By Don Steen | Staff Writer • [email protected]
DALE – Little Lords and Ladies gathered at Lincoln Heritage Public Library for a taste of “Royal Enchantment” Saturday morning. Guests were encouraged to dress in their fantastical best for the soirée, with attendees ranging from princesses of Disney fame to dragons. The star of the show was Dave Rozmarynowski of Roz Puppets, who gave a performance of his original story, “George and the Dragon”.
The puppet show tells the story of George, a small resident of a magical forest that likes to keep to himself. After responding to a wise old owl’s rhetorical “Who? Who? Who?” during a desperate search for a hero, George finds himself inadvertently volunteered into a quest to retrieve stolen buries from the lair of a dragon.
The story is introduced and occasionally narrated by other puppets, including Rufus the Dog, Pete the Rat and Charlie the Chipmunk, all of whom handle the stage work. The rest of the cast is introduced organically throughout the story, though Charlie the Chipmunk enthusiastically announces the plays end several times, eager to hold up his sign. Kids got a chance to meet several of the puppets after the show, and learn about how they are articulated. Dave pointed out that his oldest puppet, Pete the Rat, was based on Rizzo from the Muppets. Pete was built while Dave was still in high school, and is still in service today.
Dave’s interest in puppetry began at a very young age in his childhood home in South Bend. Both of his parents encouraged his creativity. His mother taught him to sew and his dad taught him to carve foam.
Dave started performing puppet shows professionally in 1997, at local libraries in northern Indiana. He is now a full-time, professional puppeteer and artist. Roz Puppets now travels to perform throughout Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky.
Featured Image: “George and the Dragon” was the prominent show for the children at the Lincoln Heritage Public Library
More pictures from the show at the library
