By Jennifer Wilson
A wizard marooned on an enchanted island, a love-struck prince, and a mischievous fairy. These are some of the characters in William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” being presented at the National Arts Centre this month.
Husband-and-wife team Kathy MacLellan and John Nolan are rehearsing for their show, which they’ve adapted for children, at the Good Sheppard Church in Orleans. Long, flowing pieces of blue and green material stretch across the makeshift stage, representing the ocean and the island.
But a peek behind the curtain reveals the actors in this play are not what you might expect. They’re puppets.
MacLellan and Nolan are the founders of Rag and Bone Puppet Theatre, an Ottawa group that does puppetry for children. Nolan hand-made most of the three-feet-tall puppets used in “The Tempest” out of cloth and clay or wood. Both Nolan and MacLellan appear in view of the audience as they manipulate the puppets and narrate the story.
They started their company in 1978 because they both wanted to do something other than just act.
“I’m the writer of the group and John is the designer and we both like to direct,” says MacLellan. “This way we get to be part of every aspect of the production.”
Rag and Bone’s third member is Russell Levia, a local musician. He’s been with the company for 12 years and plays live music during the shows on the keyboard, bass and other instruments.
While Levia composes most of the music himself, he says Nolan will often come up with ideas and ask him to listen to other composers to get themes for the show’s music.
Nolan says he and MacLellan chose puppetry because they were inspired by another puppeteer named Felix Mirbt who was performing in Ottawa in the 1970s.
“He did very avant-garde puppets for adults,” says Nolan.
“I ended up apprenticing with him, and then we took it from there.”
“I guess we kind of thought ‘wow, why don’t we try doing puppetry like that for kids,’ ” MacLellan adds.
After humble beginnings, including performing at birthday parties and in the park, Rag and Bone toured across Canada and performed in various children’s festivals.
MacLellan says performing for children is just amazing.
“What I love best about children is how they believe in it, how they go along with it,” she says.
“If I say something really scary is going to happen, they get scared and so I’m scared too. Because they believe it, it feels more real.”
“Felix said you should always let the audience see the strings,” Nolan says. “We’re really anxious to do that, to have the kids watch something and be engaged by their imagination but not baffled.”
Nolan says one of the reasons they always have Levia playing live music is that it adds to the audience’s engagement in the show.
He says because the audience can see how all the elements in the show are being performed, it engages the imagination more.
“It’s the same way if you’re reading a book,” he explains. “You’re not being fooled, but the book draws you in and when you’re watching a live show you see everything that’s happening, and [children] can imagine themselves doing that.”
Despite Rag and Bone’s popularity, Nolan says he sometimes finds that there is not as much respect for children’s theatre. People dismiss it as being “just for kids.”
MacLellan says there is prejudice against puppetry for children who are older than seven. “When people think of puppets, they think of pre-school television, but all over the world puppets are used in plays for adults and teenagers and lots of other situations,” she says.
“It’s a different visual experience,” she adds. “I think there’s something about using your imagination.”
“The Tempest” plays at the National Arts Centre March 19 and 20 and is perfect for children in grade one to six.
For tickets visit the NAC box office or call 755-1111. For more information on Rag and Bone visit www.ragandbone.ca.