'The Selfish Giant' puppet show tells tale of generosity

Blair Thomas is a long way from his native Jacksonville, Alabama, but he's still pursuing the same passion he did as a youngster: creating puppet shows.

"It's an art form that, in today's world, is startlingly simple because of its immediacy," Thomas says. "The delight of seeing a puppet has an immediate effect on an audience that's so unlike the digital exposure we see on TV or in film."

Thomas will bring one of his favorites - "The Selfish Giant" - to Windsor Elementary School in Arlington Heights at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. The staging of this Oscar Wilde short story uses Thomas' original puppets - and music by songwriter Michael Smith - to tell the story of a grumpy old giant who learns a valuable lesson about generosity.

The production was first created in 2015 for the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. This local performance is sponsored by the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, in conjunction with its latest exhibit, XOXO: An Exhibit About Love & Forgiveness.

Admission is free, though signup for children and adults is mandatory. No library card is required.

Thomas has received two international awards for excellence in puppetry, and he was the first Jim Henson Artist-in-Residence at the University of Maryland. Currently, he is the founder and artistic director of Blair Thomas & Co., which produces artistic puppet shows, and he remains an adjunct faculty member at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

"These are world-class puppeteers and creators behind this award-winning theatrical experience," says Pat Aichele, a communications specialist for the library. "It's being held off-site to accommodate the staging and a larger audience capacity."

The production features nearly one dozen puppets, of all shapes and sizes, including a mix of rod marionettes and traditional rod puppets. As artistic director, Thomas has played a hand in making each puppet - which are a mix of wood and papier maché - and outfitting them.

"Their costumes are designed to reflect the 19th century Victorian era of Oscar Wilde and to advance the story," Thomas says.

The sets, Thomas adds, come out of a series of four wooden storage trunks, which open as the story unfolds.

Jennifer Czajka, programs and exhibits manager for the library says her staff has a pulse on all different approaches to the arts and humanities - from storytelling to hip-hop to puppetry - and the library works to ensure the community has equal access to these experiences.

"While this production of Blair Thomas & Company may be stylistically new to local audiences," Czajka says, "we are happy to share their artistic approach to recreating this Oscar Wilde tale about developing compassion and kindness."

Mostly, she adds, the puppet show gives audience members a chance to reflect on the messages explored in XOXO, whose 11 interactive stations are part of a traveling exhibit on loan from the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

"Throughout the story, the giant learns the negative consequences of his behavior and the importance of humility, compassion and kindness," Czajka says. "These are incredibly important skills at any age."

If you go

What: "The Selfish Giant" puppet show

When: 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Feb. 24

Where: Windsor Elementary School, 1315 E. Miner St. in Arlington Heights

Cost: Free, registration required

Details: <a href="http://www.ahml.info/content/selfish-giant">ahml.info</a> or (847) 392-0101