Overview
Henry is a simple and happy woodsman. Every day, he chops trees down and sells them at the market. One day, his friend Jim startles him and Henry drops his axe into a pond. Lily, the water fairy of the pond, appears and retrieves Henry's axe. She gives Henry a test to find out his honesty, and Henry passes with flying colors. As a reward for telling the truth, Lily gives Henry two ornate axes. Jim finds out about Henry's good fortune, and seeks Lily for his own gain. He drops his axe in the same pond, and Lily appears. Lily gives Jim the same test to find out how honest he is, and Jim fails miserably. To punish him for lying, Lily turns Jim into a tree. Jim finally learns the importance of telling the truth and being honest, and becomes a man once again.
Based on one of Aesop's fables, The Woodsmen & the Fairy teaches children the importance of being honest and telling the truth. The Woodsmen & the Fairy is a brief, yet fun and educational play for children ages 5 - 9. There is a great deal of audience participation in this play, which keeps the audience involved and interested. Only three actors are required for this play: Jim, Lily, and Henry. The entire story takes place in one area of the woods. During one scene, the action takes place in front of the curtains. The costumes are simple. Because of the minimal production requirements, this makes an excellent play for any group to perform, either formally or informally.