Petrushka – Puppetry with a Twist

Petrushka – Puppetry with a Twist

As I am sure many of my readers will surely understand I took my seat at the theater last week with a measure of skepticism, born of spending much of my misspent youth watching too much Big Bird and Kermit while simultaneously and dutifully evading the chores of the household.
 

The Shakespeare Theater in Washington DC is hosting world-renowned puppeteer Basil Twist and the production, Petrushka for a few more days at the Lansburgh Theater.  It is not to be missed.
The lovely – and dangerous -- ballerina, entices the clown (our hero) Petrushka but is immediately repulsed by what she sees as his rather “idiotic” attempt at showing his love, and instead falls for a very Moorish-looking Moor (in fact, he could hardly have been more Moorish).  In fact, his eyes even glow as his wields his scimitar threatening our beloved Petrushka whose attempts to woo the ballerina are both pathetic and endearing. 
The show moves quickly to the music of Stravinsky’s original score and at times the colors, and infusion of the thematic “hands” that are ever exerting their constant control over the characters and their movements borders on the psychedelic.
This excellent production has taken an art-form typically reserved for children and expanded it for the enjoyment of all.
So grab the kids and head for the theater – it runs through this weekend, and is an excellent outing for the entire family; and, in my view, is an excellent way to introduce your little nippers to the theater and all that it has to offer.  Brace yourself if you must, they serve drinks in the lobby (for both children and adults)!