News & Events

News & Events

trolls on puppet TV


I worked on “The Trolls and the Tree” in the hottest part of this summer. The show opened August 13th at the West End Branch Library in Boston. For three weeks before that, I kept the stage up in my living room because my upstairs studio was too hot. I got more work done, too, because the stage was always right there, begging for attention.

In “The Trolls and the Tree”, trolls Skimpa and Blompa garden-sit for woodland fairies for a week. They move their TV in and watch a shopping show. Will Adams-Keane, a college student of many talents, filmed a nice little shopping episode, edited it, and added music. See the result on this page. Audiences and the trolls see the video through a digital photo frame, mounted on the stage. For the first show, Will and I pieced together bird and car sound effects and terrific fairy music from Alison Plante. Then, in September, Alison and I had time to work on a more complete sound track. Now the show has original, evocative music from Alison, a video segment, and a toaster that makes troll toast.
Puppetry events in Boston this fall include the “Incubator” at the Puppet Showplace in Brookline. Every other Tuesday puppeteers meet to advise and inspire each other. Schedule: puppetshowplace.org.
Also, renowned puppet artist Basil Twist will present “Petruschka” Nov. 11 to 21 through Arts Emerson and Celebrity Series. see artsemerson.org
News & Events

going green, slowly

From Margaret:
After a busy fall and winter, I have studio time again. It seems like every puppet needs fixing! This cat is getting improved eyes and whiskers.

And slowly, I am working on a show called “The Trolls and the Tree.” In it, Swedish trolls Blompa and Skimpa agree to take care of the fairies’ garden while the fairies are away. But they don’t take care of it. They bring in their satellite dish, and pull up a tree that they think takes up too much space. Without the tree, there are no birds, and it’s really hot in the garden. Can the trolls bring the tree back? What will the fairies do? Can trolls go green?
April 24th was the National Day of Puppetry. With 12 other members of the Boston Area Guild of Puppetry, I went on a puppet parade through downtown Boston. We took our puppets on the T from Brookline to the Children’s Museum, and then back on the T to the Common and the Public Garden. Our puppets met a lot of people! If you love puppets, please check out the Guild: www.bagop.org
Madeleine, who represents Galapagos Puppets in New Jersey, has just performed “Esther’s Story”, made from diaries her aunt kept in Germany during the Holocaust. And now she is in the middle of finals in graduate school.
News & Events

Spring Show at Arlington Center for the Arts


Welcome spring with a trip to the fairies’ blooming garden. Margaret will perform “Badger Meets the Fairies” on March 21st at 2 pm, Arlington Center for the Arts, 41 Foster Street, Arlington MA. Tickets are $5. Please stay for puppet-play and coffee after the show.

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The Trolls and the Tree

The trolls want to take good care of the fairies’ garden, but they also want a LOT of stuff. When there’s not enough space for their breakfast nook, what should they keep — their deluxe toaster or the fairies’ cherished tree?

Nature-based educator Ann Wynne, stringed instrument virtuoso Peter Lehman and I have enjoyed building this interactive show together, rehearsal by rehearsal. Children are invited to talk to the trolls, fairies and animals that live in the garden, and they’ve given the trolls good advice about what’s most important in a garden.

Because this show is performed by two puppeteers and a musician, our fee is $750 instead of the usual $250 for solo shows. Best for ages 4 through 10.

“The Trolls and the Tree” opened in June 2022 and has been performed in libraries, preschools and outdoor centers in Arlington, Fall River and Lexington.

THANKS TO OUR FUNDERS AND SPONSORS! The Trolls and the Tree has been produced with the generous support of the Arlington Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Our show in Fall River has been generously supported by a grant from the Fall River Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

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News & Events

Come in From the Cold!

Please join Margaret Moody for puppet shows in Arlington. The shows last around 40 minutes and we hope you’ll stay for coffee and puppet-play afterwards.

“Cow and Mouse’s Picnic” and “Mathilda’s Bath,” two lighthearted shows for children 4 to 7, and their families. Saturday, January 16th, 2 p.m. at Arlington Center for the Arts, 41 Foster Street, Arlington, 02474.
Tickets are $5.

Two more dates in the series:
Sunday, February 7th, 2 p.m. “Trolls in the Kitchen”
Sloppy, raucous trolls move into Trinka’s kitchen. Best for ages 4 to 10.

Sunday, March 21st, 2 p.m. “Badger Meets the Fairies”
Gentle Mr. Badger flies away to help the fairies. Best for ages 4 to adult.

Other public shows coming up:
February 3 and 4, “Badger Meets the Fairies”, 10:30 a.m.
Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline, MA

February 10, 5 p.m., “Monkey Wreaks Havoc in Heaven”, 5 p.m.
Robbins Library, Arlington MA