The Spiriting of Burd Ellen one act play script

ONE ACT PLAYS

THE SPIRITING OF BURD ELLEN
A lively, inventive, and often hilarious play for youth groups with a mediaeval setting. Runner-up in the 2004 Play On Words competition.

Plot Summary
“The Spiriting of Burd Ellen” tells of the mysterious disappearance or spiriting of Burd Ellen, the daughter of King Arthur. Her brother Rowland consults the wizard Merlin, who suspects that Ellen has been spirited away by the Elves. Rowland sets out on a journey to the Dark Tower in the Land of Faery, where after a number of strange encounters he comes face to face with the eccentric King of Elfland, whom he has to outwit in order to save the day and his sister.
“…a lovely play - a wonderful asset to children’s theatre …” (Scene)
Playing time approximately 40 minutes.
ISBN 1 904930 62 X

CAST MULTIPLE (doubling & trebling possible)

STAGE MANAGER
MERLIN THE MAGNIFICENT
CHILDE ROWLAND
BURD ELLEN, his sister
GUINEVERE, his mother
HERDSMAN COWHERD
COCKEREL
HENWIFE
ELFIN KING

SET
Various

TIME - mythical
DURATION - approx. 45 minutes

Script Sample - The spiriting

Guinevere, Merlin, the knights and courtiers are onstage when Rowland runs in

Rowland Mother! Mother!
Guinevere Rowland, where have you been?
Rowland Burd Ellen and I were playing by the church yonder. By an unfortunate chance I sent the ball into the church-yard and Ellen went to fetch it. Long I waited, mother, and longer still, but she came not back again. I sought her east, I sought her west, I sought her up and down, but she’s nowhere to be found.
Guinevere You mean she’s disappeared?
Rowland Like dew on a May morning.
Guinevere Then we must send for Great Merlin the Magician. He can tell and foretell, see and foresee all things under the sun and beyond.
Merlin I’m here, your Grace.

He steps forward behind Guinevere, who jumps with surprise

Guinevere Whoops! Don’t do that, Merlin, how often must I tell you? It makes one’s poor heart go pitter-patter pitter-patter. It’s most distracting. Why can’t you knock and wait like ordinary people?
Merlin Because I’m not an ordinary person, Your Grace. I’m a Great Magician. Merlin the Magnificent, to be exact. It’s not my way to knock and wait. It’s my way to suddenly appear and cause great consternation and the pitter-pattering of people’s
hearts.
GuinevereBut not so suddenly, Merlin, and not directly behind one. Give a discreet cough to let one know you’re there. (Merlin breaks into a fit of over the top coughing) That’s not quite what one had in mind, Merlin.
Merlin I apologise, great Lady. It won’t happen again. (Bowing deeply) I’m here, your Grace. What can I do for you?
Guinevere It’s my dear son, Merlin. My dear Childe Rowland.
Rowland Yes Merlin, can you tell me where my sister’s gone?
Merlin First you must tell me what happened. Carefully now. Leave out no detail.
Rowland I was playing with Burd Ellen by the church, and I kicked the ball over the wall. Burd Ellen ran to get it - and then - well, she just disappeared! I looked for her everywhere, but I couldn’t find her.
Merlin Which way did she run? To the right or to the left of the church?
Rowland To the right. It was the nearest way.
Merlin Which way was the sun shining?
Rowland It was shining full on her face.
Merlin So she ran contrary to the sun’s course. And her shadow, where was that?
Rowland Behind her.
Merlin Ah, Rowland, then this is the way of it. This will happen when people forget and run widdershins.
Guinevere Widdershins, Merlin?
Merlin Anticlockwise. When folk run against the light, their shadows are out of sight and can’t be taken care of properly. That’s when they’re in the greatest danger.
Guinevere From what, Merlin? Tell one quickly, what happened to one’s dear daughter?
Merlin When she was running round the church widdershins, fair Burd Ellen must have been carried off with her shadow by Elves. Elves have power when folk go against the light.
Guinevere But where will she be now?
Merlin I fear she may be in the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland.

A great indrawn breath of horror from everybody

Rowland Then I must rescue her!
Knights Hurrah!

from The Spiriting of Burd Ellen

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