Advent Activities: The Snow Maiden

I didn't think our trip to see a marionette show based on the Russian folktale of the Snow Maiden would be a success because

1. The kids were up at 5:30 a.m.
2. They were getting their second H1N1 vaccination right before the performance.
3. They have always refused to go to puppet shows before.
4. The story has heavy themes of loss and sadness and might also be vaguely scary.
5. It was going to be an hour long.

But, in the end, none of that mattered. They were entranced from the get-go, as soon as they saw the Russian lacquer-box inspired stagecraft and the appearance of the puppeteer in the audience with a short demo beforehand. They both sat on the edges of their seats, completely mesmerized by the puppetry and the story. And indeed, both were fantastic. The puppets were gorgeously rendered, from the flat but lively old man and woman and village children to the three-dimensional, beribboned, delicate and pure but sad ice girl. The backdrops were simple but evocative, with a cabin in the woods in the snow (and a pop-up backdrop for the city later). And the puppeteer herself had both a dramatic and entertaining narration (and a haunting singing voice) as well as an amazingly gentle and subtle way with the puppets. The ways she manipulated the Snow Maiden were simply magical--the doll really became real as she floated, pirouetted, twirled, knelt, cried, danced, and even stood still as a statue. I was as taken with it all as the kids were.

So we stayed afterwards and "met" the Snow Maiden and puppeteer (and the accompanying mandolin-player), even having our picture taken and purchasing the CD with both the narration and the music. The kids almost didn't want to leave. Until they realized they could hear the whole thing again in the car on the way to dinner. And so, marching proudly with the CD clutched in front of him, Bud led us to the car. And we ate at a restaurant a bit of a drive from home just so we could listen to the CD, which perfectly captured the performance. During dinner we even discussed our favorite parts (one of mine was the carriage ride with a cut out of a troika and the Snow Maiden and village children. They liked everything except when she melted.) and planned how we could make our own Snow Maiden marionette. I'm thinking a handkerchief doll, some string, and a pair of chopsticks!

So, while it wasn't one of the Advent Activities in the basket (parenting is all about being flexible and I wasn't sure we were going to see this until, well, after it was over!), it was the perfect holiday outing. I think we'd all go again if we could.