"Ode to Walt Whitman" at Open Eye Theatre

While the lives of 19th Century American poet Walt Whitman and early 20th Century Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca (whose play was the basis for the musical Bernarda Alba) did not overlap chronologically, their lives and their work did overlap thematically. And in fact, Lorca wrote a poem called Ode to Walt Whitman, which was the inspiration for a puppetry play of the same name, which Open Eye Theatre has brought to their stage as part of their Guest Artist Series. The 70-minute show feels very much like a poem with puppetry and music, and like all poems, does not follow a straight-forward narrative. Rather it's a series of images and ideas that evoke emotion. This lovely, inventive, thoughtful show is playing through June 8 only.

"Make Believe Neighborhood" at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

I, like millions of children in America and across the world, grew up watching Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, which aired on PBS from 1968 through 2001. But I don't think I realized at the time what an exceptionally good and kind human Fred Rogers was, a strong advocate for children's education and development, and for kindness towards all. All I knew as a kid is that Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was a comforting place to spend a half hour, and I especially loved the Neighborhood of Make Believe (where I first experienced opera). In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, located in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis, is premiering an original multi-media play called Make Believe Neighborhood that pays homage to the work of Fred Rogers, as well as to the good work being done in their own neighborhood. I spent much of the two hours with tears behind my eyes, so moved by the kindness of my childhood favorite, and by the inspirational people working to create and strengthen community in Phillips. In a world of increasing violence, negativity, and divisiveness, spending a little time in this Make Believe Neighborhood, and learning how one neighborhood is making Mister Rogers' vision a reality, is a balm to the soul.