Theatre program mascot a goose for all seasons

Nadine Howett with mascot Maurice Fowler

While Maurice Fowler–aka the goose mascot of the Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP)–has not had many roles in productions, he shows up regularly in publicity shots– embraced by an actress in a Restoration comedy, sporting rabbit ears with the cast of Harvey, wearing a jaunty cap with plume for Shakespearean productions, donning a blond wig for School for Scandal and putting on his shades (although no black fedora) as a member of the gang in The Resistable Rise of Artuo Ui.

It all began nine years ago, Nadine Howatt, who handles publicity, fundraising and marketing for PTTP, recalled when a goose was needed for Caucasian Chalk Circle.

"Robin Payne, who works with properties, created Maurice Fowler," she said. "He was later used as a prop in photographs of the one-man show of A Christmas Carol, featuring regional actor Bill Leach, and from then on was adopted as the PTTP mascot."

The goose is not quite all there, Howatt pointed out, with a molded head and molded feet and nothing in between but a goose-shaped muslin wrap. Whatever his shortcomings and although certainly no competition for UD's other famed bird mascot, YoUDee, he has an impressive portfolio.

"Being a vocal group, the actors in the class of '99 insisted on his inclusion in at least one publicity shot for every production, and everyone had to have a picture taken with Maurice. He has become a theatrical tradition at UD," she said.

When the class graduated, Maurice donned his mortar board with the rest of the graduates.

"I was invited to a wedding of two of our students," Howatt said. "The invitation arrived addressed to me and Maurice Fowler. My mail is delivered to a post office box in a small town in Pennsylvania, and there was speculation about the unknown Maurice's identity."

Although Maurice was unable to attend the wedding, he still gets around, including a Shakespeare festival in Vermont and a vacation at the shore.

Maurice had some brief competition as mascot from an armadillo, whose ribald personality earned him the name of Ennui. But Ennui was not as photogenic and lacked the charisma of Maurice Fowler so has ended up on the prop room floor awaiting a production of The Night of the Armadillo.

PTTP students (from left) Michele Tauber, Troy Scarborough and Randy Howk, holding mascot Maurice Fowler, during the 1999 production of Harvey.

Photos by JACK BUXBAUM and KATHY FLICKINGER

–Sue Moncure