Review of Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia - Guess How Much I Love You

By Glenn McCarty

Nazareth College Arts Center recently welcomed the puppet troupe from the celebrated Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia for a 50-minute presentation of both Anita Jeram’s I Love My Little Storybook and Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You. Both the show length and subject matter were perfect for little ones. In fact, the audience was primarily composed of pre-school or primary school-age children who were captivated from the moment the lights dimmed.

The Mermaid Theatre’s puppets aren’t of the traditional hand-in-a-sock variety, or even marionette-style. The puppets are generally full-size, hand-crafted primarily from foam and wood, and are operated by black-clad puppeteers who whisk them around the stage from scene to scene, moving heads and limbs with care and dexterity.

While at first, actually seeing the performers on stage detracts a bit from the magic of the performance, after a few minutes, the skill and grace with which the puppeteers embody their characters allows the performers to become nearly invisible. Then, the charm of the stories takes over.

And these are both charming stories. Jeram’s I Love My Little Storybook is an ode to the power of stories to carry readers away into worlds of adventure and magic. This was accomplished memorably on stage through characters like the gentle, white storybook rabbit, a galloping elephant, an ogre, and a lion.

And Sam McBratney’s beloved Guess How Much I Love You – the story of Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare’s bedtime Q&A session – is only enhanced by the puppet treatment. Watching the two rabbits hang out on a rail fence and perform tricks like handstands makes the magic of the story come alive.

A post-show question and answer time allows kids one more chance to see their favorite puppets, and reveals some of the magic behind the performance. Mostly, though, it just furthers the sense of delight in the show.

The Mermaid Theatre’s touring productions of classic children’s books from the likes of Eric Carle and others have captivated for over 40 years. Every minute of the performances oozes childlike wonder and charm, sure to linger in the minds of young audiences for years.

© 2013, Glenn McCarty

Glenn McCarty is a writer and father of two in Rochester, NY.