Stringed victory

Not far from downtown L.A.’s new crown jewel -- Frank Gehry’s glittering, iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall -- is another L.A. gem, a far humbler yet genuine cultural treasure: the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre. Forty-four years old, it’s the country’s oldest continuously running puppet theater.

This worn cinder-block building looks as if it’s seen better days; undoubtedly the rush of commuters passing it daily at the convergence of 1st and 2nd streets and Glendale and Beverly boulevards rarely realize it’s a going concern.

But looks can deceive: That unprepossessing exterior conceals a colorful candy-box decor and a little magic.

The theater’s newest offering, a giggle-inducing, eye-filling revue aptly titled “Enchanted Strings,” is not only cozily retro -- there’s even a cup of ice cream after the show -- it has a celebratory, brand-spanking-new sparkle, emblematic of the theater’s nascent revival after years in survival mode.

Following the traditional Baker format, 75 beautifully crafted stringed creations in sumptuous plush, brocades, satins and silks perform musical vignettes to recorded novelty, pop and folk songs, show tunes and classical snippets. Most important for eager children seated in rows on the carpeted floor, the puppets make crowd-pleasing forays into the audience.

There are circus riders on horseback and fluffy cats with canes. Monkeys juggle, walk on stilts and jump on pogo sticks; an elegant skunk doffs his top hat.

A poignant Pierrot defies gravity with the aid of a big red balloon, until it pops and he makes a tearful exit, his hunched body and shaking shoulders eliciting a sympathetic “awww” from the audience.

There are dueling pianos, a woofing and warbling opera diva named Madam Baluza Caruza and a Paris cabaret with an accordion-playing river rat, a stylish kitty and her well-dressed weasel suitor. In one deftly executed highlight, musical instruments strum their own strings.

Halfway through, puppetry takes a back seat to an electrifying “Magic Lights” show. (Eric De La Cruz did the show’s outstanding light design.) And right up until the patriotic finale featuring a gaggle of flag-waving clowns, many of the comic marionettes do a meet-and-greet with the audience, bestowing kisses and cuddles.

Making it work with clockwork timing are puppeteers Jonathan Alvarez, Mirna Lozano, Ana Aguirre, Oscar Rosas and De La Cruz.

They are part of a larger, multiethnic company of youthful artists who have developed into a confident unit, joining expert costumer Ursula Heinle and gifted puppet designers John Leland and marionette master Baker, still going strong at 80.

Even with recent years of financial struggle and the uneven skills of some apprentice puppeteers, Baker’s sunny shows remained a giggly, touching treat for the very young, and for nostalgic parents returning with their children and grandchildren.

“It’s my favorite field trip,” said Mimi Schoelz, a Manzanita School teacher from Covina who was attending a recent weekday show with her young students.

With a palpable sense of renewal now revitalizing this landmark theater, what’s old -- a kinder, gentler entertainment for old and young, executed with artistry and imagination -- is new again.

*

‘Enchanted Strings’

Where: Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, 1345 W. 1st St., L.A.

When: Tuesdays-Fridays,

10:30 a.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2:30 p.m.

Ends: Runs indefinitely

Price: $8-$10; reservations required

Info: (213) 250-9995, www.bobbakermarionettes.com

Running time: One hour