The world premiere of the underwater version of Little Big Eye by Works with Water was a splashing success, with two sold-out weekends, March 29 - April 6!
Photo by Gavin Sherman
Fun in the Splash Zone
Children shrieked with glee as they were splashed with real water, gasped at a fearsome fish, and cheered for the main character throughout the performance. One child was so inspired that he pantomimed swimming through the air as he exited the theater — just like the actors in the show!
"We both loved it… it may be our favorite ever,” shared audience member Susan Fernandois, who came to the show with her six-year-old granddaughter.
Audience members arrived dressed in their best sea-tastic attire — mermaids, swimsuits worn over clothes, goggles, and even an octopus costume! Children were also offered paper snorkel masks to complete their oceanic looks, and everyone was invited to stay after the show to make a fish puppet.
“My daughter took the snorkel mask everywhere she went, including other playgroups this weekend and church,” shared audience member Evaline, who saw the show with her four-year-old daughter and several friends. “[We] still talked about the craft days after.”
The show also made waves on the local NBC show The Hub Today, earned a feature in Brookline News, and was included in an events round-up in The Arts Fuse magazine.
Incubating New Puppetry
Little Big Eye premiered through Puppet Showplaces’s Incubator program for new works, which has premiered 18 shows for families in the last 11 years. Those shows have gone on to be seen by over 50,000 people in at least 18 U.S. states and 6 countries.
“Puppet Showplace was fearless to premiere this new, multi-layered, super-interactive version of Little Big Eye,” said creator, director, designer, and writer Kathleen Doyle, a first-time Incubator participant. The Massachusetts-based artist is a seasoned professional theater designer, but producing her own shows marks a powerful next step in her colorful artistic career. “Other theaters said no to underwater puppetry, but not Puppet Showplace! The audience reactions from both adults and kids has been joyfully overwhelming.”
A cast of three actor-puppeteers brought the lush puppets of Little Big Eye to life: Emmanuel Elpenord, who has performed on Puppet Showplace’s stage and is an alumnus of our Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers; Libby Schap, whose work Flying Lessons premiered through our Incubator in 2019; and our own Assistant Box Office Manager Jake Crawford, making his children’s puppetry debut.
Bonnie Duncan of The Gottabees, who have premiered five shows through the Incubator program, served as project advisor for Little Big Eye.
“As an artist, it’s been paramount to have Puppet Showplace’s Incubator as a place to try new things; to be welcomed and supported by enthusiastic audiences; and to have the time for really deep conversations about the work with other artists,” shared Bonnie
Photo by Gavin Sherman
“Our new works programs — the Incubator and the Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers — are a vital part of the lifeblood of Puppet Showplace.” said Veronica Barron, Puppet Showplace’s Executive Artistic Director. “Just as we value bringing artists from other regions and countries here to Brookline Village, it’s essential that we support new works created by our own local talented artists, who go on to be cultural ambassadors to children and families near and far.”
Photo by Gavin Sherman
Follow the artist
Check out the Works with Water website and Kathleen Doyle’s website for more — and follow their work on Instagram at @workswithwater and @kathleen_doyle_design
