Looking for something unique and entertaining to do with the little ones? Tired of the same trips to the park, the mall or the nearest fast food joint?
Then make plans to stop by the Depot Theater on Dec. 11 when the Clarkston Village Players and Once Upon a Puppet presents ‘Dick Wittington & His Cat,? an energetic puppet show designed to tickle the funny bone.
‘Dick Wittington & His Cat? is the tale of an adventurous youth and his cat Marmalade (an orange tabby) traveling to London to seek their fortune for they’ve heard ‘the streets are paved with gold.? Once in the city, the naive duo encounter the ‘gangster rats? Weezy and Cheesy who are plotting to steal the Queen’s Jewels.
Dick and Marmalade decide to foil the devious plot. The brace pair travel to the palace where they meet the Queen Mother, solve the crime, return the jewels and save the day.
The show is packed with upbeat songs, side splitting comedy (including some slap stick) and plenty of audience participation. Audience members are encourage to interact, laugh, yell and even joke with the characters.
‘I wanted to tie in some of the English tradition of pantomime,? said Clarkston resident Nancy Penvose, founder of Once Upon a Puppet. ‘I threw in some ‘Punch & Judy? for the humor. I really wanted to combine these two elements of English tradition.?
A native of England, Penvose created, wrote, produced, designed and performs the play herself. She is a 10-year member of the Clarkston Village Players and is currently on the board of directors.
‘I’ve been a puppeteer for years,? said Penvose. ‘I’ve always made dolls and done different things.?
Penvose grew up in an artistic family. Even though she had always written and worked behind the scenes on projects, the Clarkston resident didn’t realize how much she enjoys performing until her college years. During the time is when Penvose remembers writing her first formal plays.
‘The idea for ‘Dick Wittington & His Cat? has been coming for some time, but I really sat down and wrote the play back in August,? explained Penvose. ‘I was inspired to write the puppet show after seeing a ‘Punch & Judy? performance.?
‘It’s going to be fun and entertaining,? she added. ‘My own children get very excited ? they’ve even helped me with some ideas.?
Dick Wittington & His Cat is a family performance appropriate for all ages. The writing and plot line are geared for ages 6-10, but there are elements to entertain all ages from the youngest infant to the oldest grandparent.
In addition to Dick and Marmalade, the cast of characters includes The Queen Mother, The Queen’s Dog (Delores), the Palace Guards and The Policeman (P.C. Plod).
‘My favorite character is the policeman, he has the most interaction with the audience,? said Penvose.
Dick Wittington & His Cat shows on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 5 and 7 p.m. at the Depot Theater. Each performance runs approximately 40 minutes. Tickets are $6 per person. For more information or to order tickets, call the Depot Ticket Line at 248-625-8811.