By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Seldom is a goose chase this much fun. But it sure is when the younger members of the Horizon Youth Theatre take a romp through fairy tale land in “Silly Goose” this weekend at the Otsego High School. (Check out details.)
The fox (Aidan Thomas) tries to gain entry into geese’s steel house.
Keith Guion, who directs the production, wrote the script. The show takes a goose, Silvia, through three tales involving geese, starting when she’s just an egg and following her into adulthood, at least in terms of goose years.
The script has some playful recognition that this is a play, starting with a game of goosey goosey gander as the curtain rises. At times the three actors playing Silvia at different stages in her life playfully interact. And the middle Silvia (Hannah Campbell) in true teenage mode complains about the many idioms involving her species. What does a goose egg, as in a lump on a human head have to do with geese? And why are goosebumps called “goose” bumps?
The story takes flight before Silvia has hatched.
Sarah Keller as the gosling relates how her mother (Lauren Clifford) was constantly having her eggs stolen and eaten by a mischievous fox (Aidan Thomas). The troubled mother is befriended by Channer (Drew Thomas), a mysterious fellow who can talk to animals. He builds her a house, and that’s where Silvia is hatched. The mother uses her wits help keep herself and her young ones safe from the clutches of the fox.
Channer (Drew Thomas) disguised as an old man asks Jack (Liam Rogel) for a bite of his lunch.
Channer serves as a link among all the stories. He enlists the teen Silvia in helping a young shy maid (Alice Walters) with a secret. And with Silvia’s help the maid achieves her rightful place.
The final tale has the grown Silvia (Reece Hall), who in her travels with Channer has turned into a golden goose, help that maid’s mourning daughter (Addie Smith) laugh again.
It’s a roundabout adventure in which the put-upon youngest brother of a family, Jack (Liam Rogel) comes in possession of the golden goose. That leads to a hilarious predicament. A string of people – just about the entire 30-plus cast members — gets stuck together in a long line.
Silvia (Hannah Campbell), Elmina (Alice Walters), and King Delroy (Jonah Truman) talk about his son’s dilemma.
As we follow the tale of “Silly Goose” a few lessons are taught about perseverance, bullying, and the value of kindness and generosity sometimes with a contemporary twist. When Jack is offered the princess’ hand in marriage, the hero’s usual prize, he asks: what does the princess want?
Mostly, though, “Silly Goose” is true to its title.
When a group of kids are called on to act together as a group, as with the staggering procession, or the goslings (Claire Nelson, Sophia Milks, Lila Stover) huddled in the house, or the innkeeper’s daughters (Emy Wilkins, Lauren Peppers, Isobel Roberts-Zibbel) spying on Jack, the line between acting and just being themselves seems to disappear. It’s all a game that the audience is invited to watch.
Three sisters – Isobel Roberts-Zibbel, Lauren Peppers, and Emy Wilkins -spy on Jack as he sleeps.
