Two puppet companies, including one from Mexico City, will perform this weekend in Portland.

PORTLAND – Two internationally acclaimed professional puppet theater companies, Figures of Speech of Freeport and Teatro Tinglado of Mexico City, will perform April 30 to May 2.

John Farrell, co-director of Figures of Speech, said this World Puppet Festival would be in the mini festival format.

Teatro Tinglado made its USA debut as part of the Henson International Festival of Puppet Theatre in New York City.

Figures of Speech Theatre will open the mini festival at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 30, with “Nightingale.” The performance is based on the classic tale by Hans Christian Andersen. A full-stage presentation, it features original vocal music, actors in flowing silk costumes and 4-foot-tall carved puppets. It is suited to audiences from 6 to 96. Tickets are $14 for adults and $8, children under 12.

Teatro Tinglado will present “The Repugnant Story of Clotario Demoniax” at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 1, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 2.

The New York Times described this production as “brilliant puppetry and an enigmatic, wickedly funny tale of obsessive love and murder most foul … packed with imagination, invention and, best of all, humor.”

It’s performed in English and is recommended for adult audiences. Tickets are $17.

Performances will be in the Portland Yacht Services Building No. 3, 58 Fore St., and are handicapped accessible. For reservations, call 865-6355. FMI: go to www.figures.org.


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