Saturday, March 6, 13, and 20- 11:00 am and 2:00 pm

Location:
452 Railroad Street
St. Johsnbury, VT

Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door

“Watching Modern Times Theater founders Rose and Justin perform is inspiring on many fronts. They are confident and consummate professionals who know their art well. They are wonderfully creative—using their multiple skills to craft original content in their own inimitable style. They are hysterically historic—utilizing the traditional arts of puppetry, theater, vaudeville, mime, music, and storytelling with wry humor.” -- Rob Mermin, founder Circus Smirkus

Modern Times Theater is bringing its inimitable and wildly popular SATURDAY STOREFRONT TRILOGY to downtown St. Johnsbury for the first three weekends of March. An empty storefront will be converted into a pop up theater, featuring an epic Punch and Judy puppet melodrama in three parts. It’s Saturday morning cartoons, LIVE!

Each weekend features a new installment of “The Perils of Mr. Punch”, chronicling the troubles and travails of puppetry’s first couple- Punch and Judy. These shows feature brand new puppets and characters, as well as classic puppetry gags and tricks. The audience is invited to write letters to Mr. Punch, which will inform the creation of the next episode. Each week includes raffle prizes, delicious refreshments, live music, and a hilarious all-ages show. The atmosphere is lively and friendly, with pre-show music from a collection of vintage 78 rpm records, played on a hand-cranked gramophone (audience participation required). Both children and adults leave with faces and bellies sore from laughing.

Modern Times Theater delights crowds with a fresh take on the entertainment styles of the past, including novelty music, handmade puppetry, and classic comedy. Husband and wife performers Justin Lander and Rose Friedman have been adapting and updating Punch and Judy shows, and performing original variety acts with Vermont Vaudeville for over a decade.