Crossings: A Fairy Play


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(2.7 stars; 3 reviews)

Under the terms of a will, the Wildersham children have to relocate from the family house in the city to "Crossings" in the country, and to spend the first fortnight alone fending for themselves in the house. The children encounter interesting country neighbors, including ghosts and fairies. Or are they dreaming?

Walter De La Mare was a poet, and we have a number of his poems available at Librivox. This is his only play: "Crossings was produced for the first time in 1919, at the Wick School, Hove, to celebrate the coming of Peace. With the exception of one grown-up, Mr. Sebastian Sprott, its characters were taken by boys aged fourteen, or under." - Summary by ToddHW and Author

Cast list:
Mr. Charles James Wildersham: Larry Wilson
Sarah, or Sallie (his First Daughter): EmmaHatton
Frances, or France (his Second Daughter): TJ Burns
Anthony, or Tony (his Son): Tomas Peter
Ann (his Third Daughter): Campbell Schelp
Miss Agatha Wildersham (his Sister, and their Aunt, of Bayswater): Carol Pelster
Rev. Jeremy Welcome (Vicar of Little Crossings, and a friend of the children’s aunt, Susan, who is dead): Eva Davis
Miss Julia Welcome (his Sister): Availle
Josephine (their Niece): Linda Olsen Fitak
Lady Minch (of the Hall, Great Crossings): Anita Sloma-Martinez
Mr. Josiah Widge (the Cabman of Little Crossings): Scotty Smith
Mr. John Budge (the Butcher of Little Crossings): Nemo
Mrs. Budge: Nichalia Schwartz
Jemima Budge (their small Daughter, also called Pollie): TriciaG
Mr. William Honeyman (the Baker of Little Crossings): Lynette Caulkins
Mrs. Honeyman: Elsie Selwyn
Emily Honeyman (their small Daughter): Devorah Allen
The Candlestick-maker (of Nowhere): Chuck Williamson
A Beggarman (of Everywhere): Elsie Selwyn
The Queen of the Fairies: thestorygirl
Fairies, numberless and innumerable: Nichalia Schwartz
Mrs. Marshall (the family cook): Elsie Selwyn
Stage Directions and Edited By: ToddHW (2 hr 44 min)

Chapters

Act 1 29:51 Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 2 30:25 Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 3 37:17 Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 4 31:41 Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Act 5 34:57 Read by LibriVox Volunteers

Reviews

Enchanting


(4 stars)

I particularly enjoyed how the children were written, with dialogue that feels more vibrant than the usual Victorian fairy tale. Some sections were hard to follow without seeing the action on stage. Sweet-hearted and magical, but not very deep or dramatic.