American Tall Tales

Taped before a live audience, American Tall Tales showcases “Dr. Bigelow's Wild West Puppet Show,” a musical stage performance featuring live actors, hand-and-rod puppets, shadow puppets, and a giant ogre puppet that takes three people to operate. In an intro strongly reminiscent of The Muppet Show, a harried stage manager strives to get the many puppets ready for the curtain, after which “Dr. Bigelow” hawks “Tall Tale Tonic” while the stories of Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Pecos Bill, and Hekeke (a Native American) are presented, with some politically-correct revisions (Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox ultimately go to Canada to plant some trees, and John Henry does not “lay down and die” here but merely takes a nap). A couple of quibbles: John Henry's tale is presented as if it were a silent film with “titles” that are poorly lit and difficult to read, and some of the songs are lame. Overall, however, this is a solid program. DVD extras include a profile on the Center for Puppetry Arts and a "behind-the-scenes" look at puppetry. Recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Reagan)