Thursday, February 17, 2011

MAKING THE TOY THEATRE




Today we went to Princeton with my grandson, Christopher for his ear doctor visit. We usually get an early morning appointment and spend the rest of the day on Princeton University campus. After lunch at the student center, we went to the Cotsen's Children's Library, a very special place for the imagination. The current exhibition, "Making the Toy Theatre" shows the wonderful work of Henry James Webb, English puppeteer and toy theatre maker. The creative process from drawing of the figures to the final ornamentation of the puppets using elaborate metal tinseling is featured in three large displays. Sadly, it is a forgotten children's past time of the 19th Century, when families would sit in front of the fireside for an evening of pantomine and toy theater.

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