Tonight we performed six shows of “Christmas in Vulgaria” at Candlelight, Tryon Palace in New Bern. We had great crowds. It was such a pleasure bringing a touch of puppetry magic to our guests at this festive time of the year. We give more shows next Saturday, December 21st.
We performed our shows at the Commission House, one of the historic buildings directly across from Tryon Palace.
Our stages were set up in the living room.
Our central stage featured an outdoor market scene at Christmastime in the Vulgaria. Another stage with the throne room of Baron Bomburst, and the last stage with the cell where children are imprisoned.
Candlelight guests gathering to watch a show.
In Act I Lucy Sweet sings a sad song about the absence of children in Vulgaria. She is shocked to meet Inga, a little girl who boarded the wrong train. Instead of going to Bavaria, Inga finds herself in Vulgaria.
Seeing an officer searching for the child, Lucy Sweet tells Inga to hide. Lucy leads the officer in the wrong direction.
Smelling the presence of a child, the Tiny Tot Wrangler sings a song enticing children with promises of candies and sweets. Inga, lured out, eagerly agrees to go with him to enjoy the “hospitality” of Baron and Baroness Bomburst.
In Act II, the Baron and Baroness sing about the joy’s of life in Vulgaria without nasty, snooty little children. The Wrangler brings in Inga. The horrified Baron and Child Catcher sing a song about the horrors of children. Despite Inga’s pleas, the baron orders her locked up in the tower.
In Act III Inga weeps and sings a plea for Father Christmas to rescue her. As Inga sleeps an Elf descends. He calls for Father Christmas to appear and help the little girl.
Santa descends. He is saddened to see a little child locked up. He sends the elf to go up to the sleigh and ready it. Santa Claus wakes up Inga and promises to return her home.
Santa uses his Christmas magic to transport Inga to his sleigh.
Santa uses his magic to imprison Baron Bomburst. The Baroness is appalled to find herself imprisoned in a cell on Christmas Eve.
Lastly, the Tiny Tot Wrangler is transported by Father Christmas to a cell. Santa warns him to be kind to children. He then flies off leaving the Tiny Tot Wrangler to sulk behind bars.
In Act IV Father Christmas appears in the marketplace and sings a song about the wonders and blessings of children. Before leaving, he thanks the guests for watching the show and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.
Below, Cyndi and Dennis operating puppets in Act I. Next to the puppet shows, in a parlor room, was St. Nicholas himself. Here Dennis and our Father Christmas pose with Santa.
The puppeteers emerged after each show to demonstrate marionettes, allow them to operate them and distribute candy to young and old alike.
Puppeteers tonight were clad in red and white Santa hats. They were Keith Phillips, Cyndi Papia (in her bright festive Christmas coat), and Dennis Listermann-Vierling (wearing an 18th-century costume).
