Folkwood

by Max Bush

Contemporary Fable set in a forest. 10 women, 4 men. Ideal for a HS or college to perform for elementary and Middle School. 50 minutes.. $ 6.50

Thirteen year old Carly, dragging her 10-year old sister behind, ventures into the forbidden forest of The Other Folks. There she finds far more than she was looking for – riddles, games, dangers, challenges. You can enjoy Folkwood for its fun and chases and captures, but it is also one of those plays that yields rich rewards for those willing to explore its images and ambiguities. The world of The Other Folk is filled with traditional mythological symbols – night, water, time, owls, earth, forest and moon. They give the play a resonance that will echo long after the curtain has gone down.

The directors who’ve done Folkwood remark upon what a fun piece it is to direct. The actors remember it as being a ball. And, as I look at their programs, I see they’ve added any number of Forest Folk. No one, apparently, wanted to be left out.

If you ever find yourself in the Folkwood, don’t steal the Mayapples. And don’t play games with the Other Folks. They’ll happily break your bones. Folkwood is a modern day fairytale, written by a twentieth century Shaman. This play is a must-read for anyone who cares about the field of children’s theatre. If you do pick the script up, BE VERY CAREFUL – you won’t be able to put it down, and then you might be forced to produce it! Stebens Children’s Theatre audiences were bewitched by Folkwood.

Tom Ballmer, Director, Stebens Children’s Theatre
Mason City, Iowa

“Wow, I want to go there!” was the first comment made by an elementary child gazing at a stage aglow in fall color. When the lights dimmed and a sudden burst of light brought our youthful characters to the stage, everybody knew it was a place they wanted to be and a woods they wanted to explore.

Folkwood is filled with adventure, humor, and thought. This delightful story about friends trying to help each other provides a story line that children understand. They accepted The Other World as something they think about all the time, a forest where there are sounds, smells, and adventures to be had. This is a fun play to direct, and the creation of the forest was not difficult, yet extremely effective.

Phil Huber, Director, Portland High School Drama
Portland, Michigan