Tortoise and the Hare +4

Although it’s titled Tortoise and the Hare, you’re actually getting a 5 for 1 deal. The performance features five Aesop fables in one show. The short stories are The Lion and the Mouse, The Country Mouse and City Mouse, The Fox and the Crane, The Ant and the Grasshopper, and lastly The Tortoise and the Hare.

Both of my daughters, ages 3 and 7, were thoroughly entertained. The Tortoise and the Hare is performed in the basement stage, so it’s more intimate. The stories were short with a life lesson to learn from each vignette. From beginning to end, the show is interactive and unpredictable. Every single post I’ve ever done, I always comment on the set and costume design and that won’t change for this post as well. The costumes and set are all made at the Center for Puppetry Arts. The lion costume from The Lion and the Mouse was my personal favorite. The set is bright and colorful, and the puppeteers voices are animated so the children’s attention is focused.

Kids as young as 2 really got into the show, and were so excited. Parents were just as excited participating, and watched the kids sing with such enthusiasm.

At the end of every performance, the puppeteers come out and explain how they operate the puppets, but also educate the audience on what kind of puppets they used to make the characters come to life.

Afterwards, we went to the 3^rd floor to Create-A-Puppet workshop. Harley (3), really gets into this part of our visit. She likes to be the first one finished so that she can show her puppet off! Haven (7) on the other hand, is busy accessorizing her puppet, adding earrings, and hair bows. Haven is old enough, that she can read and follow the directions. Harley…not so much…..but we’ll get there soon enough!

There is way too much talent in that purple and grey building that sits on the corner of Spring and 17^th street. I’ve been coming to the center for 4 years and I recognize most of the puppeteers and they are truly actors with no type cast cloud over the characters they play.