Winter Sunshine Series Kicks off With CPT’s Mr Punch’s Christmas Carol

The Winter Sunshine Series Kicks off Dec 29th with Crabgrass Puppet Theatre's Mr Punch's Christmas Carol.

Step aside, George C. Scott. Out of the way, Alastair Sims. Move over, Mr. Magoo. There's a new Scrooge in town!

The celebrated hand-puppet hero Mr. Punch is the star when Crabgrass Puppet Theatre presents Mr. Punch's Christmas Carol, at Sandglass Theater in Putney on Thursday, December 29th at 2 & 4 pm. This rollicking retelling of Charles Dickens' classic tale kicks off the 2011-2012 Winter Sunshine Series of Family Performances at Sandglass..

Mr. Punch's Christmas Carol is a hilarious holiday extravaganza, full of giggles, ghosts, geese, and Tiny Tim, too! Merry Christmas? "BAH, HUMBUG!" says cranky old Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge's cynical attitude makes everyone around him miserable as well, especially his much-abused clerk, Bob Cratchit. Watch as Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who teach him to look beyond his bank account and help him see a world of hope and love.

Fresh from his 450 year engagement in the long-running "Punch and Judy Show," Mr. Punch is looking for new challenges. "At first I was thinking of doing more comedy - a guest shot on 30 Rock, perhaps, or running for President. But I decided to spread my wings a little and tackle some meaty dramatic roles." And who better to play the man who hated Christmas than the charming but irascible Mr. Punch?

This is Crabgrass Puppet Theatre's Thirtieth Anniversary Season! It is also the tenth anniversary of their first performances at Sandglass, and in celebration, they will be performing two shows as part of the Winter Sunshine series, both Sandglass premieres. After "Mr. Punch's Christmas Carol," the series continues on February 4th when Wonderspark Puppets from New York City performs their lively modern take on "Little Red Riding Hood." Z Briggs and Chad Williams of Wonderspark were last seen as the "Dueling Chefs" at Puppets in Paradise. On February 25th, Heidi and Sam Rugg of Barefoot Puppets return to Sandglass with "The Little Bread Hen." Barefoot's performance of "Galapagos George" was one of the highlights of last year's series. And Crabgrass Puppet Theatre returns on March 31st to close out the series with "Haiku, HipHop and Hotdogs!" Poetry comes alive in this delightful production featuring favorite poems for all ages.

All performances are at 2 & 4 pm and tickets are $8. 

Mark your calendars now for the whole series:

Thursday, Dec. 29: Crabgrass Puppet Theatre in "Mr. Punch's Christmas Carol"

Saturday, Feb. 4: Wonderspark Puppets in "Little Red Riding Hood"

Saturday, Feb. 25: Barefoot Puppets in "The Little Bread Hen"

Saturday, March 31: Crabgrass Puppet Theatre in "Haiku, Hiphop & Hotdogs"