 David
Wood based a television series on the play, reverting to the
original title, CHISH ‘N’ FIPS. This was well
received on ITV, and a book version also appeared.
After
rescuing a toy duck from the dustbin in their backyard, Mr.
Fisher and Mr. Wheeler, two temporarily nomadic garden gnomes,
decide to venture over the garden wall into the big wide world.
Their object is to find a holiday island, just like the ‘Big
Ones’, but being unused to the hazards of the concrete
jungle of the town, they almost don’t make it. Until
they meet Chips, that is. Chips is a very cool cat, and with
his help the gnomes and Baby Duck survive several urban adventures
before reaching their island in the sun. Although it is not
quite as expected (a traffic island!), they all agree that
it is the best holiday they have ever had. In the end, however,
they return to their backyard, taking the homeless chips with
them, and, happy and content, they agree that there’s
no place like home!
 David
Wood writes: This play offered me opportunities to experiment
with scale. The sets are pretty enormous, and the characters
include a tar-whacking machine and a fierce Securidog in an
Adventure Playground. The introduction of a road safety theme
made the play particularly popular with school audiences,
and the play became one of the most popular Whirligig Theatre
productions, with two major UK tours. The subsequent television
series was a happy bonus!
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“…worked
like a charm … David Wood has surely scored again;
his latest musical play for children is yet another
gently entertaining excursion into a fantasy world where
eminently sensible values prevail.” Daily Telegraph
“…a
good lively story with colourful characters, loads of
participation and a worthwhile message painlessly put
over… by the time the gnomes get home, they have
instilled in their young audience a few lessons on crossing
the road safely, looking after pets, and how exciting
life can be… David Wood writes children’s
plays of real quality.” Bristol Evening Post
“…
a truly original show … the kids loved every minute
of it.” Daily Mail
 “David
Wood knows exactly how to capture a child’s imagination
and his production at the Gardner Centre, Sussex University,
once again employs the technique of tiny imaginary characters
against a ‘giant’ sized world. It is a technique
which appeals instantly to children.” Sussex Express
“… real young people’s entertainment,
setting out to stimulate and hold the youngsters’
interest in exactly the same way as an adult show.”
Oxford Mail
“The
young ones’ cries of delight fill the theatre;
they all seem to get the message, leaving us with a
warm glow.” The Stage
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A musical play.