Pontine to Present THE MILLER'S TALE, 6/24-26

Nationally acclaimed puppeteers Valerie and Michael Nelson of the Little Blue Moon Theatre, based in Vallejuo, CA, return to Pontine Theatre's stage with their original stage adaptation of The Miller's Tale drawn from Geoffrey Chaucer's renowned 14th century masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales. This production is underwritten by arts patron, Gillian Aguilar. Performances are Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 2pm, at Pontine's West End Studio Theatre located at 959 Islington St in Portsmouth NH. The hour-long, one-act show is designed for audience members eighteen and older. Advance tickets are $24. and may be purchased online at www.pontine.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door a half-hour prior to each show, based on availability. Contact Pontine: info@pontine.org / 603-436-6660

Performers, Valerie and Michael Nelson, use paper figures (toy theatre) and hand puppets, to bring The Miller's Tale to life onstage. The performers based the design of their set, figures and puppets from a book created in 1896 which was published by Kelmscott Press. The illustrations in this book are considered among the most beautiful renderings of The Canterbury Tales.

The Miller's Tale is the humorous story of a carpenter, his lovely wife, and the two scholars who are eager to get her into bed. The carpenter, John, lives with his much younger wife, Alisoun, who is something of a local beauty. To make a bit of extra money, John rents out a room to a scholar, Nicholas, who has taken a liking to Alisoun. The action begins when John makes a day trip to a nearby town. While he is gone, Nicholas seduces Alisoun, and hence begins the amorous affair.

Dressed in 14th century attire and playing a number of period instruments, the Nelsons perform parts of the play in view of the audience. In other scenes, they voice and animate the figures and puppets from backstage.

The performers, recipients of the UNIMA Citation of Excellence in Puppetry, have done extensive historical research in designing all elements of the show.