Wombat Stew
Wombat Stew (Vaughan & Lofts, 1984) is a classic Australian children’s book that has stood the test of time. This amended version is a musical play. I have used it many times, always with great feedback and hilarity. It was originally compiled with a multigrade class in mind but can be nuanced to address any age and your particular classroom needs.
The text has been re-arranged so that each animal is a character represented by a simple musical song, which children perform throughout the script. There is a part for everyone- for example; instead of one galah, you could have a flock!
The overall theme song, “Wombat Stew, wombat stew…” is repeated throughout the text and nuanced to reflect different parts of the narrative. The tale can be enriched through dress-ups, masks and anything else you wish to add to increase engagement and enjoyment in performing this exciting and quintessential Australian adventure. Vale Esme Stengert- my wonderful music teacher who composed the musical scores for the script of Wombat Stew.
Covershot Wombat Stew. Vaughan & Lofts (2017 version).
Musical “Wombat Stew”
A musical innovation on the text Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan (1984) Written by Esme Stengert (deceased) and shared with permission from her son, Warren Stengert, Boggabri (6-1-22)
Characters: Narrator, Wombat, Dingo, Echidna, Blue tongue lizard, Koala, Pink Galah, Kangaroo, plus any other native animals that students wish to dress up as e.g. platypus, emu, snake, possum. All students to participate.
Setting: Characters are spread around the campfire in a semi- circle facing the audience. The narrator is situated on the side of stage, standing on a box in front of podium so they are clearly visible. There is a cauldron on top of the campfire. A big spoon or similar implement to stir the stew is required.
Script: All characters sing the introduction together. Dingo’s caught wombat (all point to dingo, then wombat). Sway to the music. Sing in a melancholy voice.
Introductory song of musical play, Wombat Stew.
Narrator: One day on the banks of a billabong, a very clever dingo caught a wombat and decided to make… (Animals dance around the campfire and sing…)
Narrator: Old Blue Tongue, the lizard came sliding off his sun-soaked stone
Blue Tongue Lizard song
Lizard: Ssssilly dingo! (Narrator: He hissed)
There are no ffffflies in this ssstew. Can’t be wombat stew without crunchy ffflies in it.
Narrator: And he stuck out his bright blue tongue.
Dingo: There’s a lot to be said for flies (Narrator: agreed Dingo, rubbing his paws together).
Rightio, in they go!
Narrator: So, Lizard snapped one hundred flies from the air with his long tongue and flipped them into the gooey, chewy stew.
Around and around the bubbling billy, Dingo danced and sang… (other animals follow Dingo around the campfire, singing and dancing)
Narrator: Up through the red dust popped Echidna.
Echidna song
Echidna: Wait a bit! Not so fast! (Narrator: He bristled, shaking the red dust from his quills).
Echidna: Now, I’ve been listening to all this advice - and take it from me, for a munchy stew you need slugs and bugs and creepy crawlies.
Dingo: (Narrator: Dingo wagged his tail). Why, I should’ve thought of that! Rightio, in they go!
Narrator: So Echidna dug up all sorts of creepy crawlies and dropped them into the gooey, chewy, crunchy stew. The very clever dingo stirred and stirred all the while singing…
Theme song 2
Narrator: Just then, the sleepy-eyed Koala climbed down the scribbly gum tree.
Koala theme song
Koala: Look here, (Narrator: he yawned). Any bush cook knows you can’t make a spicy stew without gumnuts.
Dingo: Leave it to a koala to think of gumnuts. (Narrator: Dingo laughed and licked his whiskers). Rightio. In they go!
Narrator: And into the gooey, chewy, crunchy, munchy stew Koala shook lots and lots of gumnuts, and Dingo sang…
Theme song 2
Narrator: All of a sudden, down from the sky, swooped Galah.
Galah theme song
Galah: Wait up Dingo! (Narrator: screeched Galah) You haven’t put any seeds in the stew and it won’t taste right without sunflower seeds.
Dingo: Well, you should know, Galah. Rightio, in they go!
Narrator: So Galah flew to the pot and shook vigorously until all the seeds fell from his feathers. Around and around the bubbling billy Dingo danced and sang…
Main theme 3
Narrator: Bounding out from behind the animals came kangaroo.
Kangaroo theme song
Kangaroo: Fair shake of a leg, mate (Narrator: bounced Kangaroo). Wombat stew just wouldn’t be wombat stew without a whole heap of grass.
Dingo: Yes, Roo- you may well be right (Narrator: licking his lips). Rightio, in it goes!
Narrator: So Kangaroo hopped over to the billy and emptied paws full of grass into the brew.
Dingo: Ah-ha! Now my stew is missing only one thing.
All Animals: And what’s that?
Dingo: That fat wombat!
All Animals: Wait! Stop! Hang on Dingo! You can’t put that wombat into the stew yet!
Dingo: Why not?
All Animals: You haven’t tasted it!
Dingo: Rightio. I’ll taste it.
Narrator: And that very clever Dingo bent over the billy and took a great, big, slurp of stew.
Dingo: AAAR- GRUFF- OO- EE !!! I’m poisoned! You’ve all tricked me!
Narrator: And he dashed away, deep into the bush, never again to sing…
FINALE: (All animals dance and sing around the campfire. Sing twice through then line up along the front of stage to bow, for an encore).
x2.
Main theme.
