The Leprechaun and the Butterfly Princess
A Musical Play
By Kevin Adair
Based on a Celtic Folk Tale.
Cast of Characters
Lukie: the Leprechaun
The Butterfly Princess
Liam, a worker of the land
Gramm, a wise woman of the town
Grateful, a Leprechaun
Gleeful, a Leprechaun
Mope, a Leprechaun
The Master Bricklayer
The Bricklayer's apprentice
Mary, a young woman from Newbury
The Horseman
Various Additional Villagers, Dancers, etc.)
If Lukie the Leprechaun talks right to you, you can answer back, otherwise, you have to be very, very quiet.
[Lukie enters.]
Lukie: Top 'o the mornin' to you! Now I have to ask you, are you friendly? Well, are you!??!? Are you sure? You see, because you all look...Human. Are you people? But, you're still friendly. You see, most humans try to grab me and rob me of all my money. The money that I keeps in me pot 'o gold. So, you're not going to grab me and rob me, are ya? Then, I guess we can be friends. Well, now let's see if you know how to applaud. I love applause. [Stage directions of getting applause] So you do know how to do that, do you? Good! Also, I suppose you know that you can't be calling things out during the show, unless I looks right at you and asks you a question, right? Yes, otherwise you must be quiet, like you are now! Good! And pay close attention, 'cause I'll be coming out later to ask some questions of what happens in the story an' I might just want to hear from you! 'Course, along the way, if you feel like laughing or clapping from time to time, that's fine with me!
[A Butterfly puppet comes on fluttering on a wire.]
Lukie: Oh, there is the Princess!
Butterfly, Butterfly,
Why is it you flutter by?
Flutter by, flutter by,
On your way into the sky.
There's something I would like to know,
Just before it's 'Off you go!'
In the air with just one leap,
What's this secret that you keep?
As you putter and you flutter,
Out beyond my bedroom shutter,
Just for me would you please mutter,
What have you to do with butter?
Butterfly: (on mike from off stage)
Leprechaun, Leprechaun,
Why is it you journey on?
Journey on, Journey on,
On your way beyond Beyond.
(They play for a while.)
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: Well, I must flutter off. Remember to meet up with us in a bit down in the Moore. 'Tis Gleeful's birthday today. We'll have a bit of a celebration.
Lukie: Oh, yes, dear Princess, I will be there. Bye, Bye, Butterfly
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: Mind yourself now, Lukie:, we've wandered rather close to the village. We'll see you later.
Lukie: Close to the village humm. Close to the village, Land a Goshen!
(He looks in the distance.)
More Humans! Oh, here I was talkin' and playing about and sure an' b' gorie I'm too close to the village! Yipes!
(Lukie runs off as the Villagers enter.)
(Villagers Song:)
Did you hear 'bout widow Hastings?
Such a scandal, such a heart break!
She keeps tuggin on that same old cow but it's plum stopped giving milk, near a year ago!
So sad, So sad!
An what about wee Johnny O'Brian!
Such a shame, such a heart ache!
He took two shillings to the market, he lost dem at the races with nary a pence to show!
His ma was so mad!
Oh, but now ja hear about Tom McFee!
'Tis good news! For his Ma's sake!
For two years we thought that he was clearly lost at sea Now he's come home safe!
Don't ya know, Don't you know!
So glad! So glad!
Still have you heard about Liam Martin.
Now that's a sad story there you're startin'!
Oh, what's there to do about Liam?
It makes one sad just to see him.
They say there's a Lass for every young Lad
A livin' somewheres about.
But when he was born,
so many boys were born,
that it seem our little town's
plum run out.
No Lass left!
(Not for Liam!)
No Lass left!
Hurts to see him!
Now if you look around our village,
You will see
More than a Lass or two.
You'd say our village had a plenty
And you'd be speakin' true.
Why, we've got Lasses plain and fancy
Some can even clog and dance, see!
[Dancers dance through!]
But there's...
No Lass left!
(Not for Liam!)
No Lass left!
Hurts to see him!
Gramm: To make him a match,
I've tried and tried,
But Liam's got his foolish pride.
Here he comes! Oh, he heard us!
Liam: Although for company, I hunger.
I'll have no Lass more than 5 years younger!
Company: Now, our dear Liam doesn't show it.
Just to look at him, you'd never know it.
But dears, I don't exaggerate,
Liam's pushing 28!
No Lass left!
(Not for Liam!)
No Lass left!
Hurts to see him!
Although, for company he'll hunger.
He'll have no Lass
More than 5 years younger!
Gramm: Though, I've looked and looked and looked, you see,
From the Moor to the Mountain all about,
There's nary a Lass over 23.
Our little village plum run out!
No Lass left!
(Not for Liam!)
No Lass left!
Hurts to see him!
Gramm: But he's so lonely, that is true.
Whatever should we even do?
[More join!!
All sing!! All Dance!
Big finishes! They exit leaving Liam who hurries off.]
[Gleeful, Grateful and Mope are at the Moore. Lukie darts in.]
Lukie: Ah, Gleeful, there you are! The best of birthdays to you lad!
Gleeful: How nice you were to think of me, Lukie!
Grateful: Thank you for thinking of Gleeful, Lukie.
Lukie: You are welcome as always, Grateful.
Grateful: The same to you, I'm sure. And thanks for thinking of me.
Lukie [nods]: Top 'o 'th mornin' to you Mope.
Mope: There's nothing tops about it.
Lukie: Oh, dear Mope, maybe someday you'll cheer up.
[Mope sighs.]
Gleeful: Oh, here comes the Princess. She made it for my birthday!
[Butterfly Puppet flies in.]
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: Oh, yes, Gleeful, I would not have missed it for the world.
Gleeful: Well then won't you come down and dance with us?
Mope: I hate dancing.
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: Yes, Dear, I'll be right down. [She exits stage and comes back in human form dressed as a butterfly with wings and a feather mask.]
Grateful: Thanks for joining us Princess.
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: Welcome as always, Grateful, are you.
[They dance around and sing, even Mope joins in:]
All: We've got a birthday wish to sing to you!
Gleeful: To Me?!
All: You're very highly respected here it's true!
Gleeful: So I see!
All: You know we all care for you. It's so true that we adore you. That's why we all are here to sing, that's why we all are here to sing, that's why we all are here to sing to you!
[Song builds and repeats, perhaps green heads poke in from the sides to join them. Perhaps some step-dancers dance through.]
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: Time to make a wish, Gleeful!
Mope: I wish I could wish.
Gleeful: Well, my wish is to have....
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: Wait! if you tell your wish out loud, it won't come true!
Grateful: Thanks for stopping him just in time!
Gleeful: What if I whisper it to the one who can help?
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS: I suppose that couldn't hurt.
Gleeful: Then, my birthday wish is for [he whispers it to BUTTERFLY PRINCESS]
BUTTERFLY PRINCESS My, My, dear, Gleeful, I don't know, but we'll see. Come along and we'll see.
[They exit.]
Liam: [Hurrying along home] I know those villagers mean well, but I wish they would tend to their own business. Now I'm late for my appointment!
[The curtains open to reveal the Bricklayer and his Apprentice are there waiting, whistling.]
Liam: Sorry I'm late, but I was delayed in the village.
Bricklayer: Right.
Apprentice.: Right
BRICKLAYER: 'Course you were,
Apprentice: 'Course you were.
BRICKLAYER: Oh, uh, Let me introduce you to my new apprentice, Nigel. He'll be helping me out on your job.
Liam: Great to hear, great to hear.
Bricklayer: So you want we should build you a better fireplace?
Liam: Yes. Ye know, workin the land is always hard, but crops have been growing rather well this year, so it seems time for a bit of an improvement.
Apprentice: Well, you've called the best. You won't be disappointed!
Bricklayer: A new hearth for you it shall be!
Apprentice: He'll make one of the finest in the land.
Liam: Just make it a bit larger so I stay a bit warmer when it becomes a bit cooler.
Bricklayer: Any other specifics, sir?
Liam: Just make it well!
Br: Yes we will.
Apprentice: Yes we will
Liam: I'm sure you will.
Apprentice: Master Liam sir, I hates to ask you this, but you see, you are in the presence of an artiste. He must have privacy to work. Would you find it within yourself, now that you've got us started, to let the Master create his art?
Liam: Let's see, I should tend a bit to my land. I've been walking all morning, so some hard work might do me good.
Apprentice: And then perhaps a nice stroll?
Liam: All right, why not, and then perhaps a nice stroll.
Apprentice: You won't be disappointed in the results.
[Liam nods and exits]
Bricklayer: Here we go lad.
Apprentice: Ready to assist you, sir. [He has all of the tools laid out on a tray and he hands them to the Bricklayer one by one before replacing them to the tray.]
Bricklayer: Plumb.
Apprentice: Plumb.
Bricklayer: Chisel.
Apprentice: Chisel.
Bricklayer: Hammer.
Apprentice: Hammer.
[Curtains close. Lukie comes on down stage platform.]
[That's just a taste. Performance rights available. Call 312-663-5950.]