PUTNEY — Sandglass Theater presents the return of “Puppets in Paradise,” a two-day extravaganza of performance, food, and community, on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7 and 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Paradise,” set in the enchanted gardens of landscape architects Gordon and Mary Hayward, invites visitors to stroll amid the colors, forms, and scents of lush herbs, flowers, and other lovely flora. Puppets, theater artists, and musicians are there to delight you on your journey.
The “Puppets” are 10 spectacular and entertaining short performances presented throughout the day among the flora. Refreshments add to the delight of a beautiful day.
According to Sandglass Theater's event announcement, Shoshana Bass is returning to lead the merriment after several years in Boulder, Colo., working with the Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Theatre.
Bass and her partner, Casey Beauchamp - “a B-Boy, performing artist, and acrobat from Colorado” - will amaze and inspire the audience with their site-specific piece created especially for “the Meadow” at Hayward Gardens.
As two monkeys who emerge from the trees, Bass and Beauchamp create a playful, dynamic interaction of dance, acrobatics, and environment. Using each other to propel, rise, and roll, these two are caught in a delightful game of monkey-play and precarious balancing, all the while approaching the audience.
This year welcomes the return of many past favorites and the addition of several new pieces, as well as some exciting new faces and - this is puppetry - hands.
Eric Bass and Ines Zeller Bass, Sandglass Theater's artistic directors, will unveil their newest piece, a crankie - think hand-made movie, but with felt and cloth - based on the French Canadian folk tune Au Bois, Marguerite.
The gardens, a thoughtful combination of informal New England landscaping and the more traditional English garden, provide the backdrop.
Gourmet lunches, elaborate salads, desserts, beverages and ice cream will be available for purchase. All proceeds from tickets, food, and concessions benefit Sandglass Theater's projects and programs.
Sandglass Theater is a nonprofit theater company specializing in the art of puppet theater and performance work.