Puppets of all shapes, sizes and styles have been around for countless centuries. Some historians believe they go back as far as ancient China. No matter if they are the traditional marionettes, hand puppets, a ventriloquist’s dummy or a body puppet , they serve one purpose – to tell a story – and often with a moral.

On Aug. 1, at the Raymond Library, master puppeteer Rolande Duprey performed for children and parents. The show, entitled “A Basket Case,” is a mystery surrounding a small “child” trying desperately to find his mother. After the show, a free lunch was provided outside on the library lawn.

By using a wide assortment of baskets of various shapes and sizes, Duprey is able to convey a sense of loss, searching and, ultimately, joy when the child finally relocates its parent.

“The baskets and puppets you see are all hand-made ,” said Duprey. “Most were made by a woman named Jane Ward, a weaver from upstate New York, who has passed away.”

Duprey assembles the baskets in a way that resembles a city, which she has named appropriately, “Basket City.” As she opens each basket in her search to reunite the parent and child, a multitude of surprises – not all of them good – await her.

An eerie ghost emerged from one hidden spot, as did a large snake dubbed the “color eater,” that attempted to rid “Basket City” of all the colors of the rainbow. Even the detective who appeared on the scene to solve the missing person’s case found difficulty and was suddenly transformed to a much older gent. Duprey kept the kids involved by asking them questions about what she should do next.

“Should I open this basket, is the child’s mommy in here?” she queried the audience.

The narrative allows children the opportunity to become part of the story and makes them feel as if they assisted in discovering the whereabouts of the missing parent.

After graduating from UConn with a Master’s in Fine Arts, Duprey began her career in puppetry. Her company, Purple Rock Productions, recently celebrated its silver anniversary. For more than 25 years, she and her troupe have travelled the east coast to perform a variety of plays and stories geared towards children.

“This particular story is about abundance and want,” Duprey explained. “But it also teaches children about colors and inside and outside. These are key words. You hear them yell, ‘Stay out’ or ‘Stay in.’ These concepts get them to practice memory usage. This is very important when learning to speak the language.”

Duprey’s company performs other shows with different themes that are focused on helping children with concepts and ideas – and having fun in the process . She also holds workshops and lectures that demonstrate puppet building and techniques. As a teaching artist with the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Duprey has much to offer to budding puppeteers in the state.

“I had a burning interest in this,” she said. “My mom was a teacher, and I knew how important it was for children to learn out of something theatrical. It isn’t boring, and it can be taught easily through theater.”