GEORGIA AUTHOR JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS’ “Uncle Remus” stories were first published in 1880. These interpretations of the African folk tales Harris heard told by slaves are narrated by the fictional Uncle Remus and star the mischievous Brer Rabbit, his adversaries Brer Fox and Brer Bear, and a cast of other anthropomorphic critters. Call them Southern-fried Aesop’s fables.
"They were kind of the Harry Potter stories of the 19th century," says Harris' great-great-great grandson, Lain Shakespeare, executive director of the Wren's Nest, Harris' former West End home, which serves as a museum.
The stories, however, have spawned controversy for decades. Detractors claim Harris, who was white, profited from slaves' stories. Others say Harris, who always credited his source, helped preserve African-American history.
Regardless of the debate, the stories live on. Today in Atlanta, fans have a couple of opportunities to explore Brer Rabbit's world:
THE WREN'S NEST
Harris, who was born in Eatonton, moved his family into this former West End farmhouse in 1881. It got its name when a family of wrens took up residence in its mailbox. Harris would often spend time on the front porch, and that's where he wrote many of his Brer Rabbit yarns. Harris passed away in his home in 1908. Today, it's the oldest house museum in Atlanta. Guests can tour the house, which still holds most of Harris' original furniture and belongings. According to the Wren's Nest staff, Harris' bedroom remains just as it was when he was alive. A group of storytellers, known as the Wren's Nest Ramblers, keep the tales alive. At 1 p.m. each Saturday, a storyteller treats guests to a live performance of an "Uncle Remus" tale. You might find storyteller Akbar Imhotep reciting one of his favorites entitled "How Brer Coon Gets His Meat." Since Shakespeare was brought on as executive director, storytelling at the Wren's Nest has become one its main attractions!
Arrangements can be made for storytellers to make off-site visits to schools and special events. The Wren's Nest hosts its own special events periodically, including the upcoming Victorian Christmas celebration on Dec. 7.
THE 411: $5-$8. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. S.W., Atlanta. 404-753-7735, www.wrensnestonline.com.
'BRER RABBIT & FRIENDS'
Characters from the "Uncle Remus" stories are coming to life on the Center for Puppetry Arts stage in the production "Brer Rabbit & Friends." Written and adapted by Jon Ludwig and directed by Clint Thornton, this musical blends puppets and actors to tell the stories. The actors, billed as the cousins, spin the yarns and use puppets to perform the action. The actors do triple duty and perform the soundtrack live, a mix of gospel, blues, bluegrass and boogie woogie. The cousins pick the banjo, squeeze the accordion, thump the washtub bass and more. All this takes place within a lush set designed to look like you're deep in the Georgia woods. But the stories themselves remain the core of the production. "I think the reason these stories have endured is because it's the timeless tale of the trickster outsmarting the big guy," Ludwig says.
THE 411: $14.82 plus tax ages 2 and older; $8.33 plus tax for members. Tuesdays-Sundays through Dec. 7. Closed on Thanksgiving. Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-873-3391, www.puppet.org.
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