News & Events

“The Trolls and the Tree” at Fall River Library

On July 13, Peter Lehman’s lute music brought the peaceful sense of a fairy woodland to the Elm Street tent outside Fall River Library.  Children gathered on a rug, ready to meet fairies, squirrels . . . and trolls! In this interactive show, Peter, Ann Wynne and I want our audience members to have opinions — but we were surprised at how strongly they spoke to Skimpa the troll. “No, you can’t push down the tree!” “But I need space for my beautiful new chair,” she whined. “NO!” the children said.

 

When the trolls persisted in knocking over the tree, our faithful audience helped them plant a baby tree for distraught fairies. And, after trolls, fairies, puppeteers and our amazing musician took their bows, the children arrested the trolls! We know they will take good care of trees in the future.

Fall River Children’s Librarian David Mello with his own tree puppet.

THANK YOU, FALL RIVER CULTURAL COUNCIL!! This show was supported by a grant from the Fall River Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. And thank you to librarian David Mello for his incredible support of children and those who perform for them.

 

Summer Days

Happy to have been performing in parks, preschool yards and gardens! My first in-person show of 2021 was for a 90th birthday party on a sparkling summer evening in Gloucester. By August, the days were more sweat than sparkle and what a relief to go inside for a Puppet Day. But all hail to the battery-operated sound system that makes performing outside so easy!

Little Stories starring Doggie and Mathilda

Got a minute or 3? I hope you’ll take a look at these short videos featuring Doggie and Mathilda.

Here’s Mathilda’s favorite song:

“My Cousin Kit” and “Watching for Owl” were part of Arlington’s  FOX & OWL TINY FILM & PHOTO FESTIVAL 2020. The shadow puppets were drawn by artist Kari Percival.

Arts Arlington Featured Artist

Every two months Arlington Council on Arts and Culture highlights an artist who’s actively contributing to the Arlington arts scene. In December and January, I’m the featured artist on the Arts Arlington site sponsored by ACAC.

The artist statement was fun to write because it gave room to think about why I perform and what the work is like. Here’s the part that gets to the heart of working on a new show:
My newest show is “Taking Turns,” which features pigs, dogs and bunnies. Sandra and I used needle-felting techniques to make animal puppets. We took big balls of wool and punched them with needles to create little pigs and dogs. I find that their fuzzy surfaces appeal to young children more than the painted faces of our Sculpey puppets.

Although the show opened in August I am still spending many hours each week refining the way I portray the characters. The hardest thing is to slow down, let a puppet “breath” between steps, and wait for the character to form its thoughts before I speak for it. Often, I ask friends to watch and advise. Jacek Zuzanski of Dream Tale Puppets and retired “puppet diva” Suzanne Pemsler have been terrific coaches.

Read the whole statement here:
http://artsarlington.org/grants-and-resources/artlinks-arlington-networking-for-artists/featured-artist/

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.

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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.

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“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