Let Your Light Shine

Modern twists illuminate classic tales

‘The Ugly Duckling’ and ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’
‘The Ugly Duckling’ and ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’

Two classic tales will be seen in a new light Sunday at the Walton Arts Center.

Lightwire Theater, a New Orleans-based company, will use its signature electroluminescent wire on puppets to present "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Tortoise and The Hare."

FAQ

‘The Ugly Duckling’

and

‘The Tortoise and the Hare’

WHEN — 2 p.m. Sunday

WHERE — Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville

COST — $8

INFO — 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org

"We perform in the dark in what we call our ninja suits," says Stephen Nicholson, road manager and performer for Lightwire Theater. The performers are covered from head to toe in black velour, he says, so they disappear and the character, a puppet lined with glow-in-the-dark wire, emerges.

The puppets, most of which are costume puppets and worn by the performers, are created by the cast and company, Nicholson says.

The hour long show will open with "The Tortoise and The Hare," which Nicholson likens to a Pixar short film before the main attraction at the movies. Lightwire gives a modern twist to the ancient fable by using 21st century technology to distract the hare, Nicholson says.

"We see it in our everyday lives -- people getting distracted from the world around them and what really is important because they're paying attention to the little screen they carry around in their pocket," he says.

"The Ugly Ducking" becomes a hero in Lightwire's production, Nicholson says.

"The story is so widely known and it's old enough that we could pick and choose ideas from many of the versions," he says.

The traditional telling of the tale is relatable and still holds true, Nicholson says, but "the thing that we really liked is we could bring an aspect of heroism to the Ugly Duckling's character. The Ugly Duckling goes through these difficult situations ... is an outcast but has the heart and the tenacity and the opportunity to prove its own heroism and save the day."

-- Kelly Barnett

kbarnett@nwadg.com

NAN What's Up on 02/27/2015

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