Weekend Showcase: Rudolph Shines at Stages Theater Company
Stages Theater Company has performed this holiday classic on and off for ten years — and now, on the film’s 60th anniversary, they’re bringing it back for this holiday season.
Inside the magic of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is a message. It’s one that, like Rudolph’s big red nose, isn’t too hard to spot.
One of the actors for the children’s-based theater production, Takell Lee, said it well: “Everybody has their differences, and you should treat them like how you would want to be treated.”
The familiar story is about a reindeer with an unusually bright red nose who struggles to fit in. After he’s outcast from his peers, he learns the value of his differences right alongside other “misfits.”
Lee is a middle schooler in Hopkins. In this production, he’s playing three parts: Fireball the Reindeer, a Cowboy, and performing as a member of the ensemble.
Powered by Puppets
On top of those three parts, Lee has become proficient in puppetry and is bringing his character to life. While Rudolph isn’t a puppet, many of the friends he makes along the way are.
“I have to multi-task, and I have to learn how to do everything that acting couldn’t do,” he explained.
For the cowboy part as a member of the island of misfit toys, Lee works to puppet for the cowboy toy. He’s riding an ostrich, fitting as he resides among the other misfit toys — like a train with square wheels and a spotted elephant.
Takell Lee performs on stage with his cowboy and ostrich puppet.
Lee is one of David Gamache’s puppet protegées. Gamache plays Charlie in the Box, another misfit toy on the island. He’s been a part of the production since Stages’ first iteration of the show ten years ago. Each puppet was handcrafted for Stages.
“He really, really paid extra attention to detail. He made it almost like how the special is. And I’ve been maintaining them for the past ten years,” Gamache said.
The puppets are still in great condition. And at stages, the magic is displayed right in front of the audience. Some magic comes in the form of flying reindeer, others in massive Abominable Snowman puppets — who Gamache also operates.
A Meaningful Message
Gamache loves working with Charlie in the Box because he fits perfectly into the story.
“It just goes with the message of the show,” he said. “That all these differences, all this uniqueness is essential to everyday life.”
David Gamache shows off his Charlie-in-a-Box, a misprint of the classic Jack-in-a-Box.
The television special turns 60 this year. He said even for adults, Rudolph’s message stands taller than ever all those years after its premiere:
“They see everything in a different light and they get a whole new meaning from it.” Gamache said. “Especially watching somebody, a little person you might know, that just makes it a whole lot more special.”
Showings begin on Friday, Nov. 22 and run until Saturday, Dec. 28 at Hopkins Center for the Arts. More details about showtimes, how to get tickets and different accessibility options are available on Stages’ website.
