Puppet Action Holds Back Imaginative Story of ‘Feathers’

A poor boy, his mysterious godfather, a magic pony, an evil king and a beautiful princess--”The Three Golden Feathers,” presented by the new Synthesis Little Puppet Theatre, is an imaginative tale that comes to life more in the telling than in its puppet action.

Based on a Danish fairy tale, director Emil Molho’s prerecorded, engaging adaptation is narrated by mop-haired Marky the Bookmark and presented by elegant molded rod puppets, designed by Silvia Batchvarova.

It’s not the story but the puppeteering that needs to be fueled with more imagination to live up to the show’s charming potential. Molho and Vassia Panova, the puppeteers at a recent show, could do much, much more to bring the big-eyed little puppets to life. Instead, they paused when the narrative paused, breaking the rhythm of the tale; the puppets’ entrances, exits and interactions were haphazard; and whole chunks of the story went by without any visual illustration other than puppet Alabal’s unanimated presence.

How about glimpses of the golden feathers that drew Alabal into his adventure, of his visions of the princess, of his sea voyage, the helpful giants, the enchanted princess’ transformation from her bird form, all crafted with the same artistry as the main puppet cast?

If all the elements were ho-hum, it wouldn’t matter, but with more commitment and care in the actual execution, this could be a sweet, gentle treat.

* “The Three Golden Feathers,” Synthesis Little Puppet Theatre at Synthesis Dance Studios, 4200 Lankershim Blvd., Universal City. Sundays, 3 p.m. Indefinitely. $8. (818) 754-1760. Running time: 40 minutes.

LACMA Series: Children ages 5 to 12 can get creative in a host of activities designed just for them in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s new weekly children’s series, “Sheila and Wally Weisman Family Sundays.” This month’s theme is “What Are You Wearing?” This Sunday’s program: Explore the exhibition “The Fashionable Child,” make paper dolls inspired by styles from 1800 to 1930; design Victorian-inspired picture frames; and put on mini-plays. Storyteller Nailah Malik, the Vela Storyteller, will spin fairy tales, too.

On Sept. 26, begin the afternoon with excerpts from the Foliage Theater Project’s production of Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost” in the Bing Theatre; visit “The Fashionable Child”; make paper dolls, puppets and time capsules; and listen to Grimms’ fairy tales told by Harlynne Geisler.

Children ages 5 and under, by the way, can create art at their own pace in the “Toddler Tarp.”

* “What Are You Wearing?,” Sundays, 12:30 to 4:15 p.m. Included in museum admission: $7 adults; $5 seniors and students with ID; $1 ages 6 to 17; free for ages 5 and under. (323) 857-6512; Spanish: (323) 857-6505.