Tales of Beatrix Potter at the Puppet Co.

By now you probably know that if there is a show at Glen Echo Park, at the Puppet Co. or Adventure Theatre, then I am going to go check it out with my girls. I am certain that Glen Echo Park is a real gem of Maryland and every production at its theatres is bound to be fun-filled for our kids. Last weekend, we hit the Puppet Co. for Applause Unlimited’s Tales of Beatrix Potter. Billed as appropriate for Pre-K through Grade 4, we hedged our bets and also brought our almost 3-year-old. The 45 minute show was filled with adorable puppets and enough physical comedy to keep the kids amused and entertained the whole time. We loved it!

Showing until October 9, The Tales of Beatrix Potter is a one-man show with a multitude of adorable animal puppets.

Jeremy Fisher the brightly-dressed Frog. Photo Credit: the Puppet Co.

The opening tale, “Two Bad Mice,”  includes two rascally mice who wreak havoc on a young girl, Lucinda’s, playroom and doll house. My three-year-old was especially delighted with their antics and energy though all the children were enthralled with what trouble the playroom mice would find next. The second tale, “Jeremy  Fisher,”  introduces us to Jeremy Fisher the frog, dressed in bright red rain boots and rain coat, who takes us on his adventures fishing in the rain. And finally, we meet Jemima the duck who wants to lay her eggs in a safe warm place and, you might remember, chooses a fox’s den. The youngest children in the audience were beginning to fade off by the third tale, hence the Puppet Co’s labeling of this as age-appropriate for those closer to four, but we still were glad we brought our youngest. The younger ones might not absorb the final lesson of trust but they still delighted in the creative performance and story-telling.

Initially I was thinking this play might appeal mainly to young girls but in reality, that wasn’t the case at all. The colorful cast of animal puppets and the heavy reliance on physical comedy throughout the show makes this a great outing for boys and girls. Christopher Hudert is the sole puppeteer and actor in the play and his extensive experience in children’s theater, including many years as the Boss Clown for the Ringling Bros., is evident through his range of voices, pitch and easy ability to transition into different characters through the three tales.

Fan rushing Jemima Puddleduck post-performance

The Tales of Beatrix Potter is runs on Thursdays through Sundays and you have until October 9 to catch it, so I encourage parents with younger children to book their tickets today! Tickets are $10  and can be purchased online or by calling (301) 634-5380.  The beloved carousel is still open at Glen Echo, in September it is open on Saturdays and Sundays from noon-6pm. Up next at the Puppet Co. is The 3 Billy Goats Gruff from October 13 – November 18.

Disclosure: the Puppet Co. gifted the tickets to me for this performance but my opinions here are my own.