casting:
Little Matchstick Girl: Fudeshima Shigure
Coachman: Yorozu Iruru
Girl's father: Karasumori Daikoku
Grandmother: Toneri Nikako
Act 1.
It was a very cold and snowy Christmas night. A fragile looking girl in shabby clothes, without a coat or socks, was selling a basketful of matches in the street.
“Matches......do you need matches?”
The well-to-do people in their warm jackets walked past the girl at a brisk pace, paying no attention to her. When she can’t sell matches, she gets drunk at home and ends up being beaten by her violent father. But yesterday, and the day before that, no one would buy them. She was starving, so she suppressed her hunger and let out a sigh. That day, she hadn't sold a single box, and she was depressed at the thought of not getting any food and being blamed by her father, who was waiting at home.
“.......Why don't you buy them? Normally, if a girl dressed like this was selling them, you'd buy them, right?”
A fire of retribution lit up in the heart of the girl who seemed to be crushed by the injustice of society.
Act 2.
A horse-drawn carriage came running in front of the matchstick girl at a great speed. The girl, who fell down as she dodged the carriage, was chastised by the coachman for being dangerous, but she could not remain silent any longer. The girl got up and glared back at him, and he was filled with fear.
“If you don't buy these matches, I'll burn your whole carriage, okay?”
She held out a lit match and threatened the coachman to extort his money. Picking up the wet matches scattered on the snow, the girl then continued to sell the matches, threatening people on the road. With a little money in hand, the girl was relieved that she could finally go home. Her father would not be happy with such a small amount of money, but it would pay for her own dinner.
The girl bought a loaf of bread for one and began to eat it. Then from somewhere the fragrant smell of roasting chicken wafted in the air. She peeked in the windows of houses here and there, and saw families sitting around the table in front of a sumptuous dinner. The grief stricken girl thought back to the happy days she spent with her late grandmother. However, the bitter cold was rapidly eating away at the girl......
Act 3.
“Oh yeah, this should help keep me warm.”
While walking on her way home, the girl, who was trying to keep warm from the cold, had an idea and lit one of the matches she was selling to warm herself up. In the flickering flames, all she could see was the sumptuous food that her meagre money couldn't buy and the happy days she spent with her late grandmother.
“I'd rather......take them all with me than die in a place like this.”
The determined girl decided to take revenge on her father for tormenting her. She managed to warm herself with a match and returned to her home, where she threw the lit match at her home where her father, the source of her troubles, was. Her father must have been passed out drunk. The red fire easily surrounded the hovel, and instead of leaving the girl with no place to return to, it burned away her bonds.
Act 4.
On Christmas night, the news of a fire echoed through the slums. Paying no attention to them, the girl continued to sit in the back alley, staring into the light of the match. She was happy only while staring at that fire. Eventually, the girl lost the will to sit and lay down on the snow and fell asleep.
The next morning, the girl was found on the snow by the residents. Burnt matches were scattered around the girl. It is not certain whether the girl had died or survived. According to one theory, she was able to survive by eating bread with the money she got from selling matches and was kept warm by the fire, and it is also rumored that she was taken in by a wealthy man and lived happily ever after.
Aftertalk.
Fudeshima Shigure:
Wait a minute, why are you making Shigure play such a pitiful role?
Karasumori Daikoku:
It feels kind of good......it makes my heart feel better......
Yorozu Iruru:
It's kind of like Shigure to pushily sell things and take revenge.
Renjakuno Hatsumi:
The cheeky Shigure as a poor match selling girl is also an appealing and original Eden-like casting. And it's even more pitiful for a young child to play a pitiful role. She’s aptly suited.
Yorozu Iruru:
This person is ruthless. As usual.
Karasumori Daikoku:
As expected of my Lord.......
Toneri Nikako:
Shigure-chan......! There there. If you have any trouble, you can tell me anything......! I have lots of sweets and stuff!
Fudeshima Shigure:
Nikako-senpai, you're dragging out the content of the play too much. Oh, hey, don't pat Shigure on the head!