FAIRY CRYSTAL AND THE REALLY BIG LIE
by Alison Chaplin
This extract is adapted from the short play script Fairy Crystal and the Really Big Lie, a fairy story introducing goblins, pixies, other fairy tale characters – and a fairy who can’t tell the truth! The pixie and fairy are talking together near to the fairy colony.
Two characters. Female. Ages 6 - 12 years.
NIMBUS, a pixie, is by herself in the meadow near to the fairy colony. She can be picking flowers, or making a daisy chain, or sitting reading a book when FAIRY CRYSTAL enters, looking very fed up.
NIMBUS: Hi, Crystal! (Notices her sad face) Why are you looking so fed up?
CRYSTAL: Have you seen Twinkle?
NIMBUS: No.
CRYSTAL: Oh, good. I’m keeping out of her way. She’s really mad at me.
NIMBUS: Why?
CRYSTAL: Oh, just a little misunderstanding about her fairy dust.
NIMBUS: If it was a misunderstanding, why is she angry with you?
CRYSTAL: I don’t know.
A scream and a thud is heard offstage
NIMBUS: Was that another fairy dying? Did you just tell lie then, Crystal?
CRYSTAL: Only a little one.
NIMBUS: Oh, well, that’s all right then. That fairy will only be a little dead, won’t she?
CRYSTAL: Oh, don’t you start being horrible to me as well.
NIMBUS: So why is Twinkle mad at you?
CRYSTAL: Well, firstly because I knocked her fairy dust all over the place and then because I lied about doing it.
NIMBUS: It was probably the lying more than anything else.
CRYSTAL: I know.
NIMBUS: So why do you tell lies, then? If you didn’t make things up, people wouldn’t get angry with you.
CRYSTAL: (Sarcastically) Oh, well done big brain!
NIMBUS: There’s no need to be rude! I’m only trying to help.
CRYSTAL: I’m sorry. I’m just so fed up, that’s all.
NIMBUS: If you keep on lying, the fairies will banish you, you know.
CRYSTAL: I know. (Pause) Well, if that happens, I’ll have to come and live with you pixies, won’t I?
NIMBUS looks serious
NIMBUS: I think you’re forgetting something, Crystal. Pixies are fairies as well, remember.
CRYSTAL: Oh no!
NIMBUS: That means that you won’t be able to stay with the pixies, either. No fairies means no fairies.
CRYSTAL: Well where could I go?
NIMBUS: The gnomes might have you. (Thinking) Except that they hate fairies.
CRYSTAL: (Nodding) And they smell.
NIMBUS: And all that facial hair… (Shuddering) …yeucck!
CRYSTAL: Ugh!
NIMBUS: So it looks like the only solution is to tell the truth from now on.
CRYSTAL: You’re right.
NIMBUS: It might be a good idea to apologise to Twinkle, too.
CRYSTAL: Yes, I’ll go and do that now.
NIMBUS: Good luck!
CRYSTAL exits
NIMBUS: (Shaking her head) It’s going to take something really big to stop that fairy from telling lies – and that’s the truth!
The complete Fairy Crystal and the Really Big Lie script can be found in our e-shop.