Also this issue: Last Chance A look at two don’t-miss gallery shows closing soon. -Susan Hagen Artsbeat -Debra Auspitz Sir Thomas Allen -David Shengold Paradise City Arts Festival -Brian White James Joyce is Dead and so is Paris -A.D. Amorosi Some Like It Hot -David Anthony Fox Big Love -Toby Zinman Doug Anderson -David Warner

April 3- 9, 2003

artpicks

The Fabled 13th Puppet Uprising

by Juliet Fletcher

The best testament to the long-standing effect of Puppet Uprising, now prepping for its 13th year, is how it draws veteran audience members to perform: Meridian, aged 7, has attended every Uprising since she was 4 -- and this year will mount her own display, in a troupe known as Forest Tree-O. Her piece, "I Believe In Faeries," will form part of the two-day festival, this time around heftily loaded with five troupes from all over the country, each performing a new piece of dazzling puppetry or physical theater.

North Carolina's Paperhand Puppet Intervention bring two works to this year's event: Using rod-puppets, "The Water of Life" explores a tale of a healing elixir, while the stand-up-'n'-be-counted caper "Us & Them" takes a satirically, humorously eye-opening glance at the culture of war. According to Duncan Busser, one of the festival producers, Paperhand's method of puppetry really contrasts with PU: While much of what PU creates is quite fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants, Paperhand "really takes craft into account when they design a piece." Joining them will be Pastashock -- hometown purveyors of maskwork magic; Taina del Valle, who'll perform her own poetry in step with shadow puppetry by Morgan FitzPatrick and Leno Forbes; and Puppet's Revenge, Phoenixville's hand-puppet troupe, bringing us the tale of "The Shaman's Apprentice." Special additions this year will include a show of cheap art -- including work by the many-talented Meridian -- and a visit from the Mobilivre-Bookmobile, carrying a specially added selection of books and articles on the Middle East.

The Fabled 13th Puppet Uprising, Fri.-Sat., April 4-5, 8 p.m. (with outdoor festivities, Sat., 7 p.m.), free, The Rotunda, 4012 Walnut St., 267-235-5968.