Performance 2008
The Magic Forest May 2008
There will be performances on Friday, May 9, 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The Libretto
The Magic Forest
Deep in the forest, when the moon is full, the faeries gather to renew their magical powers. They dance in a united circle until dawn to ensure that all the forest creatures live in harmony and peace. The legend of the faerie ring states that if the ring is broken before dawn, all the forest creatures will fall under an evil spell.
Act I
Scene 1: The scene opens on a peasant village square. It is the end of the school day, and the children are leaving school with their books. They stop to play games. MAZIA, one of the young girls, breaks away from the group, disinterested in their silly games. She wants to look for a faerie ring in the forest. She has been reading about the power of the magical faerie ring, and how the faeries dance at night. The others don't believe in faeries, and say she is always off in a dream world. They go on without her.
Scene 2: MAZIA wanders away from her friends, dreamily thinking about the legend of the faerie ring. She sits alone, reading about the Magic Forest and the Faerie Ring. As the sun starts to go down, she falls asleep. As the sky darkens, the wind comes up. The Will-o-the-Wisp enters, and discovers MAZIA sleeping. The WILL-O-THE-WISP wakes MAZIA, and beckons her to come into the forest. Mesmerized, she follows the WILL-O-THE-WISP into the forest.
Scene 3: The WILL-O-THE-WISP tells MAZIA about all the wonderful things that happen in the forest at night. MAZIA wants to see the creatures, but the WILL-O-THE-WISP explains that she will have to go deeper into the forest. Only the WILL-O-THE-WISP can leave the forest, the rest of the creatures cannot go beyond the clearing. The WILL-O-THE-WISP invites MAZIA to come and see the magical faerie ring. The WILL-O-THE-WISP warns MAZIA about the dangers of the evil sorceress who comes to the woods on moonlit nights to capture the power of the faerie ring. The WILL-O-THE-WISP tells MAZIA that if the sorceress can break the faerie ring, all the magical powers of the faerie will go to the sorceress. The faeries dance in a circle under a full moon to preserve the powers that ensure peace and harmony in the forest.
Scene 4: MAZIA is excited, and wants to see the faeries dance. The WILL-O-THE-WISP tells her that she can stay, but she can never reveal the secrets she has seen. The WILL-O-THE-WISP leads MAZIA to a tree stump, where she sits down to watch the ceremony. The wood creatures enter and dance in preparation for the faeries--Sprites, Sylvans, Dryads, Pixies, Faeries. The WILL-O-THE-WISP introduces MAZIA to the forest creatures, and leaves to keep watch for the sorceress. As the faeries begin to dance in the traditional ring, the WILL-O-THE-WISP runs on to warn of the impending danger. She tries to break the faerie ring, and finally, knocks one of the faeries to the ground. In desperation, MAZIA runs forward, and grabs hands with the faeries, filling the gap. The ring is saved, and the sorceress disappears.
Scene 5: As the sun comes up the King of the Sylvans steps forward to express his gratitude to MAZIA. He invites her to stay in the forest and become a faerie. Mazia looks in the direction of the village in the distance. As she struggles with her fate, the forest creatures prepare to go back into hiding in daylight. She places the crown on her head, the creatures dance around her and she emerges as a faerie.
