Comes A Faery by James McLindon

Comes A Faery is a drama with a lot of comedy in which a single mother has been unexpectedly deployed overseas. Her little girl, Siobhan, left with her less-than-willing aunt, has one friend: an irritable Irish fairy, Seaneen, who may have escaped from the little girl’s favorite storybook … or who may be there to steal her soul. Over the course of the play, Siobhan slowly deteriorates: fighting in school,...
Comes A Faery is a drama with a lot of comedy in which a single mother has been unexpectedly deployed overseas. Her little girl, Siobhan, left with her less-than-willing aunt, has one friend: an irritable Irish fairy, Seaneen, who may have escaped from the little girl’s favorite storybook … or who may be there to steal her soul. Over the course of the play, Siobhan slowly deteriorates: fighting in school, stealing, engaging in pyromania. Seaneen eggs her on, convincing her that if she is truly wicked, the army will have to send her mother home to deal with her.

Terrified of parenthood’s relentless responsibilities and unsure when her sister will return, Katie asks her mother to take Siobhan. Seaneen asks Siobhan to run away to live in the land of Faery. But whether he plans to save her or steal her soul, and whether Katie will give Siobhan up to Katie’s mother, are only revealed in the final terrifying moments.
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Comes A Faery

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    22 Jul. 2021
    “ A captivating journey as a child becomes friends with a fairy who may be the most wonderful friend she has met or a villain in disguise. Engaging and well done! ”
  • Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn:
    19 Feb. 2021
    “ This play is wickedly fun...and dangerous...and beautiful...and terrifying. Just like faery magic is supposed to be. I'm in love with this play. The characters are all wonderfully crafted and full of life. What a great way to tell a story about loss and childhood...and the magick we need to leave behind in order to survive. ”
  • Doug DeVita:
    19 Oct. 2019
    “ Haunting, disturbing, and with beautifully crafted characters, "Comes A Faery" has a lyrical edge that lingers long after the play has finished. One is fully invested in Siobhan's story and believes in her from start to finish, truly yearning for this child's happiness. ”
View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

SIOBHAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD GIRL
NOTE: A Very Youthful-Looking Adult Should Play SIOBHAN

SEANEEN . . . . . . . . . AN EIGHT-THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD IRISH FAIRY

KATIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SIOBHAN’S AUNT, EARLY 20’s

RAPHAEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KATIE’S BOYFRIEND, 20’s

DR. NEERY . . . . . . . . . . . . A FEMALE PEDIATRICIAN, ANY AGE BETWEEN 30 AND 60

  • Siobhan
    8, Array,
    Female
    A quiet, watchful child, as children who live with immense uncertainty often are. At other times, she seems to possess the joy of childhood.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Seaneen
    8000, Array,
    Any gender
    An 8000-year-old Irish fairy; pleasant or fierce as suits his needs, and always calculating.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Raphael
    20s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    An enthusiastic artist, but a bit all over the place; insightful and smart, caring, a former foster child
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Katie
    Early 20s, Array,
    Female
    Smart and capable, but nearly overwhelmed with the sudden responsibilities of surrogage parenthood.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Dr. Neery
    30-70,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    An irreverent female pediatrician; casual, even a bit slovenly, but good at what she does and serious about it.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Nylon Fusion Theatre Company
    ,
    2014
  • Reading
    ,
    Break-Away Project, Dublin, Ireland
    ,
    2014
  • Reading
    ,
    Boston Theatre Marathon Warm-Up Lap
    ,
    2013
  • Workshop
    ,
    Purple Rose Theatre
    ,
    2013
  • Reading
    ,
    id Theatre Bridgeworks Series
    ,
    2012
  • Workshop
    ,
    The Newvember Festival (joint production of Tangent Theatre Tivoli and AboutFACE Ireland
    ,
    2012
  • Reading
    ,
    Irish Repertory Theatre
    ,
    2010
  • Workshop
    ,
    Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
    ,
    2010

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Nylon Fusion Theatre Company at the New Ohio Theatre
    ,
    2015

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Seven Devils Playwrights Conference
,
id Theatre
Finalist
,
Goodman Theatre New Stages Series
,
Goodman Theatre
Finalist
,
Humana Festival of New American Plays
,
Actors Theatre of Louisville
Finalist
,
Woodward/Newman Drama Award
,
Bloomington Playwrights Project
Finalist
,
Woodward/Newman Drama Award
,
Bloomington Playwrights Project