The words “puppet show” aren’t quite adequate to describe the production that begins this weekend in Chapel Hill and ends in September at the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh. The Paperhand Puppet Intervention produces a spectacle of giant papier-mache characters, stilt walkers, dancers, shadow puppets and original music.
The group’s 13th annual giant puppet pageant opens Friday at The Forest Theater, a stone amphitheater on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. The show begins at 7 p.m. and plays every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night through Sept. 9, plus a Labor Day show and 3 p.m. matinees on Sept. 2 and 9.
It also plays Sept. 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. on the art museum’s outdoor stage.
Every year, this large group of local artists comes together to put on a show that is a dazzling experience for all ages. This year, the production is called “City of Frogs.” The group’s website describes it as a “modern fairy tale epic.”
“An ancient witch has traded her heart for eternal life with the mysterious Man of Beasts. A wooden boy, cut free by the Scissors of Fate, sets out on a journey to help the witch find what has been lost. Ignored by the busy population of the city, the boy must find friends in strange and forgotten places.”
The Paperhand crew says its mission is to tell stories that reflect our humanity and to eradicate “the institutions of greed, hate, and fear that plague the world in myriad forms.” Whether you agree with their mission or not, it’s hard not to be entertained by their show.
All shows last about an hour and a half with no intermission, and pre-shows begin 40 minutes before each performance. Tickets are sold first-come, first-served at The Forest Theater but can be purchased in advance from the art museum. They are $12 for adults and $8 for kids.
For information on tickets, parking and more, go to paperhand.org.
• Logan Trading Company in Raleigh will hold a free arts festival 11 a.m.-4 p.m.Saturday. The event will include an art show, a silent auction, live music and other performances. Proceeds benefit the volunteer and arts group ComeUnityNow.
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