The Magic Basket is a musical for children written in 1940 by Australian composer Alfred Wheeler, with the book and lyrics written by Bronnie Taylor. The musical was originally published by Australian music publisher Allan & Co. Pty. Ltd. The story involves a group of children whisked to a magical land on the Moon, where they help the Sandman to recover his bag of sleep-dust from Goblins. The children are transported in a magic basket by Mrs Mustard, the Old Woman who Sweeps the Sky.
Characters
The King of the Moon The Queen of the Moon Lord High Chancellor The Sandman Mr Moonshine Mrs Mustard Face-ache, the leader of the Goblins Twinkle, the leader of the Moonbeams Children Goblins Moonbeams, ladies-in-waiting to the Queen Newsboy
Musical numbers Oh isn't it fun to live in the moon? (sung by Moonbeams) Whatever can we do (sung by chorus) I sweep the sky (sung by Mrs Mustard and chorus) My basket brave and I (sung by chorus) Derry derry down Oh! (sung by Queen and chorus) Galloping, galloping up in the sky (sung by Children) The Sandman (sung by Children and the Sandman) Tippetty tippetty toe (sung by Children) Goblins bold are we (sung by Goblins) If you will be a meddlesome Matty (sung by Children) The deed is done (sung by Children) Bong! goes the gong (sung by chorus) One song before we part (sung by solo and chorus) Lullaby (sung by chorus)
Productions
1940 Lauriston Girls' School, Melbourne (premiere) 1940 Wyalong, New South Wales 1940 Mount Barker, South Australia 1943 Cloncurry, Queensland 1943 Adelaide, South Australia 1944 Benalla, Victoria 1945 Port Pirie, South Australia 1945 Newcastle, New South Wales 1946 Adelaide 1946 Newcastle, New South Wales 1946 North Lismore, New South Wales 1946 Newcastle, New South Wales 1947 Broken Hill 1947 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales 1947 Lismore, New South Wales 1947 Shepparton, Victoria 1947 Grafton, New South Wales 1948 Mackay 1949 Wyalong, New South Wales 1949 Southport, Queensland 1949 Scone, New South Wales 1950 Nanson, Western Australia 1950 Hay, New South Wales 1950 Maddington, Western Australia 1951 Launceston, Tasmania 1951 Sunshine, Victoria 1951 Burnie, Tasmania 1952 Maryborough, Queensland 1952 Braidwood, New South Wales 1952 Adelaide, South Australia 1952 Grafton, New South Wales 1953 Southbrook, Queensland 1954 Kygole, New South Wales 1954 Broken Hill, South Australia 1954 Townsville, Queensland 1954 Lithgow, New South Wales 1955 Parramatta District Primary Schools, starring Bob Winley as Mr Moonshine and Elaine Marriott as The Queen 1957 Penrith, New South Wales
References