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 Little Red Driving Hood
In the Matter of Hansel and Gretel The Kingdom v. Jack
In the Matter of Sleeping Beauty

 
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. 

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