Dye Frye & Wicked John and the Devil

by Loren Crawford

Two short Appalachian folk tales in one volume, 25 to 35 minutes each, for a cast of 15 or more. Simple staging, suitable for performers in upper elementary and middle school grades . $ 6.50

Remember the old folk tale of the preacher who chokes to death on a chicken bone at the home of one of his parishioners? Not wanting to be held responsible, they drag his body over to the neighbors for them to discover. They, in turn, move the body somewhere else, thinking they are the ones who killed the preacher, and so the poor fellow is dragged from place to place until the surprising conclusion. As Loren Crawford has dramatized Dye Frye, simply and eloquently, the community comes to life in all its fun and foibles, providing delightful material for every ham in your classroom.

Even more fun is the tale of Wicked John and the Devil, so mean that when the Devil sends his little imps after the old blacksmith, they both run home hollering to Daddy. The "spells" that Wicked John puts on his visitors push the action forward pell mell, yet they require no technical special effects.

The cast sizes are readily expandable, providing good parts for girls and boys, and the length of these two plays, under 40 minutes maximum running time, makes them ideal for assembly programs, festivals and one-act play competitions.