The Ghost of Faffner Hall
The Ghost of Faffner Hall is a musical children's television series from Jim Henson Productions and the British ITV company Tyne Tees Television which aired from August 16, 1989 to November 11, 1989 in the UK, and slightly later in the US. The puppets for this show were created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, and the series was recorded at the Tyne Tees Studios in Newcastle upon Tyne and directed by Tony Kysh, then senior director within that company's children's department.
Plot
Faffner Hall is a music conservatory that was founded by Fughetta Faffner. When Fughetta Faffner passes away, her ghost lurks in Faffner Hall and it is currently run by her great-great-grandnephew Farkus Faffner who hates music. Now, Fughetta must thwart Farkus' plans with the help of Mimi, Riff, and the Wild Impresario. During this time, they meet up with the famous musicians that visit Faffner Hall.Characters
Main characters
Fughetta Faffner - The main protagonist of the series. She is the founder of Faffner Hall. When she dies, her ghost haunts the halls and ends up having to prevent her great-great-grandnephew Farkus from destroying the halls. Whenever Fughetta hears beautiful music, she ends up solidifying. Fughetta also has the ability to freeze time so that she can fix things in the present.Mimi - A girl with a Southern accent who is one of the inhabitants of Faffner Hall.Riff - A boy who is one of the inhabitants of Faffner Hall. He serves as a second banana to Mimi.The Wild Impresario - He is one of the inhabitants of Faffner Hall and the resident piano player.Farkus Faffner - The main antagonist of the series who is the current proprietor of Faffner Hall. He is the great-great-grandnephew of Fughetta Faffner who hates music and only cares about money. Farkus has since been making various plans to drive Faffner Hall's inhabitants from Faffner Hall which go horribly awry.Faffner Hall Composer Busts - They are the busts of Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and George Frideric Handel. When Fughetta Faffner freezes time, she ends up having to consult with them in order to handle a specific situation.Guest characters
Great Uncle Fishknife - Fughetta Faffner's uncle who appeared in "Music Brings Us Together" to help Mimi, Riff, and Wild Impresario get Fughetta Faffner intangible after Farkus found a way to trap her in solid form.Cast
Muppet performers
- Richard Coombs as Ray, Piganini, Zookeeper, Mr. Director, Madame Mumu
- Louise Gold as Fughetta Faffner, Mean Mama
- Richard Hunt as The Wild Impresario
- Phil Knowles
- Angie Passmore as Zola, Tutie
- Karen Prell as Mimi
- David Rudman as Dragon Son
- Mike Quinn as Riff
- Bob Smeaton
- Mak Wilson as Farkas Faffner
Special musical guests
- Thomas Allen as himself
- Ry Cooder as Janitor
- Derek William Dick as Fish the Wizard
- Thomas Dolby as himself
- Julia Fordham as herself
- Dizzy Gillespie as himself
- H.K. Gruber as himself
- Håkan Hardenberger as himself
- Gary Karr as himself
- Mark Knopfler as himself
- Nigel Kennedy as himself
- Los Lobos as Themselves
- Paddy Moloney as himself
- George Martin as himself
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo as Themselves
- Bobby McFerrin as himself
- Joni Mitchell as herself
- Marion Montgomery as herself
- Patrick Moraz as himself
- Youssou N'Dour as himself
- Gil Evans Orchestra as Themselves
- Michala Petri as herself
- Electric Phoenix as Themselves
- Courtney Pine as Saxophone Salesman
- Como String Quartet as Peter Bucknell, Hung Le, Peter O'Reilly, Glen Nichols and George Vi
- James Taylor as himself
- Yomo Toro as himself
- Steve Turre as himself
- Robin Williamson as himself
- David Sawyer as himself