It was an ordinary day. Looking at the front page of the morning newspaper that featured a large photograph of a friend of mine along with his mother. Guy by the name of Rob Broucht whom I have known since I was a young boy attending St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His mother, Mary Lou, was the assistant minister at the church for many years and was in charge of the youth group which my three children were members of at the time.
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| Rev. Mary Lou and her son Rob |
The newspaper photograph had a large headline under it which read "CURTAIN CLOSES." Rob has been an entertainer all his life, but it wasn't until 1990 that he officially went into business when he opened "The Hole In The Wall Puppet Theatre" at 126 N. Water Street in downtown Lancaster, PA when he performed the show called "Shantilly Lake." Rob's dad, Bob was also a big fan until he died in 2003 before Rob gained the success that he finally did. I can still remember taking my grandchildren to the theatre to watch a few of Rob's productions. I also visited with Rob quite a few times and wrote stories about his theatre as well as how he makes his marionettes and his stage scenery. But, after years of performing and making dozens of marionettes, "The Hole In The Wall Puppet Theatre," now known as the "Lancaster Marionette Theatre" will be closing its doors for good.  |
| The Hole In The Wall Puppet Theatre |
It will no longer be open to the public, but Rob will still continue his performances on the stage with performances on his YouTube channel, where he will write and perform new shows and updated versions of classics. Rob's final performance was on March 7, 2020 and is showcased in the film about his life and theater, "Marionette Land" by former Lancaster-based documentarian Alexander Monelli. The space in his theatre on N. Water Street that was once filled with seating is now filled with high-tech lighting, audio and video equipment. At one time he had plans to perform for 50 years, but he now realizes that it will not all be in front of an audience.  |
| Indoor stage at the Puppet Theatre |
Rob intends to continue to keep his mother involved in myriad ways, but Rob will still continue to make the marionettes, write the scripts and record the musical scores for his own productions. My wife Carol and I still remember years ago when Mary Lou was still the assistant minister at St. James Episcopal in downtown Lancaster and made arrangements for a trip to Italy to explore some of the old churches as well as the highlights of the county. About two dozen church members and another dozen non-church members had the best time visiting Italy's highlights as well as celebrating Rob's birthday. Rob will now concentrate on writing all the music for his new TV audience so as to avoid copyright rules. He will also perform the music he writes using his dozens of instruments from trumpet to a glockenspiel to piano to...well you name it and he can probably play it. Since "Marionette Land" first opened on the film festival circuit, Rob has quite a few followers on his "Lancaster Marionette Theatre" channel. And his mom, known to all as "Nanny Lou," will still be part of his productions. So as one part of Rob's life and career has ended, he will begin yet another part, but in the same location on the same set with the same instruments and many of the same marionettes that he used in the past. Just a different audience. And, I can hardly wait to see what he has up his sleeve! Knowing Rob, it will be something amazing! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. |
| This is "yours truly" at the box office at the puppet theatre |
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