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Live from down under
Wiggles bring giggles to preschool set By Kathryn Hopper Special to the Star-Telegram Jul. 29, 2003 The Wiggles are, from left, Jeff Fatt, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Anthony Field. They're the hottest ticket on the preschool playground, selling out concerts across the country including three shows this weekend at Grand Prairie's NextStage. Meet the Wiggles, four hyper guys in color-coordinated turtlenecks from Australia who aren't afraid to get goofy and dance around with a dog, alligator, octopus and wacky pirate. "They're more tolerable than the Teletubbies, and the kids just adore them," said Ginny Wareing, a mother of two from College Station who worked Internet lines to score six tickets to one of the group's sold-out Houston shows. "They sing these silly, catchy songs that we end up singing all the time." Maybe your family has escaped Wigglemania (it helps to have kids 5 or younger and access to the Disney Channel, which airs their show four times each weekday and twice on weekend days). If so, it's time to get hip to the hottest Aussie import since Russell Crowe donned gladiator gear. Already the biggest children's entertainment act in the history of Australia, the Wiggles are primed to take on the Rugrats, the Muppets and Blues Clues for their share of the U.S. market. The Wiggles have sold more than 6 million videos and 3 million CDs and cassettes in the states and recently released the new titles Wiggle Bay and Magical Adventure! A Wiggly Movie. Last year, The Wiggles' sold-out U.S. tour had parents camping out for tickets or coughing up $300 for a coveted seat posted on eBay. To help handle such demand, the group frequently adds shows (they added a second Sunday performance at NextStage, for instance), but even then, tickets get snapped up faster than shrimp on the barbie. They have resisted moving to larger venues because they want to stay as close as possible to their fans. Just how did four Australian mates become the latest kiddie sensation? The group was formed 12 years ago when three guys -- Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Greg Page -- started writing songs for a project in an early-childhood-education class they took at Macquaire University in Sydney. They had so much fun making a videotape of silly songs that they decided to combine their love of music and early-childhood education to become children's entertainers. They recruited friend Jeff Fatt, who played with Field in a popular '80s Australian rock band called the Cockroaches. The Wiggles worked the preschool circuit, then moved up to churches, schools and finally concert halls. By the late '90s, they were headed to the United States, signing with Hit Entertainment, the Allen-based children's entertainment company whose roster includes Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder and Barney. "They so obviously really like children and really understand children that it's amazing," said Debbie Ries, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Hit Entertainment. "Because so much of the show is music and easy to understand, it becomes the first show a child really likes." Ries said Hit helped the Wiggles improve the production quality of their videos, promoted the group in trailers of Barney videos and even gave them a slot performing at intermission during the big, purple dinosaur's 1999 tour. A big break came last summer, when Disney signed up the Wiggles for their Playhouse Disney lineup. The Wiggles soon landed on The Today show and made People's Most Fascinating list. To help kids and parents remember who's who, each Wiggle wears a signature colored shirt (or skivvy in Aussie-speak). Page wears yellow, Cook red, Field blue and Fatt purple. To jazz up the act, through the years they added sideline characters including Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and Captain Featherswood, a bumbling but well-meaning pirate who wields a sword of feathers. Ever road warriors, the Wiggles perform more than 500 shows a year while continuing to film new television shows and videos. Whereas other shows focus on teaching the ABCs, early math and social skills, the Wiggles use their simple songs and skits to teach the importance of more mundane skills such as exercising and eating your vegetables. "My daughter didn't really understand why she had to brush her teeth until she saw the Wiggles do it," said Denise Landry, a senior public relations manager at Hit Entertainment. The Wiggles work to keep kids part of the action, urging them to sing along to their '60s-inspired pop ditties and do dance movements that borrow from the Swim and the Mashed Potato. Lyrics are simple and repetitive. One popular song, Teddy Bear Hug, appeals to kids who still sleep with their fuzzy friends, with lyrics such as: Teddy bear hug, when you really need it, Teddy bear hug, really soft and furry, Teddy bear hug, Teddy's always ready With a bear hug just for you. For parents, the group's silly antics and groovy tunes may be reminiscent of their own childhood faves such as the Monkees, the Banana Splits and Captain Kangaroo. In zany skits with sidekicks Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus and Wags the Dog, the Wiggles tackle challenges such as finding the keys to Davy Jones' locker. The kooky Captain joins in, adding slapstick gags such as tickling folks with his feather sword. In a nod to their Australian roots, the shows are peppered with Down Under lingo such as "Strike me lucky," which means good times; "Bob's yer uncle," meaning you're all right, see you later and "dinky-di," which means true. "It's got that Brit feel to it," said Shelly Woodcox-Unruh, a Grapevine mom whose two daughters, Grace and Claire, have embraced the Wiggles. "My girls won't miss it." Whatever their appeal, the Wiggles wave is sure to keep swelling as long as they can keep their pint-sized fans giggling and singing along. "I can't wait to see how my children react to seeing them live," said Wareing. "They're so excited. It will be a good memory, and then maybe eventually they'll outgrow it." Getting Wiggly with it: a Wiggles Who's Who • Greg Page -- Lead vocalist, wears the yellow skivvy (shirt). Performs occasional magic trick. • Murray Cook -- Sings and plays guitar, wears the red skivvy. • Anthony Field -- Sings, plays guitar and drums, wears the blue skivvy. Loves to eat. • Jeff Fatt -- Plays keyboards and sings, wears purple skivvy. Occasionally falls asleep and gets big surprise when kids yell, "Wake up, Jeff!." • Dorothy the Dinosaur -- Big and green with yellow spots. She wears a white, floppy hat and loves to eat roses. • Henry the Octopus -- Purple sea creature who gets his own story vignettes on the show. He wears a tartan and black, polished shoes on all eight legs. Has his own band, the Underwater Big Band. • Captain Feathersword -- Friendly pirate who tickles people with his sword made of feathers. His home is the Good Ship Feathersword. • Wags the Dog -- Large, brown dog who frequently saves the day. Down Under dictionary G'day mates, it's time to give Aussie-speak a go. If your nipper's game, try sussing out these phrases. Akubra: Australian version of a Stetson hat, traditionally made from felt or leather. Taken from the Aboriginal word for head covering. Bob's yer uncle: You're all right. See ya later. Bottler: Someone who performs well. "You're a great bottler." Bub: Baby. Cooee: To be "within cooee" is to be within earshot. Dinky-di: True. Fair dinkum: Proper, right, honest and true. "Fair Dinkum, the Wiggles are great." Gone bush: Out in the country. Nappy: Diaper. Off his head: Crazy, excited. Outback: Remote, barren country. Queue up: Line up. Strike me lucky: Good times. Sussing it out: Figuring it out. Walkabout: Aboriginal custom to "go walkabout," meaning taking a long trip to think, meditate or get spiritual. SOURCE: Hit Entertainment |
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