Instructors Guide for Tales of Beatrix Potter Tales of Beatrix Potter is a production of Applause Unlimited, and is licensed by Fredrick Warne & Co. 1
Introduction A solo puppeteer/storyteller explores the fantasy world of one of Victorian England s best-known authors and illustrators. Set in an oldfashioned nursery, the performance includes three of Potter s stories as seen through the eyes of a young English girl growing up at the beginning of this century. As she pursues the everyday activities of playing and learning, the stories seem to grow from her imagination. Beatrix Potter s books were designed especially for reading aloud. Each page of text has a drawing opposite that illustrates the action of the text. Children learning to read can visually follow what is happening as the story is read and older children can enjoy the secrets that the drawings reveal, such as the true identity of Jemima Puddle-Duck s bushy longtailed gentleman. Underlying each story is one or more life lessons acted out by the charming animal characters. This guide offers ways for teachers and students to share Beatrix Potter s unusual world. Before the Show 1. Read one of Beatrix Potter s stories to the class. Explain that in the performance they see, the story will be told by the puppeteer and acted out by puppets. 2. The little girl who lives in the nursery learns and plays much as children do today. What sort of learning and playing opportunities would she not have had one hundred years ago? Explain the difference between educating boys and girls a century ago. 3. Seeing a performance can be an exciting experience. Ask the children to explain the rules of the theater. Emphasize that the key to enjoying a story is listening and watching and encourage them to ask questions at the end of the show. 2
Summaries of the Stories in the Production The Tale of Two Bad Mice: Tomb Thumb and Hunca Munca wreak havoc in a doll house when they discover that the delicious looking food is made of plaster. The Tale of Jeremy Fisher: The story of a frog who loves to fish is told in story and in song. One rainy day Mr. Jeremy Fisher decides to ask some friends to dinner and goes out to catch some minnows. Instead he is caught himself by a tremendous trout. He narrowly escapes when the trout discovers that it dislikes the taste of Jeremy s raincoat. Jeremy vows never to go fishing again and serves something else for dinner. The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck: Jemima Puddle-Duck is frustrated because the farmer s wife will not let her hatch her own eggs. Her attempts to find a hidden spot for a nest are aided by a sly gentleman with whiskers, black prick ears, and a long bushy tail. Jemima learns, almost too late, that her innocent trust of strangers could prove to be her downfall. 3
After the Show 1. Most of Beatrix Potter s stories are based on the question, What would happen if animals imitated humans? Although the fox dressed like a gentleman and imitated gentlemanly manners, his instincts were still those of a fox. In what ways was Jeremy Fisher like a frog? In what ways did he imitate a human? Do you have a pet that sometimes acts like a human? 2. The puppets in the show were built to look like Beatrix Potter s illustrations. Most are hand puppets, controlled from the inside by the puppeteer s hand. Other kinds of puppets include marionettes (string puppets), shadow puppets, and rod puppets. What other kinds of puppets did you see in the show? 3. Many stories in children s books teach a lesson by showing the consequences of wrong behavior. How were Jemima, Jeremy, and Hunca Munca foolish? What made them realize they were wrong? Did they change their ways after they learned their lesson? Activities 1. As models for the illustrations, Beatrix Potter drew her own pets and animal acquaintances. Try drawing your pet s different activities -- eating, sleeping, or playing. 2. Have you ever learned something the hard way? Write a story about someone who didn t pay attention to an important lesson such as wash before you eat and what happened to them as a result. Bibliography Peter Rabbit Giant Treasury, Derrydale Books, a division of Crown Publishers, New York, 1980 The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter, Frederick Warne & Co. Inc., New York, 1936 Shadow Puppets by Lotte Reiniger, Publisher Plays Co., Boston, MA., 1970 4
Puppeteer by Kathryn Lasky, MacMillan Publishing Co., New York, 1985 The Art of Making Puppets and Marionettes by Charlene Davis Roth, Chilton Book Co., Radnor, PA., 1975 About the Company Applause Unlimited offers a wide range of performances featuring fresh presentations of classic tales. Their approach includes masks, puppets, storytelling, music, and comedy in a unique combination that quietly educates as it entertains. Applause Unlimited has performed in theaters and at festivals world-wide. Their shows have been acclaimed by audiences, educators, producers, and sponsors of children s and family entertainment, receiving two Citations Of Excellence from the Union Internationale de la Marionette - USA. About the Performer Applause Unlimited co-founder Christopher Hudert is a versatile artist whose skills include script writing, sculpting, set and puppet construction, puppetry, clowning, stilt walking, juggling and much more. He began his career in the theater at an early age, performing with The Children s Theater of Richmond and Puppetfest Productions as well as other area companies. While a Theater Education major at Virginia Commonwealth University, Christopher put his studies on hold to attend Ringling Bros. Clown College. Offered a chance to join the Circus, he toured all over the United States and Japan. A 9-year veteran of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Christopher has performed live for millions of people and appeared in TV shows, commercials, magazines and newspapers in the U.S and Japan. He was Boss Clown for Ringling Bros. before leaving the show to join Master Puppeteer Terry Snyder in the creation of Applause Unlimited. He has returned to Clown College as an instructor and has given lectures and workshops on both clowning and puppetry throughout the country. He serves on the Board of The National Capital Puppetry Guild. 5
Theater Etiquette A visit to the Puppet Co. Playhouse may be the very first trip to any theatrical performance for some of your students. We want this to be a happy experience for everyone. Before you enter the theater, our House Manager, the person who is responsible for your safety and comfort during the performance, will welcome you, and will inform you about the seating of you group. At some of the performances, one of the performers will come out to introduce the show and remind everyone about theater manners using this easy to remember poem: Please don t eat, and stay down in you seat. Don t walk about, and don t talk or shout. Don t take pictures or touch the display fixtures, And, if the babies bawl, take them down the hall! Have a great visit to the Puppet Co. Playhouse! 6