A holiday treat in Langley today from Aha! Puppet Theater

What child doesn’t love a puppet show?

And what better way to get into the holiday spirit than to join a group of children horseshoed around a puppeteer with live musical accompaniment?

Dawn Collins of Aha! Puppet Theater, accompanied by concert violinist Kat Fritz, will present a series of puppet plays from 1 to 2 p.m. today in downtown Langley.

“The Adventures of Tootsie & Toeby” takes the audience on an adventure with little socks Tobey and his sister-sock Tootsie, in two original puppet plays, “A Day at Sea” and “The Littlest Tree.”

Collins wrote the plays after Fritz’s 7-year-old son Jasper told her his version of a story about some missing socks.

The Aha! Puppet Theater plays are warm-hearted adventures where the little socks manage to slip away from their home in the top drawer of the big blue dresser and swim with fishes, frolic in the snow and meet a myriad of magical friends who help them on their way.

The strains of the fiddle follow the characters as they tumble through their adventures, featuring music from “The Nutcracker” and other holiday songs with Aha!’s beloved puppet Queen Virbimbia playing the part of the Snow Queen.

Fritz, who teaches music to both children and adults on the island, said she is proud of Jasper’s story and is excited to be working with Collins and Aha!

“It brings together my interest in music, puppets, theater and children. What could be better?” Fritz said.

Children of all ages will be entertained and surprised when they finally discover where all those missing socks have gone.

Sponsored by Act II Books and Puppets, Collins and Fritz will be appearing inside the former antique store building next door to Act II Books and Puppets as part of the downtown Langley holiday festivities.

Aha! Puppet Theater has been seen numerous times performing locally for preschool audiences. You may have also seen Collins and her puppet company performing at Whidbey Children’s Theater and at local library shows under the musical direction of Talia Marcus.

The performances are part of a day of festive holiday activities in Langley. At 11 a.m. today, a holiday parade with Santa Claus will make its way down the city’s streets.

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