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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
There are few things more delightful in this world than puppets. A form of entertainment that has been around for hundreds of years, it continues to engage and enliven audiences to this day. One particular demographic in particular enjoys puppet shows these days, and that would be children. This past Friday, Tanglewood Marionettes performed twice at the Ralph Wheelock School. The troupe was founded in 1993 and is a nationally touring marionette theater. They have received two UNIMA Awards (International Union of Marionettes) for two separate productions. They perform at fairs, festivals, libraries, theaters, museums, as well as schools.
The troupe has been coming to perform in Medfield for years, invited back again and again due to their popularity with the students.
The recent Wheelock performance began with a demonstration of the different types of puppets. This presentation was extraordinarily interactive, as well as humorous, bringing smiles and laughs to the faces of the adults in attendance as well as the children. The main performance, however, consisted of a telling of “Hansel and Gretel” using marionettes.
Their production of “Hansel and Gretel” is based on the classic fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. The performance features melodies by the Humperdinck Opera. The set is in the style of a giant storybook, and as the pages are turned, the set is re-imagined and the story continues. Unlike most puppet troupes, the performers are not hidden, allowing the audience to see what goes into controlling each puppet – a truly entrancing wrinkle. Each marionette is handcrafted by Tanglewood Marionettes.
It is heartening, particularly as America reels in the wake of Ringling Bros. Circus recently announcing its final show, that some old-fashioned forms of entertainment still haven’t lost their luster.
