Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9005300231
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BETH MACY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That's big, as in 9-foot-tall puppets who'll perform their mega-magic in a musical play called "Pandarella," the Chinese version of Cinderella - before the Brothers Grimm got hold of it.
And big, as in a stack of 10 people - on top of one bicycle. Or a balancing act in which an acrobat does a single handstand atop a stack of seven chairs, four brandy bottles and two tables.
No, you won't need to bring your binoculars for these shows, featuring back-to-back double performances by the Tampa, Fla.-based Bits 'N Pieces Theatre troupe and the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats and Magicians of Taipei.
There will be a distinctly Oriental flair to the Victory Stadium performances, which get under way at 6 p.m. Sunday.
"Panderella" features papier-mache puppets created out of fabrics and materials gathered by troupe members in the Republic of China, Singapore and Hong Kong. It also features a few old Cinderella favorites with a new twist: Mommie Bearest as the wicked stepmother, Yummy Tummy as the overweight stepsister, and Young King Sing as the Prince Charming of the production.
The puppets are built on a backpack-like device, with eyes, mouths and noses operated by cables that run down the puppets' spine and into the puppeteers' hands.
"Operating a puppet is kind of like rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time," says director Jerry Bickel, who wrote the lyrics for "Panderella" and adapted the sixth-century story into a stage production.
Bits 'N Pieces will perform at 6 p.m. and again at 7:20 p.m. The Chinese Acrobats will showcase comedy, balancing feats, kung fu and magic on the stage at 6:40 and 8 p.m.
Chinese acrobatics were created and performed in China as far back as 200 B.C., and have always been an integral part of the Chinese culture and arts, focusing on the harmony of mind and body.
As with Festival's kick-off concert, you have to wear a Festival in the Park button to be admitted to the finale; the cost is $1 per button. They will be sold at the gate the night of the show and, in advance, at some area businesses, including First Virginia Bank, Dominion Bank, Signet Bank, Crestar Bank, Sovran Bank, Virginia First Savings Bank, Pizza Hut, Burger King and N&W Federal Credit Union.
The festival finale is being hosted by the Roanoke Special Events Committee; sponsors include Central Fidelity Bank, Pepsi/Dr. Pepper bottlers, WROV-AM and FM and WVFT (Channel 27).
Other major children's activities this weekend include performances by theater artist Michael Cooper, a one-man act that features masks, music and stories; his shows are scheduled for 12:30 and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Kaleidoscope Theatre in front of the Roanoke Public Library. Theatre IV will also take the Kaleidoscope stage on Saturday with "The Tortoise and the Hare" at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The last weekend to indulge in Festival gets under way with Lunch in the Park on Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Later that evening, rhythm and blues singer Jane Powell takes the stage of the Elmwood Park amphitheatre in an evening of music from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday gets off to a running start with the Dominion Bank Festival Classic 5K and 10K Road Races, from 8 to 10:15 a.m. And the 32nd Annual Sidewalk Art Show, the forerunner of all festival events, begins in Elmwood Park and Colonial Plaza at 10 a.m., continuing through Sunday afternoon. It features paintings, graphics, sculpture and photography by more than 200 artists.
On Saturday night, 1964 As The Beatles will bring the costumes, hairstyles and songs of the Fab Four to the amphitheater stage at 9 p.m. A full-color Laser light show will follow from 10:30 to 11 p.m.
There's also a range of other music, food and entertainment planned for the weekend.
A reminder: no pets, glass containers, skateboards or bikes will be allowed in the park.
by CNB