Thirty years ago, Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus and Sarah approached the Goblin King’s fortress to save baby Toby.
They had navigated the Labyrinth, a vast network of puppet mystery envisioned by Jim Henson. “Labyrinth” was the last film Henson made, and since its initial release in 1986, it has become a cult classic.
To celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary, the Center for Puppetry Arts announced it will open a special exhibit dedicated to “Labyrinth.” That will open Sept. 1. The center will also host a “Labyrinth”-themed ball in tandem with the opening night of Dragon Con.
Called “Journey to the Goblin City,” the exhibit will feature a large assortment of “Labyrinth” puppets and props – ranging from familiar characters like the worm on the wall to gowns from the ball scene.
The “Labyrinth” exhibit is in addition to the center’s recently reopened Worlds of Puppetry Museum, which has a whole wing dedicated to Jim Henson. The Henson family donated more than 500 objects to the center, which are on a rotating display.
Cheryl Henson, president of the Jim Henson Foundation and daughter of Jim Henson, was at the center recently to film an interview with Sony, which will release a special edition DVD of “Labyrinth” this year.
Cheryl Henson was a puppeteer on “Labyrinth.” She also one of the many puppet builders – contributing to making goblins, Alph and Ralph, the slimy hands, the Fieries and other miscellaneous objects like cannonballs.
“I was underneath the set [for the “Magic Dance” number]. I was puppeteering one of the goblins, and we were under there for days and days,” Cheryl Henson said. “The set-ups to make all those puppets have their place, it was very complicated.”
“Labyrinth” starred David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King. Bowie also wrote all of the songs Jareth sings in the film.
“Everyone was so impressed by David Bowie,” Cheryl Henson remembered. “When he would come out, he was so on and so professional and so focused … everything would light up and go.”
You can hear more behind-the-scenes tidbits in the interview above, including the moment when baby Toby peed on David Bowie’s pants.
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