A Pink fridge with hands and feet and an enormous crocodile handbag complete with snapping jaws and long pink tongue are just two of the outrageous props in this six-part series written by Margaret Mahy. Director Yvonne MacKay (The Silent One) said: "From the very beginning Margaret Mahy was encouraged to let her imagination run riot. We wanted a series which was zany rather than cute something fast-paced and likely to appeal equally to adults and children."
The stories were based around a woman called Petunia and her two young daughters, Polly (an inventor and computer expert) and Patch (a poet who talks in rhyme). The trio give up their wandering life on a land-yacht to live in an amazing "open and shut" house. Produced by Dave Gibson, the show featured music by Jenny McLeod that included 30 songs in a wide range of styles.
1) Crocodile Crosby decides to become a pirate, so he must sell his house. Sorehead Groucher the merchant banker and his wife Crabby are not the only ones interested.
Petunia JENNIFER LUDLAM
Polly ELEANOR GIBSON
Patch KENDYL ROBSON
Crocodile Crosby WILLIAM KIRCHER
Langton MICHAEL WILSON
Sorehead Groucher CHRIS DILLON
Crabby Groucher DANNY BOONE
Whimper Fogbound ALEX AITCHISON
Writer MARGARET MAHY
Music JENNY MCLEOD
Producer DAVE GIBSON
Director YVONNE MACKAY
2) The Neighbour
Petunia and her two daughters Polly and Patch discover their magical house.
Petunia JENNIFER LUDLAM
Branchy GRANT TILLY
Polly ELEANOR GIBSON
Patch KENDYL ROBSON
Narrator PAUL HOLMES
Chicken Licken JON GADSBY
Utmore BRIAN SERGENT
Beauregard TIMOTHY BARTLETT
Rattycliffe DAVID COPELAND
Postman GERALD BRYAN
Writer MARGARET MAHY
Music JENNY MCLEOD
Producer DAVE GIBSON
Director YVONNE MACKAY
GIBSON GROUP/TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND
3) Bookkeeping
Petunia is visited by Inland Revenue, while Branchy is visited by the library task force..
Petunia JENNIFER LUDLAM
Polly ELEANOR GIBSON
Patch KENDYL ROBSON
Narrator PAUL HOLMES
Branchy GRANT TILLY
Taxman ROB JAYNE
Supertax girl SHARON TYRRELL
Chief librarian ROB JAYNE
Dracula JON BRAZIER
Postie GERALD BRYAN
Trev WILLIAM KIRCHER
Merv BRIAN SERGENT
Writer MARGARET MAHY
Music JENNY MCLEOD
Producer DAVE GIBSON
Director YVONNE MACKAY
4) A House for Mum
The Chainsaw brothers look for a house for their mum.
Petunia JENNIFER LUDLAM
Polly ELEANOR GIBSON
Patch KENDYL ROBSON
Branchy GRANT TILLY
Fred TIMOTHY BARTLETT
Ted GERALD BRYAN
Brothers' Mum GAY DEAN
Dracula JON BRAZIER
Utterance MICHAEL WILSON
Narrator PAUL HOLMES
Writer MARGARET MAHY
Music JENNY MCLEOD
Producer DAVE GIBSON
Director YVONNE MACKAY
5) Aunt Menace Comes to Stay
Aunt Menace, the ex-sheriff of Rattlesnake, comes to Cuckoo Land, pursued by hitman Charlie Thunder.
Petunia JENNIFER LUDLAM
Polly ELEANOR GIBSON
Patch KENDYL ROBSON
Branchy GRANT TILLY
Aunt Menace ILONA RODGERS
Charlie Thunder TIMOTHY BARTLETT
Cyril Rancid WILLIAM KIRCHER
Nigel Rancid ROB JAYNE
Postman GERALD BRYAN
Hang-glider person LLOYD SCOTT
Dracula JON BRAZIER
Narrator PAUL HOLMES
Writer MARGARET MAHY
Producer DAVE GIBSON
Director YVONNE MACKAY
6) The Burglary: Petunia's music is being stolen and it looks like the work of Burton the burglar. (Final)
Petunia JENNIFER LUDLAM
Polly ELEANOR GIBSON
Patch KENDYL ROBSON
Narrator PAUL HOLMES
Branchy GRANT TILLY
Police officer WILLIAM KIRCHER
Little police officer DAVID COPELAND
Dr Wantsome ROSS JOLLY
Stately Holmes ROB JAYNE
Postman GERALD BRYAN
Dracula JON BRAZIER
Writer MARGARET MAHY
Producer DAVE GIBSON
Director YVONNE MACKAY
Available on DVD:
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