Tradition of marionettes continues with national tour

By Contributor

The two classic tales of the Bremen Town Musicians and Rumpelstiltskin, interpreted through the imaginative and skilled puppetry of Nova Scotia’s Maritime Marionettes, will be profiled in an upcoming show in Grand Forks.

Heather Bishop Taylor and Darryll Taylor began working together in the mid-1980s, with the Kids Express Puppet Troupe based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Then, after a season of apprenticeship touring with David Syrotiak’s National Marionette Theatre (Vermont), the Taylors began their company, Maritime Marionettes, in Truro, Nova Scotia.

Maritime Marionettes was founded with the goal of producing and touring quality marionette theatre. They have produced and performed eight new shows (six of these were translated and performed in French), developing a magical style of performing together. Their company has traveled nationally and internationally, acquiring an international reputation for excellence in marionette artistry.

The company creates its productions from concept to finished product. This includes making and fashioning the marionette figures that feature in the shows, building the sets, and creating all the props and costuming of the productions. On this occasion, Maritime Marionettes presents two complete shows: The Bremen Town Musicians and Rumpelstiltskin for the Boundary District Arts Council’s Performance 2010-2011 concert series winding up on Thursday, Mar. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Grand Forks Senior Secondary Auditorium.

The Bremen Town Musicians is the favourite folktale of an aging donkey who follows his dream to become a musician. On the road to Bremen town, he befriends a dog, a cat and a rooster, who, like him, are no longer needed as farm animals. Together they form a comical quartet with a bond that will last the rest of their lives.

The visuals of the show are performed with eloquent shadow puppets, exquisitely-made marionettes and the Taylors’ masterful manipulation. The inspiring soundtrack combines bedtime-story-style narration, whimsical music and side-splitting animal sounds.

From the opening scene to the hilarious and touching ending, this timeless tale of friendship and enthusiasm for life will inspire and entertain the child in us all.

Rumpelstiltskin – Maritime Marionettes breathes life into this ageless folktale as magically as Rumpelstiltskin spins straw into gold. Rumpelstiltskin is the tale of a poor miller’s daughter who becomes trapped in her father’s lie that she can spin straw into gold.

The performance is filled with colour, magic and excitement; from the appearance of Rumpelstiltskin to his incredible demise. With brilliant lighting and surging classical music in the background, the show is a wonderful experience for everyone to enjoy.

Performance 2010-2011 concert tickets are available in advance at Thistle Pot Gifts and at Gallery 2: Adult $18; Senior $16; Youth $5; Family $45, or at the door: Adult $20; Senior $18; Youth $7; Family $50.

Series passes for next season will be available for purchase at this concert. Series passes are offered at a substantial discount from single-concert ticket prices.

For more information about the Performance 2010-2011 concert series, please call Erna Gobbett at 442-8569.

http://www.maritime-marionettes.com/