This weekend, Monkey King, the favorite trickster/hero in Chinese mythology, comes to the San Juan Islands.

 Northwest Puppet Center presents “The Adventures of Monkey King” by Yang Family Puppets.  

Monkey King’s antics will be brought to life by Jen Yang, a sixth generation puppeteer from Fujian, China and her husband, Dmitri Carter, a second generation Seattle puppeteer.  

The carved hand puppets are painted in the colorful designs of Chinese opera. 

They are dressed in ornately embroidered traditional costumes, and were made especially for this production by Jen Yang’s aunt and uncle in China.  

Traditional music from China and projected backdrops of Chinese landscapes will help transport audiences across the Pacific Ocean. 

The story of Monkey King is more than 500 years old and was immortalized in the epic novel “Journey to the West”.  

Through the centuries, Monkey King has entertained both children and adults in operas, plays, comic books, movies and tv shows.  

This puppet show follows Monkey King’s playful games with the other monkeys at their  home on Fruit Flower Mountain, his underwater encounter with   the Dragon King, and his job in the heavenly stables of the Jade Emperor.  

Monkey’s magic, mischief and martial arts will delight   young and old. 

The performance will be on March 26 at 2 p.m. at Lopez Community   Center.

Additionally, they will perform in Friday Harbor on March 27 at 2 p.m. at Marie Boe Theater in the San Juan County Fairgrounds.  

Tickets are available at the door.