Anna Smiles-Becker (C.Ctr. board member) offers an introduction and a few words about the Community Center.
Lisa Buckton (Jericho librarian) reads a telegram from Florence (Sarah): The train is running late-stop-there was a big snow storm-stop-lots of snow-stop-... Perhaps if we all called out "Florence" she might arrive. And so the audience called out "F L O R E N C E" and so she did come down the stairs into the auditorium.
Storytelling at its finest. Educational, entertaining, real-life story brought back from the ages in character in voice, in attire with masterful puppetry, incredibly detailed puppets, and artistic pop-up settings. The artistry for the eyes is only bested by the characters' voices for the ears and imagination. Indeed we are cast and carried to another time, place, and event.
From the moment she enters the room Sarah is in character and soon in character. From Bentley to his friend, brother, mother, and father; (through Sarah) each brings us to the 1920s and into Bentley's home and workshop with Bentley's passion and process explained throughout his story.
- How he became a pioneer of snowflake photography and what his family and friends thought of his dedication to such an unusual interest. Learning persistence and perseverance from his mom, defending his time spent focusing on snowflakes in lieu of other youth interests his brother espoused; how he obtained the camera and microscope equipment; his painstaking discoveries; the generous sharing of beauty in even the smallest impermanence of nature.
Snowflake Man reminds us nature is worth taking a look!
This is a one-woman play worth seeing and especially worth hearing!
We watched and listened as Snowflake Bentley sat at the piano and 'magically' played a fine-tune. At one point, Bentley's woman friend, as she dances to the piano music, quips, 'oops, that must be a new step' as though a slight flaw in the detailed dance steps that Sarah creates in the puppet occurs - none in the audience would likely notice as the dance steps and other movements by the puppet characters are graceful, gentle, nimble, fluent, supple, and lithe.
"Sarah Frechette is an artist, puppeteer, and founder of PUPPETKABOB, a puppet company that has toured nationally to schools, libraries, theaters, museums, and festivals. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut’s Puppetry Arts Program. Since then, Sarah has developed three full-length productions, toured internationally, and received the prestigious UNIMA citation of excellence." Jericho Community Center web page.
One can barely take a breath for fear of missing part of the conversations and action. How Sarah Frechette continues the entire show with nearly a pause or as best I could tell, a breath, is beyond me. Every age in the audience seemed spell-bound, mesmerized, encaptured - for the entire performance.
"The story of The Snowflake Man is inspired by Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley, the self-educated farmer and scientist who attracted world attention when he became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal. The Snowflake Man swings audiences into the historic 1920s through creative storytelling, intricately designed Czech-style marionettes, and a striking pop-up book of watercolor scenery [telling the story of "Snowflake" Bentley.] This UNIMA-USA award-winning show combines art, science, and a little-known piece of American history to magical effect!"
"The Snowflake Man was awarded a 2011 UNIMA Citation of Excellence - the highest honor in puppetry." Quoted from the Puppet Kabob website.
Read more at puppetkabob.com
Happy Birthday Snowflake Bentley (Feb 9, 1865 - Dec 23, 1931)
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Thank You Sarah for a spectacular performance. And what better place to present Snowflake Bentley's story than here in Jericho Vermont - Snowflake Bentley's hometown.
Thanks goes out to the board members of the Community Center and the volunteers who brought this presentation to our community. June Taylor (board member) made the Snowflake Bentley bookmarks to hand out. Anna Smiles-Becker (board member) brought in the food and began the show with a short introduction. Julia Blake greeted folks as they came in. The Community board members decided to bring in the show, pay for it with Community Center funds, and offer it free to the public.
Caring and sharing plus contribution (and a wee bit of fun) equals community. ~ Bernie
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