A sock is a wonderful thing. They can warm your chilly toes, absorb the smell of sweaty feet, protect your heels from blisters, and when they become worn make sock puppets of a cavalcade of critters.
The Peppermint Puppeteers will be performing at the Stone Harbor Recreation Center on Aug. 7, but believe me, their puppets are not cast-off Fruit of the Looms.
Business partners, best friends and sisters, Lois Mettler and Caroll Saks have been entertaining and educating audiences with their dozens of zany and delightful puppet characters since 1977.
Traveling the entire state of New Jersey, metro New York, and eastern Pennsylvania, the puppeteers have performed thousands of shows at schools, libraries, camps, corporate functions and fairs. Both women are former teachers with Masters degrees that span pre-K through high school education. From this background they have developed elementary school level puppet playhouse programs that focus on the environment, the importance of recycling, energy conservation, drug awareness and nutrition.
All their programs are full-stage productions and include human characters, music, magic, special sound and black-light effects, colorful scenery and costumes, lovable puppets, and lots of audience participation.
What makes them even more special is that the sisters make all their own puppet theatres, puppets and props. They also use original music created by Lois’ husband Gary, who is a professional musician. “We love doing the shows. We totally enjoy the whole creative process of writing the story, creating the characters, performing, and directing,” commented Caroll to me in a recent interview.
Sponsored by the county’s Clean Communities Program, Mettler and Saks will present their highly acclaimed show, “The Egg-cellent Award” at 2 p.m.
“It takes about one hour to set up our equipment, (sound, lights, theatre, puppets) and one hour to strike. The shows last about 45 minutes. When we see the fun in the children’s eyes, their ability to suspend disbelief, and play with us while learning some valuable life lessons in the process, we say, ‘What can be better than that? This is not work. It’s a blast. We’ve accomplished our goal. It’s something beautiful.’ It’s a feeling of elation that’s hard to put into words,” said Caroll.
The play features an exciting story line with a mysterious twist and is endorsed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, as well as educators and government officials from throughout the state.
Commenting on a recent show at the Mansfield Township Elementary School, Principal John Hydock had this to say. “The professional quality of the story line, puppets, actors and black light effects had the students mesmerized. What better way to educate students on the importance of preserving our environment?”
And what better way to spend a fun, productive summer afternoon? For more information call the recreation center, located at 82nd Street at 368-1210.
