The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The Tony-deserving performance goes to Douglas N. Paasch, who manipulates the stuffed animal that is Miss Cat.  Paasch is on stage every time the cat is, moving her head and paws, meowing and scampering around the set.  It’s a devise used in Asian theater, and it works in “The Witch of Blackbird Pond,” giving the play just a touch of magical realism.

–        Roberta Penn, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Sleeping Beauty

Prince Owain… out-riddles the gigantic puppet Spider King (designed by Douglas N. Paasch), whose appearance brought gasps of admiration from the audience.

–        Kris Collingridge, ParentMap

His challenges include outsmarting a riddle-loving, giant Spider King (Kevin C. Loomis), very effectively rendered in one of the production’s best displays of theatrical wizardry.

–        Doug Kim, The Seattle Times

The Midwife’s Apprentice

But the most vivid relationship in the play is Alyce’s connection with a stray cat she befriends – a small but expressive stuffed figure (designed by Scott R. Gray) which is manipulated with great deftness by puppeteer Douglas N. Paasch.  This added stroke of theatricality occasionally lifts the story into a less literal, more imaginative realm of storytelling that one wishes “The Midwife’s Apprentice” would visit more often.

–        Misha Berson, The Seattle Times

Bunnicula

The rabbit is a child-size puppet handled by Douglas Paasch – very adroitly and amazingly inconspicuously.  (He did the same for a cat at SCT last season in “The Witch of Blackbird Pond.”)  Bunnicula never speaks but he’s always taking things in, reacting to what’s going on.  He has extremely expressive ears.  He seems like a gentle fellow.  But that’s during the day.

–        Freddie Brinster, The Journal American

Peter and the Wolf

Add to that Douglas N. Paasch’s ingenious puppets and puppetry, which contribute greatly to the hill-and-dale chase scenes.

–        Joe Adcock, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Winnie The Pooh

…the 4- to 7-year-olds instantly recognized the animal puppets Douglas N. Paasch created and manipulates for the show… Whenever Paasch’s hand-held puppets predominate, there’s a center of focus that clarifies these tales and recalls the charming illustrations of the Pooh storybooks.

–        Misha Berson, The Seattle Times

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