Asian tales in puppet spotlight at Eulenspiegel

WEST LIBERTY - Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre is kicking off summer vacation with 'In the Mirror: Three Tales from Asia.”

Performances will be held at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday at Owl Glass Puppetry Center, 319 N. Calhoun St., West Liberty.

The show is a collection of three folk tales from Japan, Korea and Turkey.

The first, 'The Mirror,” will be performed with finger puppets and masks based on traditional Korean masks. It relates a series of misunderstandings that occur when people encounter a mirror for the first time. Although comic, it has poignant undertones and deals with interpersonal relationships.

The second, 'The Golden Pitcher,” will be performed with flat paper puppets. It comes from Turkey and features a vain king and a clever little girl who outwits him and leads him to a change of heart.

The third, 'The Little Old Lady and the Riceballs,” stars an ingenious older heroine who outsmarts two Onis (Japanese trolls) who imprison her in order to sample her delicious cooking. It features several rod puppets and a combination rod puppet/rod marionette. The stage rises and folds out of a decorated box. Puppeteer Monica Leo will serves as a narrator/storyteller.

Tickets are $5, with a special group price for groups of 10 or more. For information or reservations, call (319) 627-2487 or email monica@puppetspuppets.com