Inspired by Oscar Wilde's "The Canterville Ghost," this captivating musical is just scary enough for Children's Theatre. A ballerina doll named Janette and a Jack-in-the-Box have been left in the deserted playroom of a British castle for years. The castle is haunted by three of the most delightfully scary ghosts you've ever seen on stage: the Duke, who carries his head in his hands; the Creep, who skips rope with his chains; and the Duchess, who screams a lot. The ghosts also sing and dance a lot in their spooky way to the delight of young audiences. Jack and Janette can't get to the Great Toyland in the Sky because they haven't fulfilled their earthly purpose: to make children happy. Jack thinks you win friends by playing tricks and scaring people. Janette tries to make children happy by showing off. With the help of two American children and their astronaut doll, Jack and Janette learn that the only way to win friendship and love is to be friendly and loving.

Here is a captivating musical play for children that is unusually easy and inexpensive to produce. The music is well within the range of untrained voices, costumes and set are simple, and there are no technical or casting problems. Yet the play entrances little children.

"It's a very good play for children because it isn't too scary, but it's humorous," said a sixth grader who saw the Shoestring Players in their Wisconsin tour. A fourth grader chose the Creep as his favorite character "because it was scary with chains and it looked like a real ghost." He also enjoyed the ghosts' dancing, expecially when they were "jumping around." Another fourth grader chose Jack and Janette as his favorite characters because they "made people laugh." He thought the songs were perfect, and he said the message of the play "came out loud and clear."

The message is one that little folk in their developmental years need to have presented "loud and clear": showing off, acting smart, tricking and scaring people aren't the way to make friends. Be yourself; be fun to be with; enjoy what you're doing and help others enjoy being around you--that's the secret of a good personality.

Easy to present and easy on the budget, yet most impressive and completely entertaining, Toys in the Haunted Castle is recommended for high schools, junior highs, colleges and universities, and community theatres.

Two acts; Set, abandoned playroom of a haunted castle; Place, England; Time, today.

Other Zawadsky musicals: The Boy Who Stole the Fourth of July, The Secret in the Toyroom

See also: Plays for Elementary and Junior High