Date: Fri, 26 Nov 2004 14:52:15 -0800
From: Dmitri Carter <dmitri-AT-nwpuppet.org>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Subject: [Puptcrit] karagiosis


Hello Michael and others,

If you want to know about the Greek Karagiosis, you should get in touch with
Leonidas Kassapides.  He is based in California's Bay Area and performs a
few different Karagiosis plays including with live music sometimes.  I don't
know anyone in the states who does the Turkish Karagoz.

For the shadow plays in both countries, Karagiosis/Karagoz is usually
improvised so more often than scripts, I think you may be able to find
scenarios.  Sotiris Spatharis wrote:

"How, in any case, would we perform from a text, even if we wanted to?  All
us old Karagiosis puppeteers are illiterate; we can just about sign our
names and that's all.  And not being content with being such rough diamonds,
we insist on performing for educated audiences!"

He must have eventually learned to write to put down his memoirs so here is
his book and several other books in English:


"Behind the White Screen" by Sotiris Spatharis 1976
"The Turkish Theatre" by N. Martinovitch 1933
"Karagoz Turkish Shadow Theatre" by Metin And 1975
"A History of Theatre and Popular Entertainment in Turkey" by Metin And 1964
"Karagoz" by Sabri Esat Siyavusgil 1951
"The Turkish Shadow Theater" by Andreas Tietze 1977

In the late 19th century and early 20th century both countries seem to have
switched to having an elongated arm so many of the old scenarios are not as
funny or obscene (depending on your audience) anymore.  Other plays have
probably been dropped from the repertoire all together.

Apparently some Greek puppeteers in the 1930's tried to save money by using
a gramophone rather than live singer and instruments so perhaps there are
some recordings still around.  The show songs were quite popular so these
recordings may have been released there.

Good luck,

Dmitri Carter
dmitri-AT-nwpuppet.org

http://www.nwpuppet.org

Northwest Puppet Center
9123 - 15th Ave. N.E.
Seattle, WA 98115

tel:  206 523 2579
fax:  206 523 8078


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