
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 27, 1994                   TAG: 9406230017
SECTION: SALEM FAIR                    PAGE: 9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By SARAH COX
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

EVER-LOVABLE CRATCHETS RETURN WITH OLD-FASHIONED COMEDY

If you like fast-paced, slapstick comedy and the good 'ole-fashioned way of country folk, you'll be on the lookout for Granpa and Granma Cratchet at the Salem Fair this year.

These professional, television-type puppets invite the children to come on up and be a part of the show. The children can walk up to Granpa's front porch (on the stage), knock on the door and be greeted by Granma, Granpa, Clem the hired man or Fuzzball the dog. And the show continues in the best tradition of wild humor from then on.

A raccoon invades Granma's candies; Granpa blows up his stove; Clem tries to save work with his egg-catching machine; Granpa gets sucked into his super-vegi drink machine; and the whole house eventually blows up.

Granpa's Old Time Huckster Wagon is a model of a real truck that traveled the local country circuit in the 1950s - the kind that was essentially a grocery store on wheels. But watch out, because Granpa may try to sell you some of his Home Remedy, Miracle Wonder Drug, Old Time Elixir, Lot-a-Bull Fertilizer or Hog Wash. He claims they cure everything from stunted growth to baldness, and wax the kitchen floor at the same time.

It's the kind of home remedy we could all use: comedy that makes us forget the '90s for a while and reminisce about the good old days.

Granpa Cratchet will be appearing Tuesday through Friday, 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.; and Saturday through Monday, 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

by CNB