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y o u th Fairy Tales for Kids hooiv he masterminds to fool the king. Puss pretends that his master, the poor miller's son. is the richest marquis in all the land. The cat's devious trickery wins them an ogre's vast fortune, and an opportunity for the miller's son to become a prince! A lot of thought has lo go into a children's play lo make it work. Words musl be carefully chosen; characters must be iruc to themselves The play w nuhl must allow lor opportunities have no boundaries wilh such a wealth of ideas and different genres to Mermaid Theatre was originally founded by Tom Miller. Evelyn Garbary and Sara Lec Lewis (who is now managing director). The company is in the process of creating an apprenticeship program for speci magic thai puppcls bring. Sesame Street has brought ihis art form the respect it deserves, and proved its educational value, but it is not the only puppei theatre in demand today. artistry and imagination as the everpopular Muppcts. The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia will enchant children of all ages with a multi-media adaptation of the three-hundred-year-old fairy lale. Puss 'n Boots. Masks, live minstrels, wide-eyed puppets and traditional storytelling bring Ihis tale to life, creating an enchanting 'pocket opera.' manipulated, the colour, sculpture and movement all combine lo offer added visual magic. The funny lyrics and imagery in ihis lovely and quixotic performance brings us theatre that children of any age would love. Mermaid currently has productions on tour throughout Canada and the United Slates, as well as their home province. They perform in schools, theatres and opera houses. Since Mermaid's inception at Acadia University's theatre department 20 years ago, the group has thoroughly developed and explored the multi-media concept in family theatre. Creative techniques. It wilt be the only program of its kind in Canada. Mermaid Theatre has performed at puppet festivals in Japan and Mexico and twice won the Citation of Excellence for Puppetry award. In ihis day and age, especiallv when mam programs are being cut from the schools, children need help in developing an aesthetic sense, in learning the value of the arts. Don't tel them miss ihis rare appearance of Puss n Boots at Ihe Centennial Theatre on Sunday, October 11th at 2 pm. crafts Arts & Crafts for the Elderly by May Sanches Most of us in society today are free to choose how we will spend our leisure time. But what of those who sit and while away the hours dreaming of yesteryear? These people need to keep their minds and hands occupied. We all share a basic desire to feel a sense of accomplishment --it satisfies the soul. However, for many old people in long-term care facilities, this is becoming less and less of an option. Because of government cutbacks, these facilities are increasingly underfunded. Arts and crafts programs are usually the first areas deemed nol so essential. (There are exceptions, of course. Some of the larger facilities do still have good activity brains ,th usmg their hands. The act of creating, say. a painting or a piece of fabnc printed with iheir own design, helps lo improve hand-eye coordination, motor skills and finger dexterity. w Volunteer Extraordinaire Organizes Craft Show In Kai c iMiihm Local artist Debbie Hungle has had a lifelong affair with the arts. The daughter of a cabinet-maker. Debbie has translated her talent for soapsione carving, photography, silk screening, painting, leather work, drawing and stained glass work into a very successful teaching career. Besides teaching a variety of classes at North Shore Continuing Education, she shares her enthusiasm for the arts by volunteering to teach soapstonc carving to hundreds of North Shore elementary* school students each year. Not one toreston her laurels, Debbie has undertaken a new challenge: volunteering to coordinate thefirst-everarts and crafts exhibit to be sponsored by North Shore Continuing Education. Her job as coordinator involves bringing together the selected works of over tinny arts and era!is instructors and their students in an arts and crafts exhibit and demonstration to be held on Friday, October 23rd. from 7-9 pm. and on Saturday. October 24th, from 10 am-4 pm at the Lucas Centre for Continuing The students in Ihe Crafts Insiructor Training program ai Capilano College are taughl adaptation techniques, communications, costing, planning and inventory. They are introduced to a wide selection of crafts, such as weaving, pottery, fabric painting, woodwork, stiichery and paperwork. Surely there is enough scope here to offer something of inlercsl lo seniors. Our seniors have worked hard for a large portion of their lives and I'm sure Ihey planned for a fun and enjoyable One will quile often find that seniors who retained better sight will help the less fortunate members of a group lo cope with the tasks at hand. Feeling useful is another important aspect of life seniors are often deprived of after entering an institution. Suddenly, the person who has been a caring, giving Mom or Dad for many years no longer feels needed by anybody. Taking pan in arts and crafts programs gives them a goal, and they will often find they enjoy making things for their greatgrandchildren or to raise money for iheir favorite charity. O Spare a thought for the people who helped to shape us and our community Yet, in my opinion, the physical and psychological benefits of such arts and crafts programs cannoi be ovcreslimated. There is a good chance that an old person who is admitted into a facility and cannot make the adjustment will lose their w ill to live and die within six months. Thankfully, [his is the exception rather than the rule. Nevertheless, I ihink being involved in an active pursuit such as an ans and crafts program would give these people an opportunity to interact with one another and lo share a common interest, thereby regaining a sense of purpose in life. many even less productive pui spare a thought for ihe people by Ihc time people reach their they are cither whcclchair-boi walker. 1 feel it makes people 6 A n . Acc*»F.II 1992 Debbie hopes ihat the exhibit will provide an opportunity for continuing education information, call 9J16-KKXH.