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  Book, music & lyrics by David Wood First produced in 1977 at the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, and revived there in 1983. Other productions include Manchester Library Theatre Company, the Arts Theatre, Belfast, Mountview Theatre School and many amateur companies. This musical play bears little resemblance to the traditional tale of Mother Goose. It takes its inspiration from the books of nursery rhymes under the umbrella title “Mother Goose”, published over the last two centuries.
The play opens with them preparing a surprise Christmas tree for her. It seems they are tired of always being called ‘Little’ and doing the same things (losing sheep, putting the kettle on etc.), so Mother Goose incorporates them all in a new story involving such characters as the Big Bad Wolf, the Bigger Badder Wolf, a Giant, and Miss Muffet’s Spider. The main action centres on the capture and rescue of the Goose with the Golden Eggs. Helped to a certain extent by the permanently sleepy Fairy Lethargia, each of the ‘Little’ characters has his or her ‘big moment’ during the quest, and when it is all over they return home to the Book for a grand Christmas party. The play was originally written for a cast of twelve, doubling. However, a larger cast could be used. “I cannot recommend this pantomime highly enough … an enchanting blend of mirth and music that captivates the hearts of Mums, Dads and kids.” Romford Observer “The perfect family Christmas entertainment with all the traditions of panto. And yet it has a really strong storyline which at the same time includes a host of fairytale characters … some marvellously inventive twists.” Thurrock Gazette The play and piano/vocal score are published by Samuel French Ltd., a Concord Theatricals Company. First Class Professional & Foreign Rights : Casarotto Ramsay Ltd. UK Repertory Rights : Samuel French Ltd., a Concord Theatricals Company. UK Amateur Rights : Samuel French Ltd., a Concord Theatricals company. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk. customerservices@concordtheatricals.co.uk. The play is included in David Wood : Plays One (Methuen) US Stock and Amateur Rights : Samuel French Inc. |
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The setting is in fact a giant book, in which Mother Goose lives with her famous five ‘Little’ nursery rhyme characters.  |