Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia November 23, 2008

SWIMMY, FREDERICK and INCH BY INCH

Leo Lionni's exquisite collage works are ideally suited for Mermaid’s unique approach to stage adaptation. The three Caldecott Honor books Mermaid has chosen for its tribute, SWIMMY, INCH BY INCH and FREDERICK, are among Lionni’s most beloved works. Their images are strikingly beautiful, and their texts are whimsical yet wistful.

Swimmy is a tiny insignificant fish in the vast ocean who uses ingenuity to fend off danger. Frederick, a mouse who is a poet from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail, makes everyday life an artful experience. The story of Inch by Inch features a lovable inchworm who is very proud of his facility for measuring absolutely everything, including a robin's tail, a flamingo's neck, a toucan's beak, a heron's legs, and a nightingale's song.

All these creatures provide wonderful scope for translation to puppet theatre through the gentle storytelling style which has brought international acclaim to Mermaid Theatre. The approach to staging will follow in the elegant tradition of THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR and GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU.

Official Website: http://mermaidtheatre.ns.ca