Come Back, Goldilocks!

With John Shanahan

What inspired you to write this play?

This was another “Can I...?” project for me. I know that plays based on established properties like fairy tales do well in the youth theater market. I don’t usually write to an established trope, or honestly think about what “sells,” but this time around I wanted to see if I could work within that niche and, honestly, log some productions. From there I let the story flow of its own accord, and I just fell in love with it more and more as it progressed. I was also out to stuff it with characters so it would work for my wife’s theater programs, which is always my first intent.

What’s your favorite part of the play? Why?

I love what I’ve done to the character of Jack, because it’s a guaranteed laugh-getter. I remember giggling hysterically when I hit upon the idea of having him sing some of his lines to “Happy Birthday.” And I’m sure I looked like an absolute goober sitting there trying to work out those lines to fit the tune! When we first did a read-through with my wife’s middle school club, we could barely get through that scene because everyone was on the floor. And the actor reading it was 100% committed to the bit!

Where did the characters come from? Are they based on people you know?

Just fairy tale faves with a chaotic Shanahan twist!

What did you try to achieve with this play?

As I got deeper into it, I uncovered a story about making mistakes and seeking forgiveness. At first it was just Mama wanting forgiveness from Goldilocks and vice versa, but as the story developed it also encompassed Papa Bear accepting that he needed that closure, too, and it also threaded itself into the rivalry between Chicken Little and Miss Muffett.

Along with that I laced in some pokes at the news media and social media, to give the parents something to laugh at. And there’s the sign carrier part, for that kid who wants to be onstage and get laughs but hasn’t quite found the courage to have lines!

Do you have anything else you’d like to add?

Despite writing this for young actors to enjoy, during the first performance I got the biggest kick out of hearing the parents get the jokes that were meant for them.

Overall, I hope theater groups will love this piece for the way it blends outright silliness with a genuine, heartfelt core.

And although I won’t tell you where, there is an Easter egg in the script that ties it to another of my Eldridge plays!