Puppetz vs. People

Tears of Joy Theatre
November 28, 2009

Rumplestiltskin

Tears of Joy Theatre
November 13 - 29, 2009

Summary:

Tears of Joy’s puppetry theatre bring to life the Miller and his daughter Lola, the King, baby Lulu, and a mysterious little man. He’s quick. He’s sly. Can you guess his name? It’s Rumpelstiltskin! The songs and magic of this timeless story will delight and enthrall audiences of all ages.

Stellaluna

Tears of Joy and Bag and Baggage Productions
August 7 & 8, 2009

Summary:

Tears of Joy, a Portland-based puppet theatre company with an international reputation, will join Bag&Baggage to present 3 performances of Stellaluna, a puppet-based version of the beloved and hugely popular story of a baby bat who, after falling from her mother’s grasp, lands in a bird’s nest.

Fabulous Bear

Tears of Joy Theatre **Photo credit: Tears of Joy Theatre**
April 3 - 19, 2009

Summary:

Fabulous Bear tells the story of “Timothy Rymchimchi,” a little bear who befriends a lonely puppy while on an errand for his father. The frisky, singing puppy is a cause of conflict between Timothy and Father Bear until a sneaky fox comes along and “Woof” the puppy saves the day!

When Animals Were People

Tears of Joy Theatre
February 6 - 22, 2009 (Portland)
February 28, 2009 (Vancouver)

Review by peanutduck

Nancy Aldrich and Omar Vargas's script, spun from Mexican and Argentinean tales of friendship, dedication, and family, is spare, sweet, with clever touches of adult-level wordplay. Puppets, enlivened by Brian Allard and Dia Verano through whimsical vocal characterizations and deft maneuvering, elicit more delight and sorrow than many human actors.

PuppetLove

Tears of Joy Theatre **Lady Mai Marionette by Sarah Frechette**
February 14, 2009

Summary:

“From the ridiculous to the sublime, with hearts full and hearts aching...” Tears of Joy Theatre presents: PuppetLove. Bring your valentine to an enchanting evening of short puppet plays by groundbreaking local artists, performers. This evening of humor, lust, satire and whimsy takes you on a journey from cynicism to surrender.

The Reluctant Dragon

Tears of Joy Theatre
December 19 - 28, 2008

Summary:

A magnificent dragon, as wonderful as any dragon who took the stage, is not the fearsome type. He, like the boy who befriends him, is more interested in art, poetry. The local villagers, however, assuming they are in grave danger, call on Sir George, the dragon fighter to save them.

The Jungle Book

Tears of Joy Theatre
November 14 - 30, 2008

Review by The Mad Hatter

Pure, delightful, child's fantasy. Puppeteers create magical, believable world where animals talk and it doesn't matter they are puppets. Audience participation was a riot – it's easy to get 100 children to howl like a wolf. Set and lighting highly versatile and evocative. Puppets absolutely beautiful. Great cartoonish voices by actors.

Stellaluna

Tears of Joy
April 4 - April 20, 2008

Review by peanutduck

Separate elements enjoyable but not as sum of parts: puppets’ characterization adorable but manipulation a touch clumsy; soaring kites lovely but ill-fitting with set; bug obsession funny as one-liner but overly central to script. Exception - gamelan music kooky, delicate, perfect evocation of night. However, play’s target audience - kids - delighted throughout.

The Lovesick Sea Play

Tears of Joy
February 8 - 9, 2008

Summary:

Spectacular plays for adults. Prepare for Valentines Day with a showcase of innovative puppetry, lyrical poetry and exotic lands (or seas). Incldues both the Lovesick Sea Play and Mighty Troka. Lovesick Sea Play takes audiences to a 19th century seascape, pursuing pirates, risking drowning, and encountering a strangely treacherous island.

Anansi the Spider

Tears of Joy
January 26 - February 10, 2008

Summary:

Anansi, the trickster spider of West Africa, is brought to life in two hilarious tales. The first tells how Anansi tricked the lion out of his stories. The second, Anansi and the Talking Melon, adapted from a tale retold by Eric Kimmel. Ages 4 and up. Durst and Winningstad Theatres.

Petrouchka

Tears of Joy
December 28-30, 2008

Review by The Mad Hatter

The magic comes out to play when the puppets come to life. Too bad so much time is wasted watching the live actors. Janitor was hilarious, but Clown and Pie Lady lacked specificity of movement, intention that puppets clearly possessed. Puppets were creepy, funny, endearing. Ostrich bird-thing was my favorite.

Pinocchio

Tears of Joy Theatre
November 9 - December 1, 2007

More of what's out there

followspot@hotmail.com
Posted by Followspot February 25, 2007

Choke on my Heart – Toy Boat Productions
Shoemaker and the Elves; Vertigo of Sheep – Tears of Joy Theatre
Goa: A Ghost Story – Tabuki Theatre
The Sweetest Swing in Baseball – Portland Actors Conservatory
The Golden Fish – Brooklyn Bay
Graceland – New Century Players
Lion and the Mouse; Red Riding Hood – Ladybug Theater

Little One-Inch

Tears of Joy Theatre
March 6, 2005

An elderly couple raises a tiny boy who grows up to battle an oni, winning the heart and hand of a princess. Less sophisticated performances than previous TOJT productions this season, but greater technical elements: elaborate, detailed costumes; blood-pumping music and sound effects; humorous, gutsy ogre. Script by local sophomore.

Bridge of the Gods

Tears of Joy Theatre
February 27, 2005

A fairly scholarly revival of Native American Klickitat legend that uses tale of natural Columbia Gorge formation to teach lesson of peace. There were a few resourceful effects, such as flowing of Columbia River. Puppets and their characterizations, however, were thin and muted, except for puppeteer Shuhe’s spirited masked Coyote.

There’s a Nightmare in My Closet and other stories

Tears of Joy Theatre
December 11, 2004

Adroit puppetry in a mix of styles. Interleafed “Fat Cat” and “Jabberwocky” shadow plays were playfully peculiar and unabashedly dark cartoons. Musical underscoring by Richard Moore and Dan Brandt was notable. All in all: more escapism than eloquence, but better than expected and well received by both kids and adults.

The Reluctant Dragon

Tears of Joy Theatre
November 14, 2004

Kids around me were only mildly more engaged than I during this surprisingly un-magical hour. Predictable interpretation of garrulous script left little mystery, less humor. Better than TV, at least, but do kids today really get off on knights and dragons? Pretty set and puppet design by Christopher L. Harris.