Friday, June 17, 2011

Tom Benn and Black Beard the Pirate

The North Carolina Marionette Theater will be performing "Tom Benn and Black Beard the Pirate" every Tuesday this summer, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon at Deepwater Theater. David, Amy, Lachlan, Lou Ann, Lou Ann's granddaughter Holly, and I attended the premier performance this week. "Tom Benn" is a puppet adaptation of a 1954 children's book about Ocracoke -- "Tom Benn and Blackbeard the Pirate" by Le Grand Henderson.

The puppet show was delightful, with elaborate sets, finely crafted marionettes, an engaging story, and talented puppeteers. For more information click on the link above. You can also see a promotional video here: YouTube Video.

I am frequently amazed by the talent and creative energies that Ocracoke attracts! Be sure to bring your families to this wonderful show if you are on the island this summer.

Lou Ann took the following photos of the outdoor performance at Deepwater Theater (you can click on any photo to view a larger image):









Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the autobiography of Frank Treat Fulcher. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news0522111.htm.

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:03 AM

    Grand, wholesome family fun!!!! Great pics! Impressive set. Know it's shady there, which will be a blessing with it being @ 3 p.m.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous10:45 AM

    Is it a musical?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous6:49 PM

    Are there any plans to resurrect the Blackbeard production the high school used to put on? I remember that from when I was maybe 5 or 6, and it was quite fun.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Tom Benn" is not a musical, though it does include some background music.

    It is unlikely that "A Tale of Blackbeard" will be revived. Back in the 1970s Ocracoke wasn't so busy, and it was easier to recruit folks who could commit to weeks of evening rehearsals and a full summer of performances. Nowadays everyone seems to have three summer jobs, and evenings are filled with music, storytelling, Ghost Walks, etc. Times are just different. However, DeAnna Locke and David Senseney occasionally perform some of the songs from "A Tale of Blackbeard" at the Wednesday evening Opry. Check out the Opry if you haven't already done so!

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Tom Benn" is not a musical, though it does include some background music.

    It is unlikely that "A Tale of Blackbeard" will be revived. Back in the 1970s Ocracoke wasn't so busy, and it was easier to recruit folks who could commit to weeks of evening rehearsals and a full summer of performances. Nowadays everyone seems to have three summer jobs, and evenings are filled with music, storytelling, Ghost Walks, etc. Times are just different. However, DeAnna Locke and David Senseney occasionally perform some of the songs from "A Tale of Blackbeard" at the Wednesday evening Opry. Check out the Opry if you haven't already done so!

    ReplyDelete