A Russian tale of puppets

Lauren Vane

On a Thursday morning earlier this month, fifth-grade students at

Peterson Elementary School led the school on a transatlantic field

trip to Russia without even crossing the street. Courtesy of a

teacher with a background in Russian studies, these students have

spent the last two and a half months learning about Russian culture,

and they shared that knowledge with the school as they presented a

marionette production of an old Russian folk tale.

“It helps them appreciate other cultures,” said fifth-grade

teacher Linda Perkins.

Perkins’ fifth-graders performed “Prince Ivan and the Firebird”

with handmade rod puppets and marionettes that they have been working

on since January.

“I didn’t think it was hard, but it took a lot of time,” said

Felicia Broccolo, 10.

The students performed a show in front of the school and another

one for their parents. Behind the backdrop of a colorful set, the

students provided the character voices and movements for the puppets,

all to musical accompaniment.

“It’s a very special thing because people from all over come and

see it,” said fifth-grader Danielle Olsen, 10.

The students put their heart into this production, said Principal

Dareen Yonts. The students who participated seemed to agree.

“This is, like, the funnest thing we do in fifth grade!” Sam

Santopoalo, 10.

Working behind the scenes of a theatrical production benefits the

children and opens their eyes to new possibilities for the future,

Yonts said.

“I think that participating in a play experience gives the

children an opportunity to discover new talents and interests that

they have,” Yonts said.

Perkins, who studied Russian in high school and college, said the

students take away much more than theater experience from the

marionette production.

“There’s a really good moral value to these stories,” Perkins

said.

The performance also offered the students a wider range to their

schooling, Yonts said.

“I think it’s extremely important that we provide them with as

many varied experiences that we can in elementary school,” Yonts

said.