Marionette Show | Hansel & Gretel | Friday, February 20 at 3:30 pm

About this experience

Popular puppeteer Carl Sprague returns to Ventfort Hall to charm all ages with Hansel & Gretel. The audiences will have the opportunity to meet this wizard, who knows how to pull strings.

Hansel & Gretel is a classic German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm about two siblings abandoned in the woods who find a house made of sweets, owned by a witch intending to eat them. The clever children outsmart her by pushing her into her own oven, and escape with her treasures to find their way home. This fairy tale symbolizes themes of cleverness, survival, and greed vs. kindness.

Sprague, who has appeared annually at Ventfort Hall with his “behind the scenery” mastery, has been a puppeteer since childhood.  He inherited a collection of 60 antique Czech marionettes, each about eight inches tall that were assembled by his great-grandfather, Julius Hybler.  Hybler’s legacy also includes two marionette theaters. 

Also, Sprague has been a set designer for such motion pictures as “The Royal Tenenbaums” and Scorcese’s “The Age of Innocence,” as well as for theater productions including those of Shakespeare & Company.

Admission to the show is $20 per person, $10 for children 4-17, and free for ages 3 and under. Children must be accompanied by adults. The mansion is decorated for the holidays. Reservations are required as seating is limited and can be made on line at https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or by calling (413) 637-3206. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows.