Synopsis
The Wolf: villain or victim? The Three Pigs: innocent or at fault? The Jurors (Miss Muffet, Bo Peep, Cinderella and Humpty-Dumpty, to name a few): solid citizens or characters with a past? And what about Judge Wise O. Al? Is justice on his side—or does he have a secret to hide? Then there's the media—a reporter, newscaster and town crier. Have they come to accurately report the proceedings—or to turn the courtroom into a media circus? And who is that surprise witness at the end? The answers to these profound questions and even more are revealed once and for all in this rollicking, fun-filled, action-packed trial-of-the-century. Just as he did in the widely produced Trial of Goldilocks, Joseph Robinette examines the guilt, or innocence, of the accused from different points of view and comes up with a surprising, yet eminently satisfying, conclusion in which no one escapes unscathed. And, as a bonus, a lesson or two is learned along the way. It all ends happily ever after, of course, with the newly bonded Wolf and Pigs along with the fairy-tale jury and all the others heading for a post-trial party at the castle of Old King Cole. The play may be performed by children, adults or a combination of both. A true ensemble piece, this delightful comedy, with its intriguing story line and vivid characterizations, will appeal to audiences and performers of all ages.
Notes
Livestream and Record & Stream Rights Available
To review some frequently asked questions about streaming, please click here.
To apply for livestream or record & stream rights, please complete this form.
Details
-
Status
In stock
- Type of Show Full-length Play
- Product Code TB3000
- Cast Size 16
- Min. Royalty Rate $110/perf
- Cost $11.95
- Approx. Run Time 60 min
Categories
- Target Audience Young Audiences | Middle School
- Performing Group Middle School | High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre
- Genre Comedy
- ISBN(13) 9780871299055
Customer Reviews
- "This was our first show for our new Children's Theater and it was PERFECT! The flexibility in casting, both in size and gender, made it very easy, as we didn't know how many children to expect. The show was simple enough and didn't require elaborate costuming or set design. Our audiences sold out and LOVED the show. Our cast ranged from 6-12 years old and even our youngest kiddos were successful."
- Review by Katie Lane, Imagine NEPA, LLC, Clarks Summit, Pa.
- "I found this to be a fun script to use with sixth graders. It offers each student a chance to develop a character. I like the fact that everyone is on stage throughout the play. This makes discipline easy, and enforces the idea that they pay attention to each other."
- Review by Cathy Archer, Rutland High School, Rutland VT
- "The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf is just right for our middle-school situation. We need plays that feature many parts, instead of a few leads."
- Review by Lynnette Davis, Tropical Christian School, Miami, Fla.
- "It's always refreshing to find a children's play that is cleverly written without being too "cutesy" or trite. There were lots of fun references to modern institutions and themesÑvery well received by the children, parents and audience."
- Review by Terry Hampton, Arts on the Avenue, West Plains, Mo.
- "The 7th, 8th grade students really enjoyed playing their characters. The set for us became the nursery courtroom."
- Review by Karen Ganiard, Regina High School, Iowa City, Iowa
- "This show was well received by students and adults of all ages. It can be used by any group for any situation. The characters, dialogue and story line are extremely entertaining."
- Review by Doug Dixon, Carman-Ainsworth Junior High, Flint, Mich.
- "A wonderful play for audiences of all ages. Great for characterization and group reactions. Funny lines lead to more funny lines. Our audiences loved it!"
- Review by Daniel Lapointe, Heroes' Memorial School, Cowansville, Quebec, Canada
- "Audience members of all ages cheered and laughed as they watched The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf. This is a great show for kids as well as adults. Lots of kid humor AND adult humor!"
- Review by Peggy Millay, West Nebraska Arts Center, Scottsbluff, Neb.
- "You can have so much fun with this show; the characters can really take on fun personalities. We performed for 600 kids and discussed the moral after this show Ñ they got it!"
- Review by Lindsey Brett, Tupelo Middle School, Tupelo, Miss.
- "The student actors always find this script challenging but fun. The use of familiar characters in different situations is an excellent opportunity for creativity. We will probably produce this play again in the future."
- Review by Darlene Stewart, Sands/Storybook Theatre, DeLand, Fla.
- "Excellent ensemble piece! All actors had a chance to shine in this play. The audience loved the humor in the script."
- Review by Tom Ostheimer, Children's Theatre Company, Williamstown, Mass.
- "This play is so much fun! The characters are vivid; the dialogue is witty."
- Review by Dana Hoagland, Bishop Kelley High School, Tulsa, Okla.
- "Everyone loved the performance. Young children kept moving forward, on the floor closer to the stage, so that they could be more part of the play."
- Review by Greta Nichols, Christian Homeschool Co-op, Georgetown, Ky.
- "It was fun! We had 1,000 elementary students see it, and they were captivated!"
- Review by Laura Anderle-Smith, Nathan Hale High School, Milwaukee, Wis.
- "This was a fun show to direct. It was easy to cast, and set design could be quite simple or as complex as you care to make it. It was good for ensemble work and incorporation of movement."
- Review by Diana Torres, Paredes Middle School, Austin, Texas
- "A joy to produce and direct. The cast loved it. Everyone gets a decent role. Simple to presentÑeven on the road."
- Review by Lorna Stratton, ICHTHYS Theatre Productions, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
- "Our audience, from pre-K to adult, loved this play! No matter how many times we rehearsed, WE still thought it was funny."
- Review by Kimberly English, Carencro Catholic School, Carencro, La.
Hints, Tips, and Tricks
- "We practiced in a courtroom at our local courthouse."
- Tip by Lindsey Brett, Tupelo Middle School, Tupelo, Miss.
- "We used an intergenerational cast and it worked out well."
- Tip by Bill Gordon, Mid Michigan Family Theatre, Haslett, Mich.
Production Map
| Location | City | State | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rose Theatre Company | Brandon | Mississippi | 5/18/2024 | 5/18/2024 |
| Eagle Rock Middle School | Idaho Falls | Idaho | 5/1/2024 | 5/3/2024 |
Downloads
Poster Suggestions
- Each poster includes a text box which allows you to customize it with your production information. Once a poster has been opened, position your mouse over the lower third portion until you see a label with instructions on entering your production information. Use the Text Select Tool to customize your poster.
- You can print the poster in its original format and hand write your information.
- Your local copy shop should be able to create prints from a file saved to disk. They might even be able to increase the size of the poster for you (although some loss of resolution will occur).
Gallery
Heroes' Memorial High School, Cowansville, Quebec
Imagine NEPA, LLC, Clarks Summit, PA
University Heights Middle School, Riverside, CA
Also By This Author
