Painted Bride Arts Center Presents PERÔ, OR THE MYSTERIES OF THE NIGHT

Coming to delight greater-Philadelphians of all ages, Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night, a charming puppet-opera-romance from the Netherlands will appear for just four public performances at the Painted Bride Arts Center May 19-21, 2011.

"Puppet show is too small a phrase for this utterly enchanting children's play... it's beguiling, beautifully performed and designed, with wonderful music and is suitable - I'd like to say compulsory - for anyone over six years old," said a London reviewer from What's On Stage when Perô appeared at the Unicorn Theatre.

The four performances of Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night will be Thursday and Friday, May 19 & 20, at 7 p.m., and two performances on Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. In addition to the public performances, four school shows will be performed Tuesday, May 17, through Friday, May 20, at 10:00 a.m. each day.

Writer and composer Guus Ponsioen based his work on Pierrot ou les secrets de la nuit, a children's book by the French philosopher Michel Tournier, and he has crafted a wickedly funny romantic comedy with roots in commedia dell'arte. There is the love triangle of shy, small-town baker Perô, his secret love for laundress Colombina, and his rivalry with Palentino, a colorful and bold house-painter. These three characters come to life through puppets visibly manipulated by two actors, Timmy Velraeds and Inez de Bruijn, who play out their own romance. Providing another layer of witty interaction - as well as the musical accompaniment - Sun (Annemarie Maas) and Moon (Guus Ponsioen) engage in their own romantic conflict through song from two opposing keyboards, along with the occasional comment from Sun's saxophone. Directed and designed by Onny Huisink, with puppets created by Saskia Janse, Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night will be performed in an English adaptation by Rina Vergano.

Founded in 1976, Speeltheater Holland, based in Edam, produces theatre performances of artistic quality and unique style that are mainly intended for children and families. Their productions include live music, puppets, and a strong visual sense. In 2007 Speeltheater Holland was honored for their long and outstanding contribution to children's theatre in the Netherlands. The troupe has received several other prizes and nominations for their productions, including three awards for Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night. Speeltheater Holland has performed around the globe, particularly in the United States - with residencies at Seattle Children's Theatre and Childsplay in Arizona - as well as in Austria, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Croatia, Bonaire, Germany and South Africa. For more information: www.speeltheater.nl.

The 2011 performances of Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night in the United States are organized by IPAY - International Performing Arts for Youth (based in Philadelphia), with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Performing Arts Fund NL, and Theater Institut Nederland.

International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) strives to bring international performing artists and companies with high-quality work to the youth and family audiences of North America. Founded in 1979 as a volunteer organization, it incorporated as IPAY in 2003 with the specific mission of "improving the quality, availability and reputation of performing arts for young audiences." In 2007, IPAY established its national headquarters in Philadelphia. IPAY produces an annual Showcase in a different U.S. or Canadian city each year; each showcase includes about 20 full productions in four days of first-rate shows for youth and family audiences and features all the performing arts - theater, dance, music, puppetry. For more information: www.ipayweb.org.

General admission tickets to Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night are $15 for adults and $12 for children up to 12 years of age. For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Painted Bride Arts Center Box Office at 215-925-9914, or send email to tickets@paintedbride.org. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.paintedbride.org/events/pero. The Painted Bride Arts Center is located at 230 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Groups of ten or more are eligible for group discounts. For information on these discounts and to receive further information about the four 10 a.m. school shows, May 17-21, contact Nancy Kathan at perophilly@gmail.com or 484-461-9300.

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