4301 Van Buren St.  University Park,  MD  20782      301-927-5599   


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A story about bullying.
K-6th grade

"Social and moral issues are so important in education today; your specialty is the integration of education and quality theatre.
Students learned about respect in a very clever, entertaining way that kept their attention.   The show was FANTASTIC!  "

- Haleyville-Mauricetown School


Story Board
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.
Pre-show: One of the puppeteers teaches the audience the show's theme song, "I Like Myself." Includes controlled audience participation and volunteers.

Instructional Video for teaching "I Like Myself"
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.
The show begins in the experimental laboratory of Pop-Pup, world-famous inventor.
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.
Rufus is mean to his brother and sister when they receive the package with the mirror from Pop-Pup.
Rufus does not understand that what his father has sent him is a puzzle. He thinks it's an ordinary broken mirror.
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.
Rufus is once again rude and bullying, this time to a gas station attendant.
When Rufus begins to contemplate the mirror, he is surprised and confused by the appearance of a shadowy figure.
Rufus loses control of his car, resulting in a wreck.
Gorgablast pulls Rufus from the wreckage and proves to be a brave and unselfish friend.
As they continue their journey, Rufus begins to admire Gorgablast's giving nature and begins to question his own behavior.
Landing in Florida, Rufus rents a submarine from the Banana Man and continues the journey to take the mirror back to his father.
Rufus is tempted by buried treasure but finds that he has been tricked by the ultimate bullies: Bully Bullfrogs.
Rufus escapes from the bullfrogs and is once again confronted by the shadowy figure as he contemplates the mirror.
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.
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."

"The show was great!  I loved the music, and the kids enjoyed the song and accompanying hand motions: very interactive!"
- Charles C. Stratton Elementary
 


Home  Repertoire  Touring Schedule  History/Mission  Who We Are  Reviews  Lesson Plans  Right Show for you 
How We Look  Workshops  Employment  Links   Email us


4301 Van Buren St.  University Park,  MD  20782      301-927-5599