From: "Mark S. Segal" <segalpuppets-AT-comcast.net>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] American puppetry and children
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2005 18:43:21 -0400


This is a very interesting thought....
One that expands...
Thanks.

It reminds me somewhat of Durenmant (Sp?) saying that the only true tragedy 
today is comedy. I buy that!

Always thought that one of the allure of some puppetry was small beings 
trying to deal with  larger obstacles. Like Kukla trying to make lemonade.
Actually some of your work is very much like that. Not Kukla the other 
thing.

I would think today just being could make one feel like a small creature 
dealing with larger obstacles.

Also thought that the suspension of disbelief is completely different with a 
puppet...What you see is what you get (better - is what is)

Very interesting thought!
Thanks again

Mark S.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Preston Foerder" <preston-AT-pfpuppetry.com>
To: <puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2005 6:25 PM
Subject: RE: [Puptcrit] American puppetry and children


> Let me venture to add something here as someone whose work has been
> split equally between adult and family theatre. A major fact that is
> being ignored is that kids like puppets. I'd even go as far as saying
> that kids like puppets more than adults. They are naturally attracted to
> puppets. They are not reading some secret children's theatre journal
> informing them that they should like puppets.  Philippe Genty (famous
> French puppeteer) has a theory that you use puppetry in adult theatre to
> bypass conscious thought and go directly to the child in the
> subconscious. (I'm not sure that I buy it, but it's his theory.) In all
> those paintings of traditional folk puppetry that were aimed at adults,
> there are plenty of children in the crowds. When Bread and Puppet were
> parading protesting the Vietnam war (and all the other things they've
> protested since then), I'll bet that there was a fair number of children
> there enjoying the spectacle without knowing the greater intent. I'm
> also willing to bet that in the dark deep past, when the ancient priests
> were using puppets conjure up something or other, there were a few
> children trying to sneak a peek. There are no cultures where puppetry is
> exclusively for adults (OK John, prove me wrong). At best, there is an
> adult and family oriented counterpart (Believe it or not, some cultures
> feel children should be accompanied by their family.) Japan has bunraku
> but also a number of traditions aimed at families.
>
> So it's only natural that when someone is trying to define themselves as
> an adult they look at what children have a natural affinity for and
> decide that's not part of being an adult. Yes, puppet theatre is an
> effective theatrical technique for an adult audience. But it's hard
> enough to get your average person into any theatre, never mind avant
> garde theatre, not to mention avant garde puppet theatre. And yes, we
> should strive to expand the average adult theatre going audience to
> accept puppetry as part of their theatrical diet (part of my income
> every year counts on it) but let's not be surprised by the fact that
> kids like puppets and most adults have to be convinced to see it.
>
> Preston
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