ONCE UPON A TIME

Music by Roger Webb, book and lyrics by Norman Newell

First produced at the Duke of York's Theatre, St. Martin's Lane, London on December 21st, 1972, (26 matinée performances) presented by David Frost. The sets and costumes were by Tony Walton and the direction and choreography by Gillian Lynne. It starred Tim Curry, Tony Robinson and Kerry Gardner.

Synopsis

From the world of 'make believe' Newell and Webb have devised a spectacular pantomime entertainment with a sparkling score. Everyone's favourite childhood characters, including Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, the Owl and the Pussycat and the Queen of Hearts, will charm the young and the young at heart. More than just a Christmas show, an all-the-year feast of joy and laughter.

Musical Numbers:

Overture

Act I

1. Music Box and Introduction (Clown and Villagers)
2. The Wonderful World Of Make Believe (Clown, Villagers, Tommy Tucker, Mary, Tweedledum, Tweedledee)
3. Ding, Dong, Bell (Villagers)
4. The Three Bears (Daddy, Mummy and Baby Bear, Judge [Clown], Town Crier)
5. Incidental Music
6. Incidental Music
7. Three Famous Pussy Cats (Three Pussy Cats, Judge [Clown])
8. The Owl and The Pussycat (Owl, Pussy Cat, Piggy, Villagers)
9. Wicked (Witch, Wolf, Dragon)
10. We Love Going To A Party (Two Soldiers, Villagers, Three Pussy Cats)
11. No One Asks Us To A Party (Witch, Wolf, Dragon)
12. Search Music - Incidental
13. Why Does Everyone Hate Us? (Witch, Wolf, Dragon)
14. Exit Music - Incidental
15. Little Red Riding Hood (Wolf, Red Riding Hood, Grandmother)
16. Royal March - Incidental
17. The Queen Of Hearts (Clown, Kng and Queen of Hearts, Villagers, Maid)
18. Pat-A-Cake (Company)
19. Make Your Own Rainbow (Red Riding Hood, Villagers, Witch)

Act II

1. Farmyard Barn Dance (Town Crier, Villagers, Goosey Gander, Witch, Wolf, Dragon, Ogre)
2. Barn Dance Exit Music - Incidental
3. The Scarecrow Song (Little Bo-Peep, Little Boy Blue, Scarecrow [Clown])
4. Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush (Schoolchildren)
5. The Silver Sleigh Ride (Jack Frost, Snowman, Little Boy Blue, Daddy and Baby Bear, Schoolchildren)
6. Everybody Loves The Sun But Me (Snowman)
7. Adventure (Teacher, Schoolchildren, Daddy and Baby Bear)
8. Adventure . Reprise (Teacher, Schoolchildren, Daddy and Baby Bear, Little Bo-Peep)
9. All the Fun Of the Fair (Company)
10. I Wish To Report An Incident (Town Crier)
11. The Circus (Company)
12. The Circus - Optional reprise
13. The Roundabout Song (Clown)
14. Walkdown - Reprise: In The Wonderful World Of Make Believe (Company)
15. Playout - Reprise: Make Your Own Rainbow (Company)

Cast:

The casting of Once Upon a Time is very flexible. It can be played with a large cast or (as in the original West End production) with a total cast of 18 (10 men and 8 women). Many of the secondary characters listed are "walk-on" non-speaking roles only, and as such can be expanded/eliminated as the director wishes. For example, the Three Blind Mice would most likely be cast from the chorus of villagers, and with the aid of appropriate props would "act out" the actions indicated in the lyrics at that moment.

10 female, 14 male

The doublings for the original West End production are shown below.

Male

1. Clown
2. Tom, Tom the Piper's son, The Owl, Jack Frost, Villager
3. Georgie Porgy, Dragon, Piggy-Wig, Villager, Schoolchild
4. Little Tommy Tucker, Little Boy Blue, Puss in Boots, Knave of Hearts, Ringmaster
5. Cockney Pussy Cat, Wolf, Fiddler, Schoolchild
6. Soldier, Fiddler, Dandyish Pussy Cat, Schoolchild
7. Daddy Bear, King of Hearts, Farmer
8. Town Crier, Old King Cole, Schoolchild
9. Tweedledum, Turkey, Ogre
10. Aristocratic Pussy Cat, Soldier, Fiddler, Snowman, Villager

Female

1. Red Riding Hood, Villager, Schoolchild
2. Tweedledee, Baby Bear, Grandma
3. Pussy Cat, Villager, Schoolchild
4. Mummy Bear, Witch, Farmer's Wife, Teacher
5. Lady on a Cock Horse, Old Mother Hubbard, Blackbird, Schoolchild
6. Miss Muffet, Daffy Down Dilly, Villager, Schoolchild
7. Mary, Little Bo-Peep, Goldilocks
8. Goosey Gander, Villager, Schoolchild

Instrumentation:

Woodwind I

• Flute
• Clarinet in Bb
• Alto Saxophone in Eb

Woodwind II

• Clarinet in Bb
• Bass Clarinet in Bb
• Alto Saxophone in Eb
  
•  Trumpet in Bb / Flugelhorn in Bb (Flugelhorn optional)
• Electric / Acoustic Guitar (both optional)
• Acoustic Piano / Electric Piano (Electric Piano optional)
• Bass (String or Electric)

Percussion I

• Timpani (2)
• Xylophone
• Vibraphone
• Glockenspiel
• Tambourine
• Maracas
• Castanets
• Suspended Cymbal
• Bell Tree
• Sleigh Bells

Percussion II

• Standard Drum Kit
• Triangle
• Temple Blocks (2)
• Woodblock
• Finger Cymbals
• Mouth Siren / Whistle

Vocal Score and Libretto available on hire only