Ernie Wilbur and Oscar

Ernie (Rt) Wilbur (center) and Oscar (with gun) are three of the original cast members of Welcome Marionettes. In this interview they will introduce you to some of the background of the shows.

Hi Guys, how are you today?
E.: Oh, Pretty good.
W.: Yah, Hangin' in there.
O.: Uh Huh

The three of you seem to be regular sportsman kind of guys. So tell us, how did you all get involved in theater?
E.: Well, you see, we were coming home from a hunting trip one day and we saw a poster inviting folks to auditions for Welcome Marionette Theater. They were looking for hunters to cast in "Peter and the Wolf".
W.: We figured us bein' hunters already...
O.: Uh huh. And huntin' hadn't been so good.
W.: We thought it might be sorta like joinin' a circus.
E.: We did?
O.: Uh huh.

It seems like such a departure from your usual lives. Did you find it a scary thing to do?
E.: Oh, no. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll are really nice people and they really put us at ease.
W.: And as it turned out there weren't a lot of other guys tryin' out for the parts.
O.: Yup, nobody else really.
E.: Well, that's beside the point! they wouldn't have hired us if they didn't think we could handle it.
W.: 'spoes not.
O.: Huh.

So, just like that, you were all hired to play three hunters in "Peter and the Wolf"?
E.: Yes, but as it turned out, with the staging and all, they could only use one of us for that show. It seems that all three of us on stage with Peter and Grandpa and the wolf...
W.: Not to mention the bird, cat and duck...
O.: Too much. Just too much.
E.: So, they decided one hunter would have to do.
W.: And Oscar is, well really, the only actual hunter among us.
O.: Uh huh. They always miss 'em.
W.: Oscar has the best gun.
E.: I don't even really like guns.
O.: Yup, it shows.

To get back to the Shows... You two, Ernie and Wilbur, were out of work then. How did you deal with that?
E.: Well, we did consider joining the circus.
W.: Yah, but we couldn't find one right away.
O.: Uh huh
E.: And then, Mr. and Mrs. Carroll said they could find something for us with the show.
W.: They needed all kinds of help when they thought about it.
O.: Still do.
E.: Anyway, they said I could be the stage manager. And if I needed a helper Wilbur could be my stagehand!
W.: It's worked out pretty well all and all.

I seem to remember seeing the two of you on stage in some of the shows. How did that come about?
E.: Mr. Carroll, you see, needs a little break sometimes when he's singing a lot.
W.: So, Ernie and I tell some jokes and stuff.
E.: It gives Mr. Carroll a chance to catch his breath.
W.: And now Ernie has a real part in an upcoming show!

Really?! What show is that?
E.: It's with our new cast members Popeye and Olive Oil. They're really fun to work with. And it's a very exciting show.
W.: Ernie gets to play Wimpy. He does a good job.
E.: It's real acting 'cause I don't even like hamburgers.
O.: Nope, but I do.
W.: Maybe Ernie could get some of the hamburgers for you, Oscar.
O.: Yup. Maybe. Uh huh.

It's been really great talking with you guys. You'll have to come back and tell us about some of the other shows. OK?
O.: Yup. See Ya.
W.: Sure thing! Bye everybody!
E.: I'll see what I can schedule. It's pretty tough you know managing AND acting and all.

W.: Oh, Ernie, you can Handle it.
E.: I don't know...
W.: Ah, Gees....
O.: Yup, Uh huh...