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REVIEW: Center for Puppetry Arts’, Mother Goose

Through Sept 17, 2017

By Kristen Wright-Matthews, Assistant Publisher, Macaroni Kid CEM September 6, 2017

This review expresses my personal opinions.

My toddler and I recently attended the new production of Mother Goose at Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta and we absolutely loved it. If Kollin, 18 months old, can sit through it, a child of any age and activity level can.

The show is about Mother Goose who is missing and the audience is invited to help Mary Mary (Quite Contrary) find clues to bring her home because, without the matriarch of Rhymeville, the citizens can’t remember their rhymes. The narrator, Jimmica Collins (Mary Mary) was energetic as she made us feel like we were truly a part of the show. The show’s puppeteer, Luis R. Hernandez, did a fantastic job of operating all the amazing puppets and even made a cameo appearance as The Crooked Man.   

The show was nostalgic for me as it reintroduced characters I learned about as a child, taught my 10-year-old son about, and now with a toddler I need to relearn these classic nursery rhymes all over again. I felt like a kid again as I yelled and clapped along with the children to fill in the blanks for characters like Little Bo Peep, Humpty Dumpty, Jack & Jill, Wee Willie Winkie, Hey Diddle, Diddle, The Little Old Lady Who Lives in a Shoe and others who need help remembering their rhymes.

From start to finish, Mother Goose was lively and interactive. The actors were seasoned and kept the kids engaged. The music was soulful and upbeat. The puppets and set were awesome, beautiful and bright enough to keep the children focused and waiting to see what was next.

Mother Goose was not only fun, but it was also a great learning experience as the puppeteers came out at the end to demonstrate how some of the different puppets work. Additionally, everyone is invited to come 30 minutes before performances to enjoy pre-show activities including hearing some your favorite nursery rhymes and coloring a puppet If you don't have time for the create-a-puppet workshop, you can stop at the box office and pick up a kit to take home. Preshow activities are free of charge. We did not partake in this portion of the programming, but the other children seemed to enjoy the jumping cow shadow puppets they created. The narrator even asked to see them during the show.

Mother Goose runs at Center For Puppetry Arts through September 17 in the Center’s downstairs theater. Show times are Thursday and Friday 10 am and 11:30 am, Saturday 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm and Sunday 1 pm and 3 pm The Center is located at 1404 Spring Street NW at 18th Atlanta, GA 30309. Tickets are $19.50 (non-members) and $9.75 (members) (included are admission to the show, the museum, and the create-a-puppet workshop) and every person ages 2 & up requires a ticket. For more information or tickets 404)873-3391 or HERE.

Mother Goose is adapted and directed by Amy Sweeney and was performed with Rod, Hand-and-Rod, and puppets. The show incorporates the themes of rhyming, counting, sorting, and problem-solving.