This is a pantomime you are unlikely to see, and, for those who have seen it in the past, are unlikely to remember very much about it! Producers who mounted the show can’t truthfully recall the plot, and  it must be one of the rarest of the pantos put on in recent times.

A rather confusing plot, with ample opportunity to turn a simple tale into whatever you can make of it has resulted in Goody Two Shoes vanishing from sight. However, in its time it was one of the most popular children’s stories, and one of the popular Victorian pantomimes.

Goody Two Shoes: The Origins

The History Of Little Goody Two Shoes” was a nursery tale first published in 1765 by John Newbery, one of the first publishers of children’s stories.

The authorship is disputed, with many claiming it was Oliver Goldsmith, author of “She Stoops To Conquer”, who was employed by Newbery at this time, and had previously “ghost written” similar stories for cash, not wishing his name to be credited. Newbery was another contender for authorship, as was Giles Jones.

According to popular tradition, Goldsmith was inspired to write the story after meeting a young girl as she rushed out of one of London’s “ragged Schools” for the poor. She proudly showed him a pair of shoes she had been given as a reward for being a good girl and thus provided the writer with the germ from which the tale would grow.

(Encyclopedia of Pantomime).

Published in the form of a Chapbook at the end of the Eighteenth Century, the simple tale became highly popular. It belongs not as a fairy tale, but more a morality tale, meant to inspire children in a retelling of the “Cinderella” story on a simplified scale.

Margery Meanwell, a poor orphan is so poor that she possesses only one shoe.When she is given a pair of shoes by a rich gentleman she is so delighted that she runs to tell everyone that she has “two Shoes”. After this she is known to all as Goody Two-Shoes.

“She ran out to Mrs Smith as soon as they were put on, and stroking down her ragged apron thus, cried out “two Shoes, see two shoes”, and so she behaved to all the people she met, and by that means obtained the name of Goody Two-Shoes”

As a result of her good work, and virtuous deeds, Goody makes the best of her self, and eventually marries a wealthy widower.

“Who from a state of rags and care, and having shoes but half a pair,

Their fortune and their fame would fix, and gallop in a coach and six”

Goody achieves her goals mostly through education, and as she aquires learning and wisdom she teaches other children to read and write. She also devises a method of teaching adults to stop quarrelling, and to live a peaceful and wholesome life. Together with her charitable acts, she changes her position in life and becomes a fine lady.

The heavily moral tale points out the plight of the poor, and also the greed and avarice of the big wide world she inhabits.

Little wonder that Margery became the original “Goody Goody”. The phrase came into use to describe anyone who was thought self-righteous or piously virtuous. Her name may also be associated with the childish cry of delight “Goody Goody!” and even the phrase “Goody Gumdrops!” in the mid twentieth century. A popular song of the 1920’s was entitled “Goody Goody”, and a childish taunt to call someone whose behaviour was a little TOO virtuous, or a little too smug-“Little Goody Two Shoes” came into being.

The “History Of Goody Two Shoes” was one of the most famous and popular and influential books of the Eighteenth Century- it held sway in popular fiction for nearly two hundred years before vanishing into obscurity.

The tale was very popular in the virtuous Victorian age, and  as a result several versions of the story were transformed into pantomimes. The original moral tale was given a fairytale gloss, and to accommodate the pantomime style soon very little of the original story remained as other essential pantomime characters such as Dame, Fairy, Villain and comedy double-act were introduced along the way. The essentials of the plot however usually involved Goody taking over the estate of a wealthy but wicked local Squire or Baron.

The pantomime, although hugely popular in the 19th century, never really crossed over into the next century with ease. Often managements would mount a production by way of a change, and then, like Derek Salberg at Birmingham, never return to it. Salberg would have recalled the few years that Emile Littler produced it, and had put his own version on at the Alexandra Theatre some ten years later, whilst Paul Elliott a few years later acquired both scenery and script from Salberg, and also presented it for three years.

There is no definitive version of “Goody Two-Shoes”. Because of its wafer thin story-line each producer has used the subject to incorporate elements from other pantomimes, and relied on comedy scenes and routines to boost it up. A circus act here, Scottish pipers there, a waterfall effect, a puppet act and the creation of stranded nursery rhyme characters who feature as Goody’s friends- Jack and Jill, Little Boy Blue, and the Old Woman who Lives In A Shoe have all made appearances.

Goody Two Shoes (Encyclopedia of Pantomime)

The heroine Margery and her brother Tommy are orphans without a penny to their name. Margery herself has only one shoe.

A Fairy cobbler takes pity on them, and makes Margery a pair of magic shoes. With the Fairy’s help she goes on to win fame and fortune, and distinguishes herself for her many acts of kindness and generosity.

In the original story she becomes a teacher, and is tried as a Witch before finally being reunited with Tommy, marrying a rich widower, and acquiring an estate belonging to the wicked local squire.

The pantomime versions of “Goody Two Shoes” in the Victorian era were often quite long and complicated. Below are two examples of the same story taken from the original scripts.

Goody Two Shoes: The Victorian plot

Paisley.-Author Fred Locke.

The Village:

The scene opens with the rustic lovers, Peter Piper and Dolly Dimple.

Enter Dame Freckles, a widow. “My husband was handsome, with such lovely black eyes: We hadn’t been married a week until I had black eyes too..” Sandy Snaps the village simpleton tells the Dame that the Baron is about to turn her out of house and home. She cannot pay the rent.

Simple Simon enters, he is the Baron’s son, and reveals that he has lost his heart to Goody Two-Shoes- even though she is a penniless peasant girl.

Goody enters and tells the audience her tale: She is an orphan, and had but one shoe, until a kind lady bought her a pair. So proud was she of her new gift that she had to show everyone, and became known as Goody Two-Shoes. She is in love with Roland

Simon asks Goody to be his bride, but she refuses, and Simon gets into a fight with Roland, who exits to tell his father, The Baron Grabb. The Baron tells Goody she must marry his son, or be sent away in disgrace. The Dame and her sons come to her defence, and the Baron vows to have his revenge on them all.

The Baron tells Dame Freckles she is evicted, and enlists Smirk and Smile to be his Broker’s men. Goody vows to marry Roland, despite the riches offered by Simon.

The Interior of Dame’s Cottage:

A Fairy appears and tells Goody that she will be rewarded for all her good deeds. She tells the company assembled that

 “There is a mystery surrounds your birth, which a mortal will one day unearth. The Baron is your foe, wed not his son, or all your future prospects are undone”.

The fairy gives Goody a golden rose, that will protect her from her enemies.

The Highlands of Scotland:

The Dame attempts to get the Baron to propose to her. The Baron refuses her scheme, but offers her money to turn Goody out of her house. The Dame refuses. The Baron, his son Simon and the Broker’s men plot to kidnap Goody and her golden rose, and imprison her in the castle, until she agrees to marry Simon. A Demon King called Mephisto appears, and offers to assist them.

The plot involves inviting everyone to a ball at the Castle. Meanwhile Goody is abducted and kept prisoner inside the Castle, in a high tower.

“Henceforth on dry bread you shall dine and sup, until all thoughts of Roland you give up”

Roland breaks into the castle, and tells Goody that he will free her in half an our, take her to the ball where they will publicly unmask the Baron and his son, and bring them to justice. He exits.

The Demon Mephisto appears and tempts Goody with a pair of magic red shoes.He says he is a dancing teacher, and when she wears these magic shoes she will be the finest dancer in the world. Goody tells him she cannot repay him, and he says he will claim his payment at another time.

When Goody tries on the shoes, she cannot stop dancing. Nor can she remove the shoes.

The Gardens En Fete:

The Baron’s Ball is a Fancy Dress affair:The Baron and son discover Goody has escaped. They still plot to get the golden rose. Roland and Goody  plan to arrive in disguise. Roland arrives first, and awaits Goody’s entrance.

Goody arrives and cannot stop dancing. The others do not recognise her, and find the lady’s behaviour “rather shady”. The Demon appears and tells Goody now she is to pay the price- she will be his forever!

The Fairy appears and instructs Goody to defeat the Demon with her Golden Rose. Alas- she does not have it. The Demon is triumphant:

“You’ve sold yourself, before all I accuse- To his Satanic Majesty, for a pair of shoes!”

Roland produces the rose, and the Demon is forced to retire. He pledges he will return for his prize. Goody is beside herself with shame, but the Fairy appears and tells her that, so long as she is good and true no harm will befall her.

The Demon returns and curses Goody to dance forever, but the Fairy summons her Rose Fairies to protect her. Meanwhile Roland swears that, even though she is cursed to dance all her life, he will never leave her side.

End of Act One.

The Fair:

The Baron and Simon still plot to recapture Goody at the Fair. The Dame tells everyone that musical talent runs in her family.

“Pa used to say if you’re not A Flat, look D Sharp and B Natural. He was a sailor on the PI-an-O line!”

Goody cannot find Roland at the Fair. Simon tells her Roland has deserted her. The Baron accuses her of being a witch, and that she must be put on trial. The Demon returns to discover Goody has lost her magic rose. It was stolen by the broker’s men.

Sandy Sapps steals into the Baron’s castle to try and discover the secret of Goody’s birth, and overhears the Baron saying how tragic it would be if Goody should ever learn

”She should reign here, but she’ll never know, but one proof remains that she is heiress ‘neath this roof”

Sandy tells Goody that it is she who should rightfully be Baroness in the castle, and that her Golden Rose is currently in the pawnbrokers shop. The Baron is heading to claim it for himself, having destroyed the proof of Goody’s inheritance.

The Pawn Broker’s Shop:

The Dame is attempting to get the rose back for Goody. She does not have the ticket, or the money to buy it back. The Rose is retrieved, and despite the appearance of Mephisto and his spirits, Goody reclaims her magic flower. Sandy Sapps reveals the Baron’s trickery to the all, and he and his son are disgraced and evicted.

Goody Two-Shoes is now a Baroness. The Baron and Simon declare now they are penniless, they will become honest citizens. Everyone is invited to the wedding of Baroness Goody  to Roland at her Castle.

Goody’s Ancestral  Hall:

The Wedding of Goody to Roland.

The Grand Finale.

A later plot is slightly less complex, and somewhat shorter!

The Edwardian Version of “Goody Two-Shoes” Pantomime

Written by Mr. & Mrs Ernest Carpenter.

The Vale Of Content:

It is Goody’s Eighteenth  Birthday.

Enter the villain: Don Q: A Gypsy King, in disguise. He is looking for a wife to keep him in the splendour to which he would like to be accustomed, and has heard that Goody’s  shoes are her fortune. He meets the Dame, and to begin with thinks she is Goody.

Goody herself enters: She  reveals that today, on her eighteenth birthday she is to discover why she is called “Goody Two-Shoes”.

Enter Robin Goodfellow- a Fairy. He has been sent on command of the Queen of Fairyland, Titania. He tells Goody that her shoes are magic shoes, given to her at her birth by Titania. While she possesses them, no harm will befall her. Now that she is grown up they will change colour according to her wish.

Enter Boy Blue. He is Goody’s suitor. The Fairy gives Boy Blue a magic horn- he is to blow upon it if he or Goody ever need help. Boy Blue and Goody become engaged with the Dame’s blessing.

The Villain plots to entice Goody to the Gypsy’s camp, where he will steal her shoes.

Outside The Dame’s Cottage:

Goody meets the villain who offers her new shoes for her old pair. She refuses, so he carries her away to the Gypsy Camp.

Boy Blue, The Dame and Budge and Toddy, the Dame’s sons, go in search of Goody. They capture the villain, and take him to the Police Court, to extract the whereabouts of Goody from him.

The Village Police Court:

There is a procession of judges, presided over by Robin Goodfellow and the comic Sunny Jim.Everyone is questioned. The Gypsy King is questioned, but escapes the court.

Near The Gypsies Camp:

The villain has taken Goody’s shoes, and keeps her prisoner. The Fairy enters, and Goody asks why he doesn’t help her. He replies “Our Queen wishes to test your courage to see that her magic gifts have been given worthily”

The company search for Goody, and The Fairy shows them the way to the Gypsies Camp.

The Gypsies Encampment:

There is a song and dance by the Gypsy band. The Villain tells his fellow brigands that he has hidden the shoes where no-one will find them, and that he is holding Goody for ransom.

Boy Blue, Jack and Jill enter the camp. Boy Blue fights the Gypsy and rescues Goody. The villain reveals he has hidden the shoes, and Robin Goodheart reveals he has taken them, and put them in a place of safety. They are invisible, and hidden in an enchanted Castle, and to prove which is stronger- Love or Greed-The magic word to make them visible will only be revealed to one “whose motives in the search are worthy”.

The First Act Ends with Boy Blue, The Dame, the comics and the Villain intent on finding the enchanted castle.

Act Two:

The Enchanted Castle:

The Scene opens with a dance of toys, followed by a Grand March of Amazons.

Robin Goodfellow enters with the shoes. He places them in a cabinet.

The Dame and others enter. Sunny Jim pretends to be a ghost to frighten them away.

The Dame reveals she wants to find the shoes to take them to the pawn brokers, The comics want to find the shoes to buy a motor car. The Villain enters, and fails to find the shoes. Sonny Jim is revealed as the ghost.

Finally Boy Blue enters, and blows his magic horn for guidance. He sees the cabinet and cries out “Titania, aid me!” and the shoes are revealed. The magic word was “Titania”.

The Castle Gardens:

The Gypsy King decides he is giving up his life of villainy, and decides to marry the Dame. She agrees. Boy Blue returns the magic shoes to Goody. Jack and Jill declare they are to be married, so Robin Goodfellow arranges a reception at the Fairies Palace.

They all live happily ever after!

Later pantomime versions are closely linked to a revision of the story written by “Lady Kathleen” in 1914 in which the role played by the fairies is more prominent than in the original.This fairytale was used regularly in pantomime plots, though less frequently in the 20th century.

The Earliest Pantomime:

“Goody Two-Shoes” was staged as a pantomime at Sadler’s Wells in 1803 and established itself as one of the most popular subjects on the Victorian stage.

Versions included:

E.L.Blanchard’s “Little Goody Two-Shoes: or Harlequin and Cock Robin” at Drury Lane 1862.

The cast included Tom Mathews as Little Boy Blue’s rival suitor Peter Gripe, and Lydia Thompson in the title role.

1876 The Adelphi “Little Goody Two Shoes: or Harlequin Boy Blue”. This was a children’s pantomime performed entirely by children.

1899 it was seen at George Conquest’s “The Surrey Theatre”

1912 Theatre Royal, Birmingham presented by Philip Rodway.

Emile Little  staged a version of “Goody Two Shoes” in 1944 at the London Coliseum, and at Birmingham prior to this. The Coliseum production starred Pat Kirkwood as Robin Goodfellow, with (Crazy Gang) Naughton & Gold as Late & Early the councilors, Danny O’Dare as Muddles, Richard Hearne (Mr.Pastry) as “Bluebell” the Dame, and Goody played by Sara Gregory.

The cast featured Fred Emney as Lord Gorgeous, Stuart Pearce as the Yellow Dwarf, Laurie Mellin as Thimble The Cat, and Jane Corda as comic maid. It featured the Braemar Pipers, the Tiller Girls and the Terry Juveniles.

Emile Littler produced his second West End “Goody Two Shoes” at the London Casino (Now the “Prince Edward Theatre) in 1950. It starred Arthur Askey as Dame- renamed “Martha- The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe” to allow Askey to be “Big Hearted Martha”, and his real life daughter Anthea Askey as comedy Maid.. Simple Simon was Charlie Cairoli (Snr) and the councilors were Paul Cairoli and Frank Orrell.

Yvonne Marsh

Click to enlarge

Goody was played by Yvonne Marsh, and her love interest Robin by Joy Hayden. The Yellow Dwarf was once again played by Stuart Pearce, and the Mayor (Lord Gorgeous) by Leon Cortez. Jeffrey Piddock played the Beadle, Magda Neeld The Fairy, and Cecil the Donkey by Jay Fips.

Specialties included “The Waterfalls of Scotland”, The Highland Pipers, The Trio Carletti and Darly’s dogs.

The Emile Littler order of scenes was as follows:

Scene 1:           The Village of Merry-go-Round

Scene 2:           Outside the Mayor’s Nest

Scene 3:           Inside the Old Woman’s Shoe

Scene 4:           A Lane Nearby.

Scene 5:           Dame Bluebell’s Academy (The Schoolroom Scene)

Scene 6:           The Fairy Ballet of the Seasons - Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer

 

                            Interval

 

Scene 7:           The Lowlands

Scene 8:           The Highlands

Scene 9:           A Musical Passage

Scene 10:         Children’s Bedrooms in Shoe Palace

Scene 11:         A Weird Wood

Scene 12:         A Royal Highway (The Songsheet)

Scene 13:         Robin’s Wedding. (The Finale).

There was a production in the 1950’s starring Beryl Reid

Leeds Empire Theatre (The Emile Littler Version) in 1959 with Ken Platt as Lord Gorgeous of glamour, Henry Lytton as “Bluebell- The Old Woman who lived in a Shoe”, Charlie Cairoli Snr as Lord Gorgeous’s son Charlie, and Bill Pertwee and Roy Hudd as the town councilors, “Late and Early”. 

Derek Salberg’s “Goody Two Shoes” 1967

The pantomime plot revolved around a crippled girl who was given magic shoes by the Fairy, enabling her to walk without a limp, until they were stolen. Goody was played by Jennie Vance.

The pantomime also had Jack Tripp, Allen Christie, Fay Lenore, Chris Carlson, Arthur Tolchard and Kay Lyall, choreographed by Robert Marlowe.

Scenes included an appearance of the Scottish Highland Pipers in a highland glade scene, and a speciality act by Paul and Peta Page with their U.V. Puppets.

The Dame (Jack Tripp) was involved in a picnic scene that included a Gorilla “Ghost Gag”, and the cast seated on deckchairs under a downpour of water from a hidden trough above.

Two years later in 1969 Paul Elliott and Duncan C Weldon presented “Goody Two Shoes”, at the New Theatre Hull, using the script and scenery supplied by Derek Salberg..

The pantomime starred Jimmy Thompson, Norman Collier and McDonald Hobley. The Dame was played by Sandy Lane, with Tom Mennard, Gerry Tebbut, Diane Raynor, Mandy Lee and Robert Aldous. Joy and Tony Sloan from “Billy Smart’s Circus” were featured. Gerry Tebbut choreographed, and John De Lannoy directed.

1970 Paul Elliott and Duncan Weldon (in association with Derek Salberg) presented “Goody Two Shoes” again  at the Princess Theatre, Torquay . The pantomime starred Vince Hill and Helen Shapiro, with Billy Whittaker as Dame- The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe”- along with Joy and Tony Sloan (Circus performers from Billy Smart) and Paul Tracey, Robert Aldous and David Browning.

The following year 1971 Paul Elliott, Louis J Michaels and Duncan C Weldon presented Goody Two Shoes for Triumph Theatre Productions at the Forum Theatre Billingham.

Helen Shapiro starred, along with McDonald Hobley, Tom Mennard with Sandy Lane as Dame. Once again Joy and Tony Sloan appeared, along with Robert Marlowe (who had choreographed the original Salberg production) Kerry Jewel (The son of Jimmy Jewel) and Nina Brown and Alton Douglas. Robert Marlowe Directed and choreographed this production.

Since then there has rarely been a professional production of this pantomime. The spirit of “Goody Two-Shoes” has emerged on very rare occasions when selected by amateur companies, other than that the subject has completely disappeared.

We are very grateful to Stephen Thirlwell who has provided us with details of another production of Goody Two-Shows.

Howard and Wyndham and Leslie Grade produced this pantomime at the Leeds Grand Theatre for the panto season 1972/1973. It opened on the 22nd December 1972 and was directed by Peter Dulay from TV's Candid  Camera fame.  This was his first time as a director of a pantomime.

He quotes from the programme:-

"Exactly 200 hundred years ago, Oliver Goldsmith - he wrote She Stoops to Conquor - sent a letter to his publisher and added a short paragraph for his publishers' daughter to cheer her up as she was sick in bed.  The paragraph went something like this:-

I often meet a poor orphan girl and she's so poor that she never had any shoes in her life.  Apparently someone must have given her a pair for being good and when I met her today on my way to your home, you can't imagine how funny it was to see her in the secret calling out to everyone 2I'm Goody Two Shoes, I'm Goody Two Shoes

That's all the story. Just that.  But the published daughter got well.  Oliver Goldsmith gave a lot of money to the local orphanage where Goody lived and the story spread, so that soon everyone was contributing to the orphanage, which couldn't believe its good fortune all due to Goody." End of quote from the programme.

The synopsis of that 1972 panto was that Goody, an orphan was living in a bakery with the owner Daphne Doughnut who was poor and found it hard to pay her Bakers Men.  Goody would try and do what she could in the village and dreamt of being able to help as many people that she could.  The Fairy Cobbler and The Fairy of the Shoes, knew this and made her a pair of magic shoes - her first pair of shoes -  and told her that they were gving her the shoes as she was good.  All the dreams that she had wearing those shoes came to life as long as they were for others and did not involve greed..  The Duke of darkness wanted the shoes to make himself richer and duped the Bakers Men to get the shoes.  Goody was upset at losing the shoes and the fact that she was now not able to help people anymore..  She was told by the Old woman that lived in the Shoe that the Duke had got them.  With the help of the gypsies and the Bakers Men she searched the country and found the Dukes Castle and got the shoes back..  Needless to say Goody made sure that the Duke became good and he ended up marrying Daphne Doughnut.

The cast of that panto was as follows:-

The Fairy Cobbler - Peter Goodwright

The Duke of Darkness - John Gower - a part specially written for him

The Fairy of the Shoes - Janet Cobb

Peter the Puppeteer - Ronnie Hilton

Daphne Doughnut - Don Smoothey

The Bakers Men:-

Lazy Les - Les Dawson,

Simple Simon - Brian Marshall,

Wandering Willy - Eli Woods

Goody -  Mary Oakley

The Gypsy Chief - Jerry Davies

The Magic Mouse -  Peta Page

The Old woman that lived in the Shoe - Mark Jefferis

Mad Meg, a gypsy crone - Chris Carrington

Note the Magic Mouse, was a speciality who over saw everything and tried to correct all bad things and would pop up at certain times in the panto.  Obviously woven into the script for Ronnie Hilton to be able to sing -  A mouse lived in a windmill!

The Characters in the 19th/Early 20th Century Versions:

A late Victorian version of “Goody Two Shoes” at Bristol had the following characters: Created by Ernest Carpenter.

The Principal Girl:

Goody Two-Shoes

 

The Principal Boy:

Boy Blue

 

The Dame:

Dame Durden

 

The Villain:

Don Q. A Gypsy in disguise.

 

The Comic:

Sunny Jim.

 

The Fairy:

Robin Goodfellow- The spirit of Mirth, messenger of  Titania, The Fairy Queen.Played by an actress, Florence Melville.

 

Other characters were:

Jack & Jill- the rustic lovers.

The Village Beadle & The Village Constable

Budge & Toddy- a double act

Dorcas, Roland, Reuben, Zora- a fortune teller, and John Bumble.

 

The Author Fred Lock created the following characters in an Edwardian production at Paisley, Scotland.

The Principal Girl:

Goody Two Shoes.- The Heroine

 

The Principal Boy:

Roland- The Hero.

 

The Dame:

The Dame has been Dame Freckles.

 

The Villain:

The Baron.

 

The Comic:

Simple Simon The Baron’s Son.

 

The Village Simpleton:

Sandy Sapps

 

The Dame’s Sons:

Tom and Phil

 

The Fairy:

Fairy Goodheart.

 

The Demon:

Mephisto

 

The Double Act:

Smirk & Smile- The Baron’s  attendants.

 

A Pair of Rustic Lovers:

Peter Piper & Dolly Dimple.

It is interesting that the Principal Boy has been Boy Blue in one version, Roland in another, and that by the time Emile Littler revived the pantomime in the 1940’s, the Principal Boy had become Robin Goodfellow. The Dame’s name has changed frequently, and the Baron has also been a Gypsy disguised, and then he is the Mayor by the 1940’s.

Like the Dame, the comic has been variously Simple Simon, Sunny Jim and Muddles over a relatively short space of time.

THE CHARACTERS IN PANTOMIME:

The Emile Littler Version circa 1944-1960’s.

Goody Two-Shoes: The heroine of the story.

In the original version she was named Margery Meanwell. When she is given her first pair of shoes she becomes known as Goody Two-Shoes.Often her mother is the Dame- different to the original tale when she and her brother are orphans.

The Dame:

From the 1940’s onwards she is called Dame Bluebell, and is often The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe. She was named “Martha” when Arthur Askey played the role for Emile Littler in 1950.Goody Two-Shoes is one of her many children.- The Dame’s title is taken from the Nursery Rhyme character who “Had so many children, she didn’t know what to do”.

The Comic:

Sometimes Goody’s Brother. In the original tale he was called Tommy, but in pantomime he has been Muddles. He is often the Mayor’s son.

The Mayor:

Emile Littler called him Lord Gorgeous of Glamour. It can be the chief comic in some productions, and does many scenes and routines with The Dame.

The Principal Boy:

Often named Robin Goodfellow. In The Littler version, he was the village carpenter.

The Councillors:

Named Late and Early. A Broker’s man role, responsible to the Mayor.

The Fairy:

Fairy Goodhope (Emile Littler 1944)

The Maid:

Emile Littler called this character Elderberry Twigg- the Old Woman’s Maid.

This character was a comic maid- a throw back to the days when most pantomimes had a part for a Dame’s Helper- often called Gretchen The Maid, in “Mother Goose” for example. The part gradually died out.

The Yellow Dwarf: a character who appears in magical form. The name is a throw back to a pantomime in the late Victorian, early Edwardian period.

This page was last updated 12th August2008

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