Archives - November 1998

HANS, THE WITCH AND THE GOBBIN
by Alan Cullen

Produced by Ann Burfoot

THE PLAY

Fairy tale. Hans, a medical student, meets the Gobbin - a creature like a goblin, only bigger - who offers to help him in exchange for food. Together they set off towards the royal palace, where Princess Alicia, the King's daughter lies in a semi-comatose state, despite the best efforts of the court physicians Castor and Senna. Hans diagnoses that someone has stolen the Princess's memory and the King has Scratch, his secretary, send for her aunt: Mrs Crabtree, a famous dowser.
Not so luckily for Hans, Mrs Crabtree accuses him of witchcraft, then sets off with the King and Scratch in hot pursuit of another trail. This one belongs to Daisy, the real witch, and thief of memories.
Hand escapes while this is going on, meets up with the Princess and with a most peculiar swineherd, Sylvester, with his magic pigs, Hank and Hunk. They point Hans towards the Queen of the Forest, who could help him if she wished. The Queen gives Hans a test and, when he fails, turns him to stone. He is saved by the Princess, though and the Queen agrees to help them.
Elsewhere, everyone else's memories have been stolen by Daisy, who is most triumphant. But Hans confronts and outwits her, making her swear never to practice magic in the Kingdom again. Memories are restored to all their original owners and they all set out to live happily ever after.

FROM THE GROUP

Not quite a Panto, more a fairy tale, but just as much fun to produce. Settings and costumes were so important to the overall finished product and Mike's glorious forest backdrop and Mary Bailey's imaginative costumes exceeded all my expectations.
Sam, in a purple wig, playing Daisy the naughty witch: I felt the part was made for her. Pam and Judith as dancing pigs, with John as their swineherd in pastel blue with a pink boa, caused much merriment not least among the cast.
I enjoyed bringing this production together, but there were times I didn't think we'd get there. Well, have you ever tried to make a cottage disappear? Teamwork, that's the answer.
Ann - Producer

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