The Fairy Ring
A One-Act Play in
Verse for Children
by Helen M. Mann
(The rise of the curtain discloses twelve
fairies holding hands and dancing around a circle.
They are all singing. The time is sunset, and
in the background can be seen a large tree
trunk as though in a forest clearing.)
Fairies' Song
We dance and sing in happy glee,
Because of all the joys we see.
We live and laugh, dear friends, for you,
Because your love is pure and true.
You said we live, and so we do—
Believe a thing, and it is true.
Have loving thoughts and love will be
Everywhere that you can see.
(The fairies break the circle and skip off the
stage. As they disappear, they sing the last two lines again.)
Have loving thoughts and love will be
Everywhere that you can see.
(As the fairies leave the stage, a boy and girl
come on from the other side. The girl sees the
ring which the fairies have made by their
dancing and goes to it.)
Girl
Oh, brother, look and tell to me,
What's this, I pray, my eyes do see?
Boy
A fairy ring, a fairy ring!
Now we can have most anything.
(He approaches.)
Girl
But, brother dear, pray go not near,
The ring may well bring harm to thee.
Now what's that funny noise I hear?
That shape, so strange, that I can see?
(Girl looks at the tree trunk as she speaks.)
Boy
I see no thing but just this ring.
No noises do I hear.
But come and sing within the ring,
Where harm dare not come near.
(Both enter the ring and join hands and sing.)
Song
Oh fairies dear, both far and near,
Pray listen to our pleading,
Come play with us and have no fear,
For eventide is creeping.
(The shadows lengthen, but a ray of tight
strikes the trunk of the tree, which opens and
discloses a red and green Elf within. He
grins and steps forth.)
Elf
Oh children come and play with me;
I'm very good indeed to see.
I'll call for ducks, or call for swans;
(They appear from back stage.)
I'll grow you tails, or grow you horns.
(The children become startled on hearing this
and look to see if they have grown, but are
relieved to find that they have not.)
I can grow them anywhere,
Except within the circle there.
(The children huddle close together and keep
well within the circle.)
Nay, I pray, have no fear,
But come a little bit more near.
(Now the duck and swan come into evidence. The
swan makes straight for the circle but
does not enter it. It stalks proudly around
the circle, and the duck waddles after.)
Swan
An evil Elf is that, you see.
Beware!
He will call, but don't you go.
Beware!
The fairies will come back again.
Sgood!
And how that Elf will hurry then.
Sgood!
Duck
You'd better stay just where you are.
I do declare!
For though you're near, you're very far,
I do declare!
And Elfie cannot reach you there,
Quack!
Anyway I don't care,
Quack!
(The swan goes off the stage as he says
this, and the duck waddles after him. The
Elf, who has been watching them all
this time, hurries back to his tree as he hears
soft music off stage. Voices seem to
be in the distance, but they grow louder and
louder until the fairies appear.)
Fairies
Flowers of sunset and flowers of dew,
We love you.
Sorrows of shadow and sorrows of night,
Take your flight,
We come with our laughter and come with our song,
To chase you along.
We've been in the world where humans live
There pleasure we give.
(When the fairies come into sight, the
Elf closes himself up in his tree, shutting himself
front view. The girl has her back to
approaching fairies and does not see them at
first.)
Girl
Hark! dear brother, voices I hear,
Dimly at first, but they grow more clear.
The fairies are coming, and we must away.
If they find us here, what will they say?
Fairies
Fear not, dear children, and pray do not go.
Girl
Brother, oh brother, I tremble so.
Fairies
The shadows are creeping in length o'er the land.
Ah! here comes the prince of the fairy band.
(The fairies are now standing near the
circle, but they face around as the prince, all
gorgeous in purple and white,
enters. He is humming a tune, but he stops as he sees
the children and seems surprised but
pleased. The boy takes a step backward in
evident surprise and adoration.)
Boy
Why beats my silly heart so fast?
The prince, the fairy prince at last.
(The prince smiles and advances toward the boy.)
Prince
Come my fine fellow, I welcome you here,
And my welcome is wanted, it would appear.
My subjects will dance for your sister there.
A gift I will send, both keep it with care.
(The light is slowly fading. The children are
still within the circle, and the prince makes
them a grand bow, then turns to the fairies.)
Prince
Dance, dance my fairies,
While treasures I bring,
Dance, dance my fairies,
While softly you sing.
(It is quite dark now but for the rising moon,
which throws its light over the two children,
who are within the circle. The fairies dance
around them, lively at first, but soon more and
more slowly, singing a lullaby.)
Fairies Sing Softly
The moon is rising in splendor most fair,
As we dance in the evening breeze.
And it 's throwing it's strands of long silver hair
O'er the tops of the trees.
(Girl looks over her shoulder.)
Girl
Why, the moon has risen!
(Elfin voice from background.)
You are caught in a prison.
(The children look startled, but as the
fairies resume their singing, the children sit
down and listen quietly.)
Fairies' Song
Sleep will come with the stars in the sky.
Memories of pleasure and pain will fly.
Sleep, gently sleep, and be it sweet,
And all the wonders of dreamland meet.
(Slowly the fairies go out, humming.
Then it is seen that the children are fast asleep in
each other's arms. The prince
returns, and seeing that they are asleep, he leans over
them.)
Prince
Children, children, know we are real,
No matter what the grown-ups say.
Oh, children dear, can't you feel
Us dancing while you play?
Sweet dreams, peaceful dreams!
Come again some other day.
Life may be just what it seems,
And so why not be always gay?
(The prince goes out, and as he
leaves, a ray of moonlight strikes the tree trunk.
Instantly it opens, and the Elf
steps forth. He goes toward the children, but
stops just outside the circle.)
Elf
Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! I couldn't get you,
But wait—Ugh! Ugh!—until next time.
Just wait and see what I will do
With these magic powers of mine!
(A woman's sweet voice is heard
approaching. The Elf hears it and looks startled
and scared. He scowls at the
sleeping children, then hurries back to his tree
trunk. It closes, shutting him
from view. A pretty young woman appears. When
she sees the sleeping children,
she goes to them and gathers them up in her arms
and holds them close.)
Woman
I followed a path along a wall,
Where lovely flowers grew.
That little path did tell me all,
It sent me straight to you.
(As the mother says this, the tree
trunk falls to the ground with a loud crash, but,
as it is an evil unknown to the
mother, she does not hear it but bends lovingly
over the children.)
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