Let this be a lesson to you, children.
If a jury finds you guilty, you could be hauled off to jail, even if you’re Goldilocks.
When a jury of third-graders didn’t buy Goldilocks’ story Thursday morning, a real Grand Island police officer handcuffed her and marched her out of the courtroom.
The character, played by Olivia Madison, had just been sentenced to a month in jail.
Not every children’s fable has a storybook ending.
It was the second time on Thursday that Goldilocks had been found guilty, but the first time she was escorted from the courtroom.
After the day’s first trial, Madison was asked how she was going to handle a month in jail.
She was “pretty scared, but I think I’ll survive. I mean, I hope I learn from my mistakes.”
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The jury found Goldilocks guilty of burglary, stealing and destruction of property. She didn’t actually wind up in jail, but the handcuffs were real.
April in Grand Island means it’s time for the annual Goldilocks trial, which is a fun way to teach third-graders about the law.
This year’s trials were held Monday and Thursday in the courtroom of Hall County District Judge Andrew Butler.
In Thursday’s opening trial, the gallery consisted of students from Starr and West Lawn Elementary.
The students were startled when Papa Bear, on the witness stand, demonstrated the growl he made when he found Goldilocks sleeping in Baby Bear’s bed.
The roar was quite loud, and probably helped create sympathy for Goldilocks.
On the witness stand, she told jurors that when she awoke in Baby Bear’s bed, she was surrounded by three wild animals, whom she thought were going to eat her alive.
Goldilocks portrayed herself as a victim — a lost little girl who was cold, tired and hungry. She was looking for items for a science project in the big, scary woods when she came upon a house.
The four actors, all from Grand Island Senior High, remained in character the whole time. Close observers could even see Noah Javorsky, who plays Baby Bear, stick his tongue out at another character.
It was the third year in a row that Javorsky played Baby Bear. The experience has helped him connect with the character, he said.
The actors are not bound by the written word.
“No, we go off script all the time,” said Maggie Robison, who plays Mama Bear.
On Monday, Robison said she used a Transatlantic accent.
Taking on a suggestion made by a castmate, Robison spoke in a Southern accent Thursday. She said she was channeling a “Louisiana mama.”
When she found Goldilocks in Baby Bear’s bed, Mama Bear said, “Girl, you better get out of that bed right now.”
Sometimes, the attorneys really get into it. After grilling Goldilocks, prosecutor Grady Erickson said, “I’ve got no more use for this witness, your honor.”
As Papa Bear, Meier said he has to take a lead role for his family. His character is angry about what Goldilocks did.
Fortunately, those hard feelings don’t carry over into the classroom back at GISH.
Four trials were conducted Monday and four on Thursday.
In the first trial of the day, the defense counsel was played by Emily Warner, who is Judge Butler’s actual bailiff.
She is also Robison’s mother.
When Robison was on the stand, the mother and daughter shared an inside joke.
In the script, Robison says that in her house, “I’m the one that washes dishes.”
Warner looked at her daughter, smiling, and said, “You wash the dishes? You want to repeat that? YOU wash the dishes?”
Goldilocks maintains that she didn’t break into the house. She knocked on the door, which opened on its own. She planned to replace the soup that she consumed. And she was just so tired, she needed a place to lay down.
Madison believes in her character’s innocence.
“I personally think a little third-grade girl should be allowed some help,” she said afterward.
Madison said it’s good that the kids get to see how a trial works. She remembers coming as a third-grader herself, and thinking it was “so cool” to watch it happen.
The actors like it when lawyers pick up on their improvisation.
When one of the actresses said that Baby Bear can’t even fit in the broken chair, at least one of the lawyers started having the young bear sit in it.
If he doesn’t fit, you must acquit.
While the jury deliberates, the judge asks the gallery about the case.
Students who feel Goldilocks is guilty suggest a wide range of penalties.
Suggestions can range from “Let’s Nickelodeon slime her” to give her 20 years in jail, Javorsky said.
Three of the GISH students handled every trial this week. On Monday, Alex Weaver portrayed Papa Bear.
At Thursday’s first trial, the judge was played by Grand Island attorney Zachary Butz.
Grand Island police officer Hank McFarland played the bailiff.
Also helping to make the trial successful were Judge Butler and the Grand Island legal community.
Erickson and Audrey Rowley were among the organizers.
GISH theater teacher Christine Kier said she was proud of her students. The way they “own their part” makes it fun for the youngsters to watch, she said.
Javorsky likes being in the courthouse with his friends, and entertaining the little kids. “I can’t wait to come back,” he said.
Since he’s only a junior, he’ll probably be donning his little pair of ears again next year.