ACT 3 Scene 2 THE TEARS OF OBERON

ACT 3

Scene 2

~ CURTAIN OPENS ~

 

The Enchanted Island's Port Village Square.

[ The backdrop is the sea with Freddie's yacht in the distance.  The store fronts include Percy Pear's Print Shop, Winterbottom's Stained Glass, Toot's Sweets & Bakery, Quibble's Accounting, Sieve's Water Taxi, Thisbe's Tavern and the entrance to the Sea Breeze Hotel.]

[ St. John's Eve / Midsummer's Eve Festival is in full swing.  Street vendors with push carts sell food, yellow balloons, sparklers, crowns made of yellow silk flowers and party favors.  Street musicians roam about.  The villagers eat, dance, sing, visit the fortune teller, a kissing booth and game booths.  On the edge of the fountain sits a much older version of the fairy POPPY, eating ice cream, enjoying the festival, legs swinging to and fro.]

Enter ROWAN.

[ ROWAN has her fairy wings tucked away and is dressed like the villagers.  She is on a serious mission but can't help but smile when she sees the ancient version of POPPY.]

ROWAN

 [ Suppressing a grin.]

 Hillo! Ho! Here sits someone merry! Enjoying the high day?

[ POPPY is startled, drops the ice cream into the fountain and almost falls in herself but is saved by ROWAN at the last second.]

ROWAN

 Peace, ancient stranger who looks very like Poppy.  Here is thy dropp-ed cane to steady thee!

POPPY

 [ Disoriented ]

 Much thanks for my walking stick, for I needs must beat thee with it, as thou knowest well I am that Poppy, sent to spy in the village!

ROWAN

Why, gentle Poppy, where is thy eternal youth?

POPPY

Oberon hath made us instant old for our thievish pursuits at St. John's Priory, which thou well knowest, because he quoth to us thy long report at the punishment.

ROWAN

Even so, I am sent to soft thy mission.  Spy no more for traces of Titania.  Cease that and begin as Wort's assistant.

[Enter WORT, dragging a great flower cart filled with baskets of St. John's Wort Flowers.]

ROWAN

Poppy, help Wort distribute her flower to every villager.

POPPY

I answer to Oberon and Puck.  You and Wort serve Titania and I am too old for this!

[ WORT puts one of her yellow wreaths on POPPY'S head.]

ROWAN

Tonight we serve the Fairy Kingdom which they do jointly rule.

POPPY

But see how the villagers already wear the crowns of Wort.

ROWAN

Even now, evil spirits walk our island as the villagers have taken to silk flowers that wither not and carry not the true-sweet, witch repelling nectar.

Enter THREE LITTLE GIRLS.  

[ ROWAN gives a wreath to each of the THREE LITTLE GIRLS who have skipped up to the fountain to wash off items they found on the ground.  The girls happily wear the wreaths and share what they have found]

FIRST LITTLE GIRL

[ To Rowan ]

Here's some Fairy Stones for you!  Thank you for the flowers!

SECOND LITTLE GIRL

[ Handing some stones to Poppy.]

These are for you.  They bring good luck!

THIRD LITTLE GIRL

[ Giving stones to Wort.]

This is your share.  They fell from the sky!

FIRST LITTLE GIRL

[Pointing off stage]

Look!  Fireworks!

Exit THREE LITTLE GIRLS

WORT

These are not ordinary Fairy Stones!

ROWAN

Indeed, this night is turning foul.  These are the tears of Oberon.  Make haste!  Where is Puck?

[ POPPY lifts her trembling cane and points at THISBE'S TAVERN.]

POPPY

He is up to old tricks in the tavern!

~ CURTAIN CLOSES ~

Please have some refreshments in the lobby and be sure to return for:

Act 3  Scene 3:

 MEANWHILE, BACK AT THISBE'S