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CTC Family Guide 
The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle 
A detailed description of the play, including things to do and think about, for parents to share with their families.
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A Synopsis of the Story
It's raining, claps of thunder sound, and a group of kids stands singing a Piggle-Wigglish song, "When the rain comes down and you're all in a muddle, fight that frown; go look in a puddle. You'll see a face smiling back at you - like magic." Mary O'Toole has picked this moment to run away from home, and is on Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's doorstep. Mary cautiously enters the upside down house (with a right side up kitchen, bedroom and stairs), takes tea with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and meets her parrot, Penelope. Mary is startled by the hump on her hostess's back, but is told that in fact, it's a lump - a lump of magic. Mary has left home because she hates washing dishes. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle tells her that it's no wonder her mother wants her to wash dishes; her mother obviously knows how magical dishwashing can be. Mary gets a lesson in what magic is all about. It's not spells and witchery and whatnot, but pure power-soaked imagination.
One child's worst trouble is making beds, another's mowing the lawn. One hates taking out the trash, another bringing in the firewood. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has a cure for each, and a trunk full of treasure given to her by her pirate captain husband.
Evelyn Crackle and her dad, Ed, meet Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle at the grocery. Evelyn has a bad case of Answer-Backeritis, and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has a cure. She sends Penelope home with the Crackles, and by bedtime Evelyn has learned what she needs to outgrow her nasty habit.
Next, comes the Quadrangle family, Mr., Mrs., Sylvia, and...Harbin. Harbin is the one who needs adjusting. He's s-l-o-w. No matter what he's doing he gets caught up in fantasies. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle diagnoses an acute case of Daydreaming. She causes his next flight of fancy to become real so his family can participate in it, and they begin to appreciate his genius.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle needs to look for Captain Piggle-Wiggle's treasure. Dick and Hubert are just the boys to help. Unfortunately, Hubert can't, though, until he's cleaned his room. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle administers her Won't Pick Up Toys Cure. When the circus comes to town Hubert does what he needs to do to get free. Freedom means you're ready for anything.
It's raining again. Even Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a bit disappointed, but it's a perfect day for stories and marshmallows. She and several children gather ‘round the chandelier and make it a campfire. They share some cozy times and dreams until they feel much better.
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are entertaining Mrs. Crankminor, the boss's wife. It's very fancy! Their daughter, Sharon, comes home from school, spills the tea, steps on a toe, breaks the spice rack and upsets the pepper. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle pops up with a little Gracefulness Powder for Sharon's Heedless Breakerosis. They replay the disastrous scene, which transforms into a quite glorious ballet.
Two terrible twins are tormenting their parents. Why? Because they're constantly tormenting each other. They CAN NOT get along for even a second. Of course, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle knows Fighter-Quarreleritis is a common and contagious childhood disease. When the twin's parents catch the disease, it cures itself by the end of the day. Almost.
It's raining AGAIN, and Dick is bored. He doesn't buy the junk about magic that Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is handing out. Nonetheless, he's hunting for buried treasure at her house. She needs to find gold by lunchtime. With the help of the lucky pirate coin Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle gave him - which he didn't believe in one bit - Dick finds the treasure! There are handfuls of gold and jewels, pearls and crowns, swords and goblets! Suddenly the pirate captain, Percy Piggle-Wiggle, appears, and wants to take Dick to sea as a treasure spotter. Dick can't go of course, since he has school on Monday. Still, they voyage to Deception Pass for the afternoon with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cold Seven Up in the galley, and the knowledge that, "When everything's in a tangle, life's more fun from a magical angle."
| WHAT IS MAGIC? |
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When you're riding your bicycle
Fast as the wind
And your mind is inclined to wander;
A wish and a word
Turns your bike into a bird
And you're off to the wild blue yonder.
So remember when everything's in a tangle
Life's more fun from a magical angle.
- Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle -
 Write your own definition of magic. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's is above.
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| THINGS TO THINK ABOUT, OR PUZZLE THROUGH... OR DREAM |
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Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is always quick to diagnose the ailments of persons she meets - Fighter-Quarreleritis, Heedless Breakerosis, Answer-Backeritis - to name a few. If you were Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, or someone very much like her, how would you diagnose your own "ailment?" Name it. How would you cure it? Is it contagious? Are you sure?
What is treasure? Maybe not what you would expect - gold doubloons and so forth. It might be a box of pictures, or a sack of beads you used to string. Where would you look to find it in your house? Go. Look. Check it out.
If you were marrying a pirate named Piggle-Wiggle, would you take that name?! (What do you suppose was Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's maiden name?) Come to think of it, would you even consider marrying a pirate? Why or why not? By the way, can a girl be a pirate?
The children share dreams along with their marshmallows. Have everyone in your family share a dream they can remember...or have a dream about something in your future, together.
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