I am so excited that The Dragon King by Tanglewood Marionettes of Ware, MA has returned to the Center for Puppetry Arts. This is my family's very favorite show and I am thrilled to take Charlie to see it for the first time. The truth is, I LOVE this show myself! I love the beautiful marionettes and am amazed at the skill of the puppeteers. The lighting, scenery, music, costumes and smart dialogue are as impressive for adults as the storyline and characters are entertaining for children.
In the tale of The Dragon King, a terrible drought has taken over the land. The people cannot understand why the Dragon King, who rules the waters, has not brought the precious rains for such a long time. A wise Grandmother journeys to the bottom of the sea in search of the Dragon King to ask why he has forsaken the land above.
From the exquisite scenery of the Chinese countryside to the colorful sea creatures that we met in the underwater kingdom of the Dragon King, it was a feast for the eyes. I loved the goldfish that turned into regally clothed ladies of the court, and the phosphorescent jellyfish that glowed eerily as they swam in the ocean depths were mesmerizing. The amazing skill of the puppeteers made you feel as though you were actually watching a hare bounding across a meadow and an eel (or a grandmother!) swimming through the water.
The story moved seamlessly from one location to another because of the clever set design, while the traditional Chinese background music filled us with a calm serenity. Even though the theater was filled with children of all ages, you could have heard a pin drop. That is until the return of the Dragon King! Heralded with thunder and rain, he entered the theater with a huge surprise that brought squeals of delight from everyone!!
Unlike many of the previous performances, this was not a comedy, and there were no upbeat sing-alongs. It had some funny moments, like a fisherman who got tricked into throwing back all of his catch, a crab that wanted to be a mind reader and the "Imperial Guard" turtle who could not solve the Dragon King's problem because he could not tell anyone that the Dragon King even had a problem! Overall, this was a very charming folktale that reminded us that everyone, from a very wise grandmother to a shy and lonely squid, has value and worth and that each person's talent can shine when used to help others.
I always say each performance was my favorite. But my whole family agreed that The Dragon King REALLY was everyone's favorite because of its beauty and timeless message. We think that your family will love it also!
SHOWTIMES: January 10 through 29
•Tues-Fri: 10am & 11:30am
•Sat: 11am, 1pm & 3pm
•Sun: 1pm & 3pm
TICKETS: This show is recommended for ages 4 and up
Tickets are $22.00 and include admission to the show, the Worlds of Puppetry Museum (with the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets and artifacts in the world as well as a Global Gallery), and entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make and decorate their own Chinese Dragon Marionette and perform with it on our classroom stage.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.
