Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

The Puppet Masters

Unlike L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, the No Strings Marionette Company’s production of Wasabi: A Dragon’s Tale doesn’t need a “man behind the curtain” to set its magic in motion. Instead, puppeteers Barbara Paulson and Dan Baginski perform in full view. “Children are interested in seeing how the puppets work and how we do things,” explains Baginski. So, besides witnessing the coming to life of 11 painstakingly crafted marionettes — including a princess, a stylish knight and a monstrous 7-foot dragon — audiences will be captivated by intricate rod-and-string maneuvers. And they’ll get to hop onstage after the spunky fairy tale to meet the figurines and their makers ... because, as we all know, behind every great puppet is a great puppeteer.