Here is another delicious mixture of fairyland fantasy and modern social realism as only Herman Ammann could do it. Children love his plays because of the make-believe, and adults love them because of the subtle jabs at human foibles. For those who are young in spirit, Ammann is a master of putting real everyday people with real nowadays problems beneath the Fairyland costumes. King Cole is un-merry because he has three daughters of marriageable age—and no prospective sons-in-law to take them off his hands. And the King has the problem of all political leaders: "To never be able to admit you are wrong...it is a curse."

A professional hunter comes to rid the kingdom of a dragon, but the local environmentalist thinks dragons should be protected as an endangered species. There's a well with magic powers and a frog. And an Old Hag troubled with inflation—the price of lizard tongues has gone out of sight. There is humor in the villagers' reactions to all this.

The Magic Well can be played by adult actors or by pre-adults of virtually any age. The set may be a simple outdoor scene with cut-out trees and a cardboard well. (The Director's Script gives full details and drawings of set, costumes, props, etc.) Costumes can be of any period, or—like the original production—a kaleidoscope of all periods. After all, the play is as modern as ecology and as old as Fairyland. The extremely popular contest play is a one-act with one exterior set.

"Twelve elementary schools were included in our Children's Theatre tour of The Magic Well."—John Klug, Golden, Colorado, Senior High School.

Also by Ammann: A Canterbury Tale From the Wife of Bath, The Little Match Girl 1-act, The Little Troll Without a Soul, The Steadfast Tin Soldier