Bush, Max. Plays For Young Audiences featuring The Emerald Circle and other plays by Max Bush. Meriwether Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1- 56608-0118. $16.95. Varies 1-7 Reviewed by Nancy Hovasse 13 Bells of Boglewood B All Best described as a contemporary fairy tale, 13 Bells of Boglewood is a fantasy adventure on the theme of greed. The story revolves around two humans who enter the forest looking for lost gold. They soon realize that finding and retrieving their treasure will not be an easy task. The invisible fairies who inhabit the forest depend on the gold dust as a life-giving potion, and their visible counterparts, the hideous spriggans, guard the treasure hidden in a hollow hill. To complicate matters, a mysterious character known only as the greedy Bogle holds the secrets to the location of the gold, but he too has his own self-interest at heart. With a running time of approximately sixty- five minutes, this play may be too long for most touring venues. However, the possibility of a very simple set may make it appealing for some touring companies. The author does note that the set should suggest a “real forest” rather than a “magical forest,” the action occurring in the “present year.” Due to the silliness of the characters and broad physical comedy, the play is most appropriate for very young audiences. The piece is a possibility for production by junior or senior high school groups that perform for younger children. A minimum of seven actors is necessary.
