I must confess I was a touch skeptical at the start of Thumbelina: The Original Flower Child. When Mick Doherty, a sliver-bearded performer who has likely seen his fair share of coffeehouse open-mic nights, introduced the show as a ‘60s-inspired retelling of the fairytale, I was a little fearful. I wondered if it would be a scrappy, DIY-production better suited to the hippy mall outside a Dead Show. C’mon folks, I thought, Jerry’s long gone.
How could I have been such a conventional fool?
Oregon Shadow Theatre’s Thumbelina is a visually stunning, humorous, clever retelling of a classic. The story is performed with shadow puppets intricately designed in the style of Art Nouveau. Wipe from your mind that image of a rabbit made from fingers forming a peace sign held in front of a flashlight. Instead, try to visualize meticulously detailed, stained glass windows in the shapes of dragonflies, birds, beetles, a mouse and a thumb-sized girl.
Through the talents of puppeteer Deb Chase, the more than 60 puppets dance, sing, fly and walk behind an illuminated screen in the center of the stage. The effect is magical, reminiscent of animation. My three-year old daughter kept referring to the performance as a movie, rather than a puppet show.
But what really kept the young audience turned on and tuned in was Doherty. He’s listed in the program simply as providing “music and sound effects” but he deserves a bigger billing. In addition to playing an electric guitar, hammer dulcimer, drums, slide whistles and more, he narrates the show, sings throughout, and creates an impressive range of voices for nearly everyone save Thumbelina.
Doherty’s intentionally screechy lullaby got the kids laughing, as did his slurping, snorting voice of the mole. The audience happily sang along when encouraged by Doherty to do so. Even adults couldn’t help but chuckle at his songs – all ‘60s hits with lyrics rewritten for the show. Sam Cooke’s “Chain Gang” was reinvented as the “Food Chain” as a praying mantis lopped off the head of another bug. “Love Potion No. 9” became “Flower Child No. 9” as Thumbelina is birthed from a blossom.
In truth, the story’s hippy treatment makes sense; Thumbelina is one totally trippy tale. In summary: a tiny girl with floral roots befriends a bird, becomes betrothed to a mean spirited mole, and meets a prince who gives her fairy wings. What was Hans Christian Andersen smoking back in the 1830s?
The performance is being held at the Northwest Puppet Center, an intimate theater in northeast Seattle. There are seats on the floor and in chairs, and you’re advised to get arrive early for a spot in front. If you stick around after the show, which runs about 50 minutes, Doherty and Chase are happy to let the kids take a closer look at their instruments and puppets. Chase, who created all of the puppets, demonstrates how they cavort about behind the screen. With their secrets revealed, it’s even more stunning that just two people can create such a fantastical world.
The show made me glad all over again that my preschooler provides a ready excuse to go see such amazing artist endeavors. So brothers and sisters, all I am saying is give Thumbelina a chance.
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