All posts by Margaret Moody

Year of the Monkey, Year of Mischief

Monkey Makes Mischief in Heaven 

Saturday, February 6 at 11am & 2pm

Arlington Center for the Arts, 41 Foster Street

Tickets $7, 3 for $20, cash or check at the door

Welcome the Year of the Monkey with a story about the Monkey King himself. In this episode of the epic Journey to the West Monkey is thrilled to have a job in the heavens. But when he is left out of the Jade Emperor’s banquet, he flies off to make mischief in the banquet hall and in Lao-tse’s studio. Margaret Moody performs the story with acrobatic Taiwanese puppets. Stay after the show to dance with a lucky lion and try out traditional hand puppets! Best for ages 4 and up.

If you’d like to reserve tickets, email Margaret at [email protected] or call (781)643-1228.

Visiting Puppeteers in Taiwan

Tsai Su-jen is the troupe leader for the I Wan Jan Traditional Hand Puppet Troupe based in Sanchih, Taiwan.  She and her family also operate the Li Tien-lu Puppetry Museum, which I was very happy to visit in August. Su-jen is the daughter-in-law of Li Tien-lu and puts a lot of warm energy into burnishing his legacy.

ahhong

I also had the chance to see a performance by Chen Hsi-huang, who has been designated a “National Treasure” in Taiwan for puppet performance and puppet-making. Funny and beautiful!

Here is the view on a foggy morning from Yangmingshan, where I stayed with my father-in-law.

ymsroof

Mathilda’s Bath

Only Mrs. Piggle Wiggle’s magic can convince the grimy Mathilda to take a bath. This story is a light-hearted adaptation of a Betty Macdonald story told with needle-felted pig puppets. Best for ages three to seven, 25 minutes

Playing in the mud.

Cow and Mouse’s Picnic

Cow and Mouse, who are good friends, go on a picnic together. Cow can’t stand to share his cookies. The Thank-You fairy transforms him into a fish so that he can try being an animal that doesn’t have to share. This show is performed with original hand puppets, and is best for ages three to six. 25 minutes

About

Come soar with the Monkey King, fly with fairies, dig in the mud with a happy little pig. I love the way puppets carry us into different worlds with the flip of a hand.

On this site you’ll see photos of solo shows I perform in schools, museums, on playgrounds and in homes for groups of people ages 3 and up. I had the good luck to study traditional Taiwanese hand puppetry with the I Wan Jan Troupe. Watch for lively movements of that style in every show from Monkey King stories to farm adventures.

Mostly I perform in New England, making little journeys from my home in Arlington, Massachusetts. If you’re further away, e-mail me. I like big journeys, too.

“Badger Meets the Fairies” in Dorchester 6/20

“Badger Meets the Fairies” tomorrow at First Teacher Summer Fun Day in the playground, 6 Shirley Street in Dorchester, 11:30am.
Thanks to Jacek Zuzanski for the new photo!

blossomtreesmall aboutmesmcrop

 

“Mathilda’s Bath” and “Cow and Mouse’s Picnic” 3/14

Join Margaret Moody for two funny puppet shows this Saturday at 2pm at Arlington Center for the Arts. In “Mathilda’s Bath,” adapted from a Mrs. Piggle Wiggle story, Mathilda loves mud baths — but not the soapy kind. And in “Cow and Mouse’s Picnic” two friends share everything except dessert. Come for the show, stay for coffee and puppet-play.
Tickets are $7; 3 for $20. Please pay by cash or check at the door. Best for ages 3 and up.

This Saturday we team up with Arlington Center for the Arts to offer a “Puppets Together” workshop for families, after the show. Make puppets and perform with your family! More about the class: acarts.org/classes.php

Farm and Town Fables

 

“Cow and Mouse’s Picnic” and “Mathilda’s Bath”
by Margaret Moody

Saturday, March 14 at 2pm
Arlington Center for the Arts
41 Foster Street
Tickets $7; 3 for $20
(tickets may be reserved via [email protected] or call Margaret at (781) 643-1228)

Spring is almost here. Cow and Mouse are frolicking at a picnic — but do they have to share their cookies? In in the second story, Mathilda wallows in the mud. Can Mom coax her into the tub? Join Margaret Moody for two funny fables for ages 3 and up. We hope you’ll stay around for puppet-play and coffee after the show.

On March 14, the Saturdays with Puppets series teams up with Arlington Center for the Arts to offer a puppet workshop after the show from 3 to 4:30. Make puppets with fabric and paper; then practice your show with your family. More info:acarts.org/classes.php

 

Mischief with the Monkey King

Monkey Makes Mischief in Heaven
by Margaret Moody of Galapagos Puppets
 
Saturday 2/14 at 2pm
Arlington Center for the Arts
Tickets $7; 3 for $20, cash or check
(can be reserved by emailing [email protected]
or calling Margaret at (781) 643-1228)
Celebrate the Year of the Sheep with a funny Monkey King puppet show performed with traditional Taiwanese puppets and choreography. Please stay after to decorate and dance with a New Year lion. And drink a little oolong tea!