“The Twig Family in the Oak Tree” is a happy, gentle story about a family of imaginary “twig” people who live in harmony with nature.  They are Leaf, Fern and their daughter Mossy.  The Oak Tree provides them with everything they need to live and be happy.  It is their home, they grind the acorns into dough for bread, they collect rainwater to drink and the leaves of the tree give them oxygen for fresh air.  AND it’s a fun place to live! 

What a surprise when they receive a visit from “cousin Lawn” who is determined that they should leave their home! The stage is constructed entirely of papier mâché. The Twig Family people are free-standing “puppets” that are moved around the different places in the “Tree Stage.” Appropriate for ages 4 and up. The show runs about 45 minutes.

This original story is by the puppeteer, artist, author, naturalist Deborah Costine, who has been presenting school and public performances throughout New England for over thirty years. Deborah has the distinction of receiving the highest award in Puppetry in North America; The UNIMA USA Citation for Excellence and a grant from the Jim Henson Foundation, for the production of her original show: “Turtle’s New Home.” In recent years she has begun to turn her art and puppetry into stories that encourage young children to explore and appreciate nature. Families are invited to come for the show and stay to make their own puppets afterward.

The show is presented as a part of the Saturdays with Puppets series organized by Cape Cod’s Dream Tale Puppets and supported by John Wesley United Methodist Church. The troupe, led by Jacek Zuzanski, has shared theatrical adventures with Cape audiences since 2003. Dream Tale Puppets first organized a puppetry series for families in 2011.