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

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.

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.

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