Five Little Peppers and How They Grew

Full-Lengths

By: Doug Goheen
Cast: 8 M, 5 F (With doubling: 7 M, 4 F)
Performance Time: Approximately 75-90 minutes, 79 pgs

CLASSIC. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this wholesome, heartfelt classic. Since the death of her husband three years ago, Mamsie Pepper struggles to provide for her five children by mending coats. Though the Pepper family is poor, they make the most of life in their beloved little brown house and weather the hard times with determination, good will, hard work, and a sense of humor. Unable to attend school, the Pepper children must work odd jobs to help support the family, but the two eldest children still manage to learn how to read and write. And even though food is scarce, the children find a way to make Mamsie a birthday cake. However, the family’s luck changes when Polly Pepper is stricken with the measles and the youngest child, Phronsie, is kidnapped by an organ grinder. But just when things look the bleakest, the Peppers are befriended by the King family, who offer the Peppers a way out of poverty and hope for a brighter future.

Freeviews: To read play excerpts click here.

About the Story: To read more about the story click here.

Doug Goheen has published several plays for children and adults and has taught English and theatre for more than 35 years. Mr. Goheen and his wife, Diane, live in Topeka, KS. They have two sons, Jacob and Nathan.