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Viking Warrior Puppets Battle Forces Of Evil On Carmel Stage

CARMEL, N.Y. -- Viking warrior puppets are ready to do battle in Carmel.

Mary Schreiber prepares the puppets for an upcoming production of "Beowulf" at Lake Carmel Arts Center.

Mary Schreiber prepares the puppets for an upcoming production of "Beowulf" at Lake Carmel Arts Center.

Photo Credit: echo-lit.com

The Arts on the Lake Hawk Rock Theater  will present "Beowulf" at the Arts Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5, at Lake Carmel Arts Center.

"Beowulf," written by an unknown Anglo-Saxon poet,  is the ancient story of one man’s struggle against the forces of evil, set in Denmark and Geatland, the southern portion of today’s Sweden. 

It follows the exploits of the heroic Viking warrior, Beowulf, as he wages battle against frightening demons and a fire-breathing dragon. 

The epic poem was neglected until 1936 when J.R.R. Tolkein, then an Oxford scholar and author of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” published his “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics,” thus bringing long overdue attention to the poetic masterpiece.

Directing her fourth theatrical production is teacher/artist Mary Schreiber. She and the 14 members of Hawk Rock Theater, a working blend of artists, actors, engineers, teachers and musicians, have been Sunday morning regulars at Arts on the Lake. 

There they have been handcrafting their props, puppets, masks and shields from an array of recycled materials to re-create for the stage an era dating back to A.D. 600, when Viking lords sat in the sanctuary of their mead halls and victorious warriors boasted of their heroic adventures. 

 Lisa Ameijide designed the puppets, inspired by the work of her father, the award-winning artist Raymond Ameijide. 

 “I am just so proud of this cast who has given up so much of their time and made such a great effort to bring this marvelous old poem to life so everyone might enjoy it,” said Schreiber. “This really has become a labor of love for each and every one of them.” 

Joining Schreiber from the onset was Kate Mackie, an English scholar who first read the historical text in its Old English when she was 19. 

“I was amazed at what an astonishing poem it was,” Mackie said, “and I have loved it ever since.” 

 Schreiber called Mackie a wordsmith of no small talent, as it was she who was instrumental in transcribing the poem, oftentimes tapping into other poets' translations. 

It was she who configured the entire script that Schreiber said not only “preserved the beauty of the language and the gravitas of the poem,” but also made the narrative flow so as to be easily understood by a modern day audience. 

Tickets for “Beowulf” can be purchased online at artsonthelake.org. or by calling (845) 228-2685. 

General admission is $12; AotL member admission is $10; and a special student admission is $8.

"Beowulf" will run Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m. at the center, 640 Route 52, Carmel. 

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