Bogus Rain Forest Preserve Workers
Sally and Julia come by Dudley’s cage, posing as rain forest preserve workers. They offer Mezmra something rare and valuable in the box—a baby unicorn—in exchange for Dudley. But Mezmra needs to see it from inside the cage because the unicorn might escape. Mezmra agrees. What’s really in the box? You’ll have to watch the […]
The Value of Friends
The Robins learn of Dudley’s plight, not knowing before of his deal with Mezmra. They want to contact Sally, but where could she be? Up in a balloon, of course. With Julia. Note the size of Sally’s phone. 1997 technology. This might have been an opportunity for another celebrity guest star. Jackie Burroughs had appeared […]
Dudley’s Nightmare
Our hero huffs and puffs along for a second day. That night, he’s still not close enough to the moon to touch it. The poor fellow. Listening to the desperation, the anguish in his voice, one can’t help but feel pity for him. Either that, or laugh at his stupidity for trying to reach it […]
Robins to the Rescue
The next day, Dudley is still chasing the moon. He runs into Mr. and Mrs. Robin, Charles and Tiffany, who have been looking for him. They’ve been worried. He’s far away from home and far away from friends. Mrs. Robin asks him to come home and she’ll make a nice strong cup of dragonberry tea. […]
Reach for the Moon
So Dudley runs all day to get to the other side of the moon. Before he leaves Canada, he runs into Julia and tells her he’s heading for the moon to find his dragon friends. Julia, who suspects Dudley’s in over his head, wants to come. Dudley says no, and repeats Mezmra’s advice: Because dragons […]
Deal with the Devil
“As luck would have it, Dudley came across a mysterious fortune teller.” The Great Mezmra is astonished to see this big green rarity of nature. And he’s delighted. He vigorously shakes Dudley’s right hand (which is interesting, since the body puppet’s right hand is usually dysfunctional). Dudley asks Mezmra if he’s seen another dragon. “I’d […]
The Great Mercer
Peter Williamson and Ira Levy of Breakthrough Films and Television wanted comedian Rick Mercer to host their new TV series, It Seems Like Yesterday. At the time, Mercer had gained a reputation from his stage plays and a CBC TV series, This Hour Has 22 Minutes (1993-2001). Williamson said, “Although Rick’s in his 20s, he […]
Lo, There Shall be … a Villain!
Dudley was the last dragon. Dudley’s quest was to find another dragon. In the world of Dudley the Dragon, this would be an easy accomplishment. The forest was magical. It had Chloe, a fairy godmother. It had at least two wishing wells. Dudley could wish on a shooting star or pick a four-leaf clover. A […]
Dreaming of Dragons
Usually song-and-dance routines, when placed in a drama or comedy, are intrusive. They interrupt the narrative. They suck you right out of the story. The “fourth wall” is broken and viewers become aware that, “Oh, it’s just a TV show.” It’s for good reason they are called “showstoppers.” In Dudley the Dragon, the stories were […]
The Departure
As Dudley begins his quest, Sally calls out to him. He stops, and the two friends share a poignant moment. “It’s good to see you again,” Sally says. Actress Asia Vieira says the words with great sincerity, and warmth. She knows that after five years, this is the last time she’ll be interacting with this […]
