Mrs Muddle's Puppet Show

Mrs Muddle's Puppet Show

'Pipkins' was always a series that tried to make something out of nothing, but Episode 291 ('Mrs Muddle's Puppet Show' TX: 22nd September 1981) takes this philosophy to new and rather magical heights of improvisation.

Peter is repairing what appears to be an elaborate doll's house, with some less-than-helpful running commentary from Topov and Hartley, the latter of whom is worried that Peter might be going at it rather hard and doesn't know his own strength. This seems to be the voice of experience here, but we are not privy as to what previous events have led to this opinion.

Neighbour Mrs Muddle (as played by none other than Sue 'Rentaghost'  Nicholls) enters, bearing Tortoise's newspaper, and wastes no time in scrounging a cup of tea. Advised that it might be cold, she says that she doesn't mind as long as it's wet. Personally, I like it as hot as possible, but that's my problem, not hers.

Topov claims to be starving and wants to know what Mrs Muddle bought when she went shopping, although Hartley regards this question as being nosy.

Upon hearing that Mrs Muddle has purchased a decent spread of items, Peter invites their visitor to stay and have tea with them. Clearly, the staff at Pipkins have learnt never to pass up an opportunity.
Topov asks for a cup of tea, but expects more than one lump of sugar, causing Hartley to mutter the phrase "Sweet Tooth!" in a judgemental sort of way.

Mrs Muddle takes the lid of the box of sugar lumps and operates it as a makeshift ventriloquist's puppet, which astonishes Hartley at this apparent display of magic. In fact, Hartley even refers to her as Wonder Woman, in a line that has stood the test of time better than they might have expected in 1981.

A puppet show is planned using the food and at this point a load of lines travel down the screen, betraying that this is an off-air copy recorded on Betamax.

Topov and Peter are dispatched to build a stage and Hartley is to assist in making the edible puppets. The loaf of bread is adorned with two round buns and one long bun, attached via the miracle of cocktail sticks, so that it resembles a rather squared-off elephant.

Hartley's gaze is transfixed by a healthy-looking cucumber, which is cast in the role of a crocodile, once a mouth and some eyes have been gouged out.

As Russell T Davies has pointed out, a cucumber is usually followed by a banana, but it takes the wise old mind of Tortoise to suggest putting some sticky tape on the fruit so that it could pass for a tiger, although the end result does look more like one of those yellow-and-black caterpillars you get in the garden.

Mrs Muddle proclaims that Tortoise is a genius and he admits that this is something he has just learned to live with...

In the yard, the stage backdrop is nearing completion, once an orange has been placed in the sky to represent the sun.

Hartley seems to be acting as Script Editor and once the final line has been agreed upon, it's TIME for the play to start.

There's a bit of bickering behind the curtain which falls down and we are treated to some animal noises to set the scene, although these do get a little out of hand. It's never adequately explained why there appears to be an unseen cow in the jungle...

A hot cross bun wobbles into view, bemoaning that it is lost as well as being hot and cross. The elephant is not in the mood to help cross people, plus he is too big and heavy to show the bun the way out of the jungle. A likely story!

The tiger is angry and fierce, so is of little help and frankly, there's no much more joy to be had from the crocodile who is feeling sad and tearful.

The bun comes across a Green Jelly Lake and looks at his reflection. This shot is achieved by the simple method of putting a stand-in bun into some jelly . Though the two buns don't look that similar, if we're being brutally honest.

The bun reflects on his lot for a while and becomes happy instead of hot and cross. I'm not sure I entirely follow his thought processes, but let's not quibble here.

Now that he's cheered up a bit, the animals are much more disposed to show the bun the way out of the jungle.

There's a song and just as I was getting into it, the show's over. Which means it's TIME for the end credits to flare badly as we say goodbye to 'Pipkins' for another week.

(By Andrew Trowbridge)