This is an original yet traditional pantomime full of all of the well-known nursery rhyme characters. Two handymen are magically transported to Nursery Rhyme Land by a trainee fairy and help to solve the mystery of why so many items are going missing. They meet the Old Woman who lives in a shoe and her many children as well as the evil crooked man Eli Bent and his crony Doctor Foster. A trip to Eli Bent’s secret laboratory results in our heros being transformed into monsters and leads to a very funny chase scene. There are lots of opportunities for slapstick including a messy wall-papering scene and a very funny scene in a ghost train.
Male – 4
Female – 8
Male or female – 7
There are also small speaking parts for chorus members and juniors. This is pantomime so many of these parts could be played by male or female of any age.
Excerpt
Bent: Well Doctor Foster, how was Gloucester?
Doctor: Wet! I’m never going there again. Do you know, I stepped in a puddle right up to my middle.
Bent: Dear, dear.
Doctor: And it was a complete waste of time too the agoraphobics day out was cancelled.
Bent: Any interesting cases?
Doctor: There was one man who took his trousers down and showed me a lettuce growing out of his bottom. I had to give him bad news – it was only the tip of the iceberg.
Bent: Well if that’s your most interesting case you must be as bored as I am.
Doctor: I’m fed up with being a doctor. I want to do something exciting for a change.
Bent: Then you’re talking to the right person. How would you like to work for me?
Doctor: What’s the salary?
Bent: For now just the satisfaction of stirring things up around here. Eventually, the chance to be deputy mayor of nursery rhyme land when I become mayor.
Doctor: Sounds good to me.
Bent: Oh it’s not good. It’s very very bad!
Doctor: Wicked! I’ve always wanted to be naughty for a change.
Bent: Come, let me show you what I have down below.
Doctor: Is it a lettuce?
Bent: I mean down below the house you muddled medic. Come in and let me give you a tour. (Calls) Marjorie!
Marjorie Daw enters DR.
Marjorie: Yes sir.
Bent: Doctor Foster will be our guest for dinner. Make sure we have something good to eat.
Marjorie: Of course sir.
Bent: Just enough for two will be fine. You will have bread and jam as usual, then you can scrub the floors till midnight.
Marjorie: Thank you sir.
Male – 4
Female – 8
Male or female – 7
There are also small speaking parts for chorus members and juniors. This is pantomime so many of these parts could be played by male or female of any age.
Excerpt
Bent: Well Doctor Foster, how was Gloucester?
Doctor: Wet! I’m never going there again. Do you know, I stepped in a puddle right up to my middle.
Bent: Dear, dear.
Doctor: And it was a complete waste of time too the agoraphobics day out was cancelled.
Bent: Any interesting cases?
Doctor: There was one man who took his trousers down and showed me a lettuce growing out of his bottom. I had to give him bad news – it was only the tip of the iceberg.
Bent: Well if that’s your most interesting case you must be as bored as I am.
Doctor: I’m fed up with being a doctor. I want to do something exciting for a change.
Bent: Then you’re talking to the right person. How would you like to work for me?
Doctor: What’s the salary?
Bent: For now just the satisfaction of stirring things up around here. Eventually, the chance to be deputy mayor of nursery rhyme land when I become mayor.
Doctor: Sounds good to me.
Bent: Oh it’s not good. It’s very very bad!
Doctor: Wicked! I’ve always wanted to be naughty for a change.
Bent: Come, let me show you what I have down below.
Doctor: Is it a lettuce?
Bent: I mean down below the house you muddled medic. Come in and let me give you a tour. (Calls) Marjorie!
Marjorie Daw enters DR.
Marjorie: Yes sir.
Bent: Doctor Foster will be our guest for dinner. Make sure we have something good to eat.
Marjorie: Of course sir.
Bent: Just enough for two will be fine. You will have bread and jam as usual, then you can scrub the floors till midnight.
Marjorie: Thank you sir.