Keene State College Theater Professor, Celine Perron proved that puppet shows aren’t just for kids.
Alyssa Boerenko / Equinox Staff
On Tuesday Feb. 27, people of all ages gathered at The Redfern Arts Center as the KSC Theater Program debuted its new puppet production titled, “The Adventures of Detective Sent-Out: The Case of The Missing Adverb.”
The Redfern Arts Center offered performances of the puppet show from Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, to Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., with an additional show time at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Performed in the Wright Theatre, the audience was allowed a close-up and intimate experience through the duration of the two-hour performance.
The Case of the Missing Adverb was written KSC theater department professor, Celine Perron, and directed by assistant professor Jeannie-Marie Brown.
The puppets used were all different animals. The plot begins when Detective Sent-Out, a dog, is confronted by his old girlfriend, a cat named Vera. Once confronted, Vera discovers her adverbs have begun to disappear from the lyrics of her jazz music. Reluctant to investigate the case, Detective Sent-Out is visited by a giraffe named Carmella.
The adverbs had begun to disappear from her books that she has written. Detective Sent-Out finally agrees to investigate. He and the rest of the cast, which includes three mice, a penguin, a hippopotamus, a toad and another cat, work to solve the case of the missing adverbs.
Perron’s first written show was described as “comical” and “interesting” by audience members.
Being both a mystery and a love story, Perron’s first performed script was unique and showcased her versatility as a writer. Perron’s ability to incorporate comedic elements into the script also proved to be a success. Visiting student James Hufton said, “I enjoyed the show, and thought it was comical.” He added, “It was well-performed and as a member of such a small audience, I felt very engaged.”
The hand and shadow puppets were brought to life by KSC theater students, who were hidden behind a large puppet theater that was built into the Wright Theater’s stage.
The puppets were hand-made and displayed realistic elements. Visiting student Molly Morris said, “The show was all around very interesting, I was surprised at how well-crafted the puppets were.”
Perron was unavailable to comment on the production.
Alyssa Boerenko can be contacted at aboerenko@kscequinox.com
