My teenagers thought it quite strange when Mom announced she was going to a puppet show for adults.
Puppet show — for ADULTS? What?
Now, I’ve taken my kids to the Center for Puppetry Arts enough to know that their productions have never disappointed us. Seeing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has become an annual family tradition that even the teens still ask for. And next week, I’m headed back on a field trip with my son’s first grade class to see The Jungle Book: The Story of Mowgli’s Fire.
But even I kind of wondered what to expect from The Ghastly Dreadfuls.
I’m glad that they don’t give TOO much information away on their website. Here is a video to give you a little taste of what you’re in for, but keep in mind that it just grazes the surface.
Shown in their intimate lower-level theater, it’s a dark, cozy, interactive experience that kicks off with a sing-along called “More Work for the Undertaker”. And I’m not really a sing-along type, so I’m thinking, “OK, this is going to be 100% pure cheddar…” But, yeah–two verses in and I was laughing and clapping along with everyone else!
The Ghastly Dreadfuls is SO much fun! And so beautiful. The sets, the puppets, the costumes, the makeup…it was all lovely in a delightfully creepy way.
And the the storytelling! My favorite was “The 11:59” which is adapted from a short story included in The Dark Thirty, an anthology of southern supernatural tales. (Of course, now I have to read that whole book!) I love learning about different cultures and was amazed by some of the traditions shared in “The Creepy Compendium of International Ghouls from A-Z”.
The amazingly talented cast regaled us with their live music, singing and dancing between stories, and I could’ve stayed another hour just watching them perform.
Honestly, this production ranks in my top five favorite show experiences EVER, and that includes everything I’ve ever seen on Broadway.
So…you should go! IF you’re 18 or over, that is. A few tales are peppered with risque elements that make it appropriate for adult eyes only.
Tickets are $18.75 for members and $25 for nonmembers, and a cash bar is available before the show and during intermission.
Shows run at 8 pm on Wednesday through Saturday evenings, until October 29.
The Center for Puppetry Arts is located at 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta. Call 404-873-3391 for more information or visit them online at www.puppet.org.