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 Fairy Trials Overviews In the Fairy Trials, the well-known story lines of five classic fairy tales are each transformed into legal dilemmas that must be settled in a court of law. Retold in modern terms, the plays use music and topical humor to grab the audience's attention as the story line is established. All legal proceedings are explained and legal representation identified for the audience, who is asked at the conclusion of each play to render a decision on the question that has been presented. Each play in the Fairy Trials tackles a different moral question.
Rumpelstiltskin
v. The Queen
When the title character in this Fairy Trial does not receive the
Queen's first born child as agreed, he sues the Queen for breach
of contract. The play opens with the judge alerting the audience
to the upcoming conflict and urging them to pay attention. The story
is told in flashback sequence narrated by the Queen to her defense
attorney. The main action of the play consists of the actual trial
accompanied by commentary from a television reporter reporting live
from the courtroom. One of the audience members even is called upon
to testify to what occurred during the flashback sequence. The play
closes with the cast requesting a verdict from the audience on whether
the Queen is obligated to give Rumpelstiltskin her baby.
In the Matter of Hansel and Gretel
The conventional rendering of the tale is presented with a surprise
twist at its conclusion in this Fairy Trial. Just as Hansel and
Gretel are reunited with their father, a little bird from the forest
reports the father to the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services for neglect. Law enforcement and court officials step in
and the legal process begins with a temporary custody hearing. The
audience observes as the public guardian, the state's attorney and
the guardian ad litem call witnesses and the judge decides to place
the children in temporary custody. The scene shifts next to the
family's court-ordered counseling session and then to the trial
which is dispensed with because the father has decided to admit
neglect. The judge then explains that in proceedings of this type,
only a judge, not a jury, has the final authority over whether or
not the family will be reunited. However, he tells the audience
that before he will announce his decision, he wants them to discuss
the case and give their opinion.
In the Matter of Sleeping Beauty
The moral and legal ramifications of removing a person off life
support are covered in this Fairy Trial production. The conventional
story line of Sleeping Beauty is followed up until the good
fairies try to revive the Princess as she lays dying. Then one of
the fairies hooks her up to a life support machine and the long
vigil for the return of Prince Valiant begins. The moral dilemma
of the play is revealed when he finally returns and his kiss does
not bring the Princess back to life. A discussion among the fairies
ensues on the propriety of prolonging life, the burden of overwhelming
medical costs and who has the right to decide what is best for the
Princess. The action then shifts to a court hearing to determine
guardianship for the Princess, with commentary from a reporter reporting
live from the courtroom. The judge has the audience sworn in as
his official advisors. After hearing testimony from all the parties
involved, as well as interviews with the audience by the reporter,
the judge asks the audience to discuss who should be the Princess's
guardian, her parents or the Prince, and to make a recommendation
before he announces his decision.
Little Red Driving Hood
Loosely based on its classic fairy tale counterpart, this Fairy
Trial transforms the title character into a young teenager with
an overly protective mother and an overly indulgent grandmother.
When Granny gives Red an exciting new car, Red's mother has to restrain
her to wait until she gets her license to drive it. Wolf and a carload
of wild teens constantly tempt Red with their exciting lifestyle.
When Wolf talks Red into driving her car to take Granny a basket
of goodies, they go joy riding instead, drink beer and ultimately
get into an accident. Red ends up in traffic court where an on-the-scene
television reporter monitors the courtroom action. Although Red
is given supervision after pleading guilty to a series of traffic
violations, the state denies her driving privileges until she is
21 years old. The scene shifts to the state hearing where Red has
petitioned to have the restriction removed. After all testimony
is given, the reporter explains that while the decision rests solely
with the hearing officer, the audience is asked to give their opinion
as to whether Red should be allowed back on the road.
The Kingdom v. Jack
In this Fairy Trial version of Jack and the Beanstalk, the
title character is transformed into a juvenile delinquent who sells
his troubled mother's cow to a street gang. The traditional line
of the story is followed until Jack is placed on probation for stealing
the goose that lays the golden eggs. The street gang gives Jack
a gun which he then uses to try and rescue the Magic Harp from the
giant. However, he shoots and kills the giant and is put on trial
for murder. Jack gets the surprise of his life when he discovers
he will be tried in adult court instead of juvenile court. The trial
ensues with a television reporter providing commentary live from
the courtroom. The juror audience must decide if Jack went back
up the beanstalk to rescue the harp or for the sole purpose of killing
the giant.
Explanation
of Work-Study Program
Student actors
for the Fairy Trials performances are provided through the Work
Study Programs operated by the Financial Aid Offices of Northwestern
University and Columbia College. The Work Study Programs are federally
funded financial assistance programs for college students who meet
financial eligibility criteria.
The Office of the Chief Judge's Public Affairs staff work with Northwestern's
and Columbia's Financial Aid Offices to advertise available parts
for each year's Fairy Trials production. Posters are displayed on
each campus and the Financial Aid Offices mail flyers to all eligible
students. The pool of prospective student actors includes current
freshmen, theater students, and radio/television/film students.
Interested students submit resumes to the Office of the Chief Judge's
Public Affairs staff who arrange interviews and auditions. The Public
Affairs staff also conduct all staging, writing, and managing associated
with the Fairy Trials productions and perform along with students.
Student actors are paid $9.00 per hour for rehearsals and performances.
Northwestern University student wages are jointly provided through
federal funding, which covers 75 percent, and the Circuit Court
of Cook County, which provides the remaining 25 percent. Columbia
College student wages are paid exclusively by Columbia College.
For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions. | Disclaimer
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Office of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
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