Three Billy Goats X 3

Story:  "The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Three Ways"
Props:  #1:  Bridge, Backdrop;   #3 Goat BeardsPuppets:  #1:  3 Goats, 1 Troll (marionettes);  #2:  3 Frogs, 1 Troll, Rabbit
Presenters:  #1:  four;   #2:  two;   #3:  four   (#1 and #3 could be done with two)
Technology:  #3:  PowerPoint slides for backdrop, Tap dance sound effects
Audience:  Family Storytime (mostly 3-7)

For our annual "One Story Three Ways" Family Storytime this year, we decided to try "The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  Our previous programs were "The Three Pigs" and "The Three Bears," so why not try another three-based folktale.  Plus it works out nicely when we have four presenters, which we always arrange for this event (sometimes five). 

We always open with a more-or-less straight version of the traditional tale, just to make sure everyone knows it and will then appreciate the broader interpretations in the next two versions.  Years ago Sheila made an excellent set of marionettes for the story.  They have big old hex nuts for hooves, so we use a wooden bench as the bridge, which allows for some excellent "trip trapping" sounds.  We add a a big blue sheet of fabric on cardboard, set up as backdrop and river, and we're set.  None of us is a marionette expert, but the puppets really draw the attention of the kids.  We had a simple script that gave us room to play around a little, but not too much, since we wanted to convey the heart of the tale.

Next, we went for a fractured version:  "Three Frogs and a Troll."  I've used this for one of my Summer Reading puppet shows a couple of times ("Make a Splash: Read!" and one other from farther back in the SRP archives).  It's not that different, just Frogs/Flies instead of Goats/Grass, and some silly jokes thrown in.  Sheila played the troll and I was the frogs.  In the past I've used a big folkmanis frog that I don't think they make any more for the biggest frog, but was pleased to see a huge stuffed frog in our library supplies.  A bit of minor spinal surgery created a hand-sized opening and he became a puppet.  I shortened my full script to make this fit into our 5-7 minute slot; if anyone is interested in the full script (or the shortened one) email me (sengelfried@yahoo.com) and I can send it to you. 

We struggled to find the perfect third version, but then we saw a cool video called "The Grumpy Old Troll" from the Happy Ape Youtube channel.  It's a real catchy little song, sung by the Troll.  We needed to flesh it out a bit to make the story more complete, so we added some verses, plus a bit of tap dancing.  (Our version with the adapted lyrics is below.)  Brad was the guitar-playing Troll.  He introduces the "Who's that trip trapping over my bridge" refrain to the audience and they join in each time he sings it. 

The three goats comes out and sins one verse together, using the same catchy tune:  "We're the three billy goats.  We like grass that's green. / But this is not the greenest grass that we've ever seen.  /  Let's cross that bridge....and see what we can find." 

Then it's Goat #1 with a verse ("I'm getting kind of hungry so I guess I'll go across. / There's only one path so I won't get lost. / Trip trap, trip trap, I'm gonna cross that bridge").   Then we have a tap dance sound clip play while Goat #1 dances along.  Somehow that added just the right touch.

Next, Brad jumps out and sings the "Who's that trip trapping..." refrain.  The Goat responds with a verse and the Troll lets the Goat go by with another.  The pattern repeats with the other two Goats.

We used a projected image of a bridge as a background, and that worked fine.  We added a final verse to wrap it up, with the Three Goats saying:  "...he should take a trip...to the grocery store!"   And a new slide of a grocery store aisle appears.  Then we sing the chorus together one more time. 

 

This was my favorite of our three versions.  The only minor problems were when the taped-on beards of the goats kept falling out.  Oh, and one of the goats fell down when he tried to mock-tap dance too fast, but I'm pretty sure no one noticed.  This could be done with two people, as could the first version, if one person switches from one goat to the next.  The guitar really made it work well, but it could also work with just plain old singing.     

 

Here's the adapted script we used.  The tune is in the video and I'm told the guitar part is pretty easy to learn (you can click "show more" on the youtube video to see the chords).     

Three Billy Goats Gruff Song    adapted from:  "The Grumpy Old Troll"
        Purple lines are added to the original lyrics

 

Troll:  

I’m grumpy old troll living under a bridge

I’ve got an empty tummy and an empty fridge.
I’m waiting all day for a meal to come along.

There’s some billy goats over on the side of that hill.
They never come this way but I’m hoping they will.
Cause I’m waiting all day for a meal to come along.

3 Goats
We’re the three billy goats.  We like grass that’s green.
But this is not the freshest grass that we’ve ever seen.
Let’s cross that bridge…and see what we can find.

 

1st Goat
 I’m getting pretty hungry so I guess I’ll go across.

There’s only one path so I won’t get lost.
Trip, trap, trip, trap….I’m gonna cross that bridge
[tap dance interlude (optional)] 

Troll:        

Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?

Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?
Who’s that trip trapping….over my bridge?

1st Goat:
I’m the first little goat.  I’m lean and small.

I hardly would make a meal at all.
Wait for my brother…He’s a four course meal.

Troll:
You look pretty tasty, but I’ll let you go by.

I’d rather a bigger goat, and that’s no lie.
So I’ll wait for your brother…I’ll eat him instead.

2nd Goat
My little brother went so I know what I will do.

I want to eat grass so I’m gonna leave too.
Trip, trap, trip, trap…I’m gonna cross that bridge.
[tap dance interlude (optional)] 

Troll:

Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?

Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?
Who’s that trip trapping….over my bridge?

2nd Goat:      I’m the second little goat. I’m a little bit bigger.

Nice plump cheeks and a big fat figure.
But if you’ll only wait…the best is yet to come.

Troll:        

I kind of want to eat you but I’ll let you go by.

I want to make a giant-sized billy goat pie.

So I’ll wait for your brother…I’ll eat him instead.

3rd Goat:
My brothers are gone to that other grassy hill.  It’s time for me to join them so I guess that I will.
Trip, trap, trip, trap…I’m gonna cross that bridge.
[tap dance interlude (optional)] 

Troll:

Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?

Who’s that trip trapping over my bridge?
Who’s that trip trapping….over my bridge?

3rd Goat:     

I’m the third billy goat.  I’m big and bold.

I’ll run straight ahead and I’ll stop you cold.
I’ll knock you over…off the side of this bridge.

Troll:        

Well you look pretty big, I’ll admit that it’s true.

I’m a hungry troll, but I’m afraid to mess with you.
You can keep trip trapping…over my bridge.

Troll:        

[sadly]  Now nobody’s trip trapping over my bridge.

Nobody’s trip trapping over my bridge.
Nobody’s trip trapping….over my bridge.

3 Goats:  

He's a grumpy old troll living under a bridge

He's got an empty tummy and an empty fridge.
He should take a trip….to the grocery store.

 We first got this idea for "One Story Three Ways" from The Oklahoma City Storytelling Festival.  Now that we've done it for three years we realize we could easily get away with repeating these sets annually, but I don't think that will happen for a little while.  There's already been some talk around the staff room about a tricky gingerbread cookie and a bread-baking hen, so I'm pretty sure we'll have three new tales for at least a couple years.