Embark on a magical journey at Jean Sweeney Open Space Park as String & Shadow Puppet Theater performs their newest work, Ship of Fools: A Giant Puppet Odyssey [1], on Friday, August 4, at 6:30 p.m.
[2]As the sun sets over the park, audience members are invited to revel in this enthralling evening of visual and auditory delight. Watch three mimes set sail aboard a mysteriously sentient ship from the Port of Styx and join in their magical journey as they cross the mythical waters that connect the realms of the living and the underworld.
The journey reveals a fascinating world teeming with beautiful and strange creatures where the mimes—and the audience—encounter hermit crabs carrying houses on their backs, a ghostly humpback whale, and many more amusing characters.
[3]This captivating show, presented in partnership with Rhythmix Cultural Works [4] and the City of Alameda Recreation and Parks Department, promises to delight audiences of all ages. Underneath layers of colorful fabric and dancing cardboard, puppeteers, musicians, and mimes bring a world of whimsical creatures to life through a mix of enchanting storytelling and magical realism.
String and Shadow’s larger-than-life puppets, superb acting, and live music create depth and emotion, illuminating the themes of loss and acceptance, the wonders of the unknown, and the power of love and friendship.
“I can’t recommend the puppet show enough,” one previous audience member enthused. “I laughed nonstop, nearly cried, and was continually amazed by every little detail. Go see it. Seriously. What these folks do is impressive beyond words.”
[5]Rhythmix invites you to gather your loved ones, bring your blankets and refreshments, and settle in for an unforgettable evening of storytelling, live music, and larger-than-life puppetry that will touch your heart, tickle your senses, tantalize your emotions, and inspire your imagination.
See Ship of Fools: A Giant Puppet Odyssey on Friday, August 4, at Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (1925 Sherman St.) Seating starts at 6 p.m.; show at 6:30. Admission is on a pay-what-you-wish basis; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For to purchase tickets in advance, visit Rhythmix [1] online.
String and Shadow Puppet Theater [6] is a troupe of multi-disciplinary performance artists based in Olympia, Washington. Their giant puppet shows, set to live, original music, bring accessible live theater to people of all ages in local communities.
Contributing writer Colin Epstein is an artist and performer who covers local arts for the Alameda Post [7]. Reach him at [email protected] [8]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Colin-Epstein [9].