School Programs:
Jonathan's Faery Tale Theater
Imagine a time when a kind of piped piper appeared in town. Carting along a stage with few props and masks, he offers a treasure trove of captivating stories. The children enchanted into adventures, listen and learn about the world beyond This is what happens today when Jonathan’s Faery Tale Theater visits.
It’s one step beyond storytelling. Using simple masks, caps and colorful capes, (made by a traditionally trained puppet-maker Josephine Monter take parts in the tales. Six to eight kids join Jonathan on stage for each tale, to act out diverse faery tales. There’s cat mask to help tell The Puss in Boots. It may take wings to perform the Magical Wonderful Bul-Bul Bird. Sometimes children don a dragon head, become troll, or even a two-headed ogre. Jonathan tells, directs and guides the children through each story. Occasionally just children without props transform into the sun, trees or thunder. There are always spontaneous surprises and magic moments with the children performing. Everyone in the audience participates giving chants, songs and gestures.
Watercolor backdrops, by artist Simon Draper may be added to create a more theatrical effect.
The performance takes about an hour, ideal for grade school children. The highly memorable nature of this performance naturally leads to the one activity now shown to best turn children into creative writers - retelling tales. Following the show teachers or parents can enrich children’s experience by helping them retell or reenact one of the tales. Children may draw pictures of favorite moments, change settings or add new adventures. Ask me for more ideas and related reading.