You’re Doing It Wrong! A Puppet Comedy for All Ages

Photo provided by Ora Fruchter.

A bird, an egg, and a nest that just won’t come together. That’s the premise of You’re Doing It Wrong!, a new puppet comedy coming to Portland this October.

From October 23–25, 2026, Portland theater company Feeble Flame presents its first full production at Portland Playhouse. The 40-minute show combines handmade puppets, physical comedy and plenty of mishaps in a story about making mistakes and finding your own way.

Best of all, sliding scale tickets start at just $5, making it an affordable outing for families looking to experience live theater in Portland.

You’re Doing It Wrong! Puppet Show

Meet Bitty, a determined little bird with one big problem: She has an egg to protect but can’t figure out how to build a nest.

While other birds seem to have nesting figured out, Bitty’s attempts keep going sideways. Along the way, she encounters a prairie dog named Bub, dodges a snake and gets some questionable assistance from a gardener.

But Bitty isn’t giving up.

The show brings her adventures to life with colorful tabletop and rod puppets, imaginative scenery, slapstick comedy and an original musical score.

And this isn’t a sit-back-and-watch kind of performance. When things go wrong onstage, the audience gets to help put them right.

Designed for ages 4 and up, the production offers plenty of silly moments for kids alongside a relatable story about resilience, creativity and learning to embrace imperfection.

Show Dates and Times

You’re Doing It Wrong! runs Friday, October 23, through Sunday, October 25, 2026, with six performances:

• Friday, October 23: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Saturday, October 24: 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Sunday, October 25: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Each performance lasts approximately 40 minutes with no intermission.

The show is designed to be welcoming to a variety of audiences. A visual guide is available in advance, and attendees are welcome to leave and return during the performance if needed.

Pay-What-You-Can Tickets

Feeble Flame offers sliding-scale ticket prices to make live theater more accessible.

Choose from four ticket options:

• $5: Subsidized admission for guests with financial constraints.
• $10: Reduced-price admission.
• $15: Standard admission, which helps cover production costs.
• $20: Supporter admission, which helps sustain affordable ticket options and compensate artists.

All ticket levels provide access to the same performance. Choose the price that works for your budget.

About Feeble Flame

You’re Doing It Wrong! is the debut production from Feeble Flame, a Portland theater company founded by puppeteer Ora Fruchter and theater artist Sarah Smith.

The two artists met while picking up their children from preschool and discovered a shared desire to return to making theater.

Fruchter designed and built the puppets, Smith created the scenery and props, and conductor and composer Raúl Gómez-Rojas, Music Director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, composed the original score.

The production is supported in part by the Jim Henson Foundation and the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

For additional information and to reserve tickets, visit Feeble Flame’s official website or the You’re Doing It Wrong! ticket page.

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