Sanfordville students use puppeteering to share original fractured fairytales

Students in Ms. DeGuisto and Ms. O'Reilly's PIE 3/4 classes have been learning about different world cultures, including the folklore and legends that are unique to each. They learned how aspects of these legends and lore have made their way into many of the traditional fairy tales we all know and love, made popular by storytellers like Hans Christian Anderson and the brothers Grimm. Last week, the students put their own spin on these classic stories (and the morals they convey), learning about and experimenting with narrative elements to craft their own fractured fairytales.

What's more, they applied their art skills to create puppets, props and sets to turn their original works into scripted theater. They performed 11 short puppet shows over two class periods last week for audiences made up of teachers and parents.

Check out a gallery from dress rehearsal and the performances below this story!

So, what is a fractured fairy tale, exactly? Fractured fairytales are retellings of traditional fairy tales, but with some key story elements changed in order to deliver an updated lesson or moral. Students worked with their teachers and PIE parents to learn storytelling elements like character, plot, and POV, which they used to create their scripts. They also worked hard on setting, and each group of performers created multiple hand-drawn backdrops for scene changes during their shows.

The students' fractured fairy tales started in familiar territory, not too far afield from the originals, and then veered off with unexpected turns that were sometimes scary, sometimes funny, and often both! As Ms. DeGuisto put it, "You can tell, the kids really enjoyed leaning into the Grimm side of things!" 

There were five puppet troupes in Ms. DeGuisto's class.      

1. Troupe 1 turned the story of Little Read Riding Hood into a tale of revenge... for the wolf!
2. Troupe 2 used their take on Humpty Dumpty to teach everyone the importance of making good choices, because "there are some mistakes that just can't be unscrambled."
3. Troupe 3 taught the importance of cooperation and incorporating everyone’s ideas in accomplishing your goals. But be warned... things don't always turn out as planned! 
4. Group 4 showed how curiosity can land you in big trouble in their fractured version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
5. Group 5 created a prequel to the story of Rapunzel, which answered an age-old question: Why is she locked in that tower, anyway? Suffice to say, mother knows best.

There were six puppet troupes in Ms. O'Reilly's class.

1. Troupe 1 performed a version of Hansel and Gretel wherein the titular duo makes a voodoo doll to dispatch the warlock (switched from a witch) who was determined to turn them into treats. He involuntarily launched himself up the chimney.
2. Troupe 2 created a unique Three Little Wolves tale complete with dirt bike stunts.
3. Troupe 3, whose inspiration you may be able to surmise, followed the story of CinderBella and her family. 
4. Troupe 4 retold the tale of The Gingerbread Man with plenty of apropos running gags.
5. Troupe 5 took a twisted take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, to deliver the timeless moral: Don’t get into other people’s stuff without asking.
6. Troupe 6 performed their own version of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, admonishing all in attendance "to be careful who you trust!"

Bravo! Great work to all of the Sanfordville PIE 3/4/ puppeteers. And thank you to the PIE parents who helped with everything from building the stage to helping with character and script development.