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This production requires a space 21 feet wide
and a ceiling height of 11 feet. Puppets are viewed at 6 feet from
ground. Children sit on floor (or chairs) and the first row is 8
feet from stage. An aisle is required in the audience. Max audience
size: 400.
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The puppeteer shows the younger audience
(K-3) the costumed character representing "fear" in the show in
order to prevent any children from becoming frightened during
the show.
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The show begins in the experimental laboratory
of Pop-Pup, world-famous inventor.
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Pop-Pup discovers that his son Rufus has been bullying
his brothers, sisters and friends. He decides to send Rufus a puzzle, a mirror
with a missing piece, that he hopes will affect his son's behavior in a
positive way.
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Rufus is mean to his brother and sister when they
receive the package with the mirror from Pop-Pup.
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Rufus does not understand that what his father
has sent him is a puzzle. He thinks it's an ordinary broken mirror.
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Rufus sets out on a journey to take the
mirror back to his father. He wants his father to replace it with an
unbroken one.
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Rufus is once again rude and bullying, this
time to a gas station attendant.
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When Rufus begins to contemplate the mirror,
he is surprised and confused by the appearance of a shadowy figure.
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Rufus loses control of his car, resulting in a wreck.
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Gorgablast pulls Rufus from the wreckage and
proves to be a brave and unselfish friend.
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As they continue their journey, Rufus begins to
admire Gorgablast's giving nature and begins to question his own behavior.
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Landing in Florida, Rufus rents a submarine from
the Banana Man and continues the journey to take the mirror back to
his father.
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Rufus is tempted by buried treasure but finds
that he has been tricked by the ultimate bullies: Bully Bullfrogs.
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Rufus escapes from the bullfrogs and is once
again confronted by the shadowy figure as he contemplates the mirror.
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In the climax of the story, Rufus must confront
the shadowy figure. We learn that this figure represents Rufus's
fears--of failure, of people making fun of him, of parental
rejection--all of which contribute to his bullying behavior. Rufus
overcomes his fear, begins to recognize his bullying and selfish
behavior as wrong, and vows to change.
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Rufus, meeting with his father, has come
to understand the nature of the puzzle and shares with his father
that the real "missing piece" is "missing peace." When he is
selfish and bullying he has no "peace of mind."
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"The show was great! I loved the
music, and the kids enjoyed the song and accompanying hand motions: very
interactive!"
- Charles C. Stratton Elementary
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