Ever tried teaching your children to be polite and respectful and felt like your words were falling on deaf ears?Perhaps scolding them and putting them in timeout isn’t the answer but maybe treating them to a fun afternoon out is.Ventriloquist Silvia Fletcher will be on Island next weekend encouraging learning through her puppet show, The Magic Truck.While the family show doesn’t typically have a strong message embedded, she said several lessons were implied: how to be polite, how to be respectful, the value of citizenship, love for yourself, love for other people and your goals and the importance of laughing, and laughing at yourself.“I believe children learn when they’re interested and engaged. The puppets are very engaging, real, and most of all they promote laughter,” she said.Mrs Fletcher said those who turn up for the performance at Ruth Seaton James Theatre should expect “tons of fun and lots of laughter”.“I want people to be more knowledgeable about the art of ventriloquism and world of comedy,” she added.Mrs Fletcher developed a love for puppets as a young child in Los Angeles watching Sesame Street. By age five, she was given her first ventriloquist figure; today she has been performing professionally for nearly 15 years throughout the US.She has visited Bermuda several times before while performing on a cruise ship, however, this will be her first time running the show on the Island itself.She has been brought to perform by the Bermuda Magic group. The October 15 event will also feature entertainment by Stylamanders, a high-energy musical duo from Canada, and Jugglers of Bermuda.Mrs Fletcher said she is “very excited” about the show and will be bringing special puppets, including Smolder, a funny dragon, Chito, a Hispanic possum and Portia, a wannabe singer and former American Idol contestant.“[There may also be] a talking cup and/or picture [and] audience members could transform into outrageous dummies and other surprises. “You never know what’s coming out of the Magic Trunk,” she added.The trunk is a box full of quick-witted puppets that Mrs Fletcher magically brings to life through ventriloquism.She describes ventriloquism as an art form that “requires lots of practice and passion”.In her show she adopts the role of an actress who plays two parts at the same time the part of herself and also the individual puppet character. In a show there could be up to 12 puppet characters.“I also consider myself almost a type of musician who can make you laugh or cry while performing with my instrument [the puppet].”The goal of the show is “to make people happy”, “to see smiles and laughter” and “inspire future artists”.She added: “There is something in it for all ages. Our show attracts elementary school kids, high school kids, college kids and adults. No one is left out.”The show will take place next Saturday at 1.30pm and 4.30pm at Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts.Tickets, $25 for students and $35 for adults, can be bought online at www.bermudatix.bm or at All Wrapped Up on Reid Street, Hamilton.www.bermudamagic.com.