A family friendly addition to the 2019 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat: The Musical, was a lovely way for young children to experience theater and learn about the power of empathy. Liz Filios's original score is impressive, and the charming story had all of the kids in the audience fully engaged.

Billy bullies the other goats on the playground, knocking over towers and pushing his way though the hopscotch board. In an attempt to improve his behavior, Billy's exasperated parents take him to see the wise old goat. A quick of sprinkle of magic dust and Billy experiences the emotions of all the kids he mistreats.

There is room for improvement. The cast broke the fourth wall to speak with the audience too often, and it was distracting. A section at the end of the play about how to respond to bullying was oddly unrelated to the rest of the play. Still, with a score and story this strong I would expect Billy and his friends to pop up again.

Billy the Baaadly Behaving Bully Goat: The Musical was presented by Play Nice Productions as part of the 2019 Philadelphia Fringe Festival

Written by Staci Schwartz
Directed by Ben Smallen
Original music composed by Liz Filios
Music directed by Michael Borton