File puptcrit/puptcrit.0508, message 80


From: Widerman-AT-aol.com
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 01:14:15 EDT
To: Marionettes-AT-yahoogroups.com,
Cc: 
Subject: [Puptcrit] Re: [Marionettes] Discuss the St Paul Festival?


 
Gosh, Jim, didn't anyone tell you about the secret speakeasy down the  
backstairs from the auditorium? Those Lutherans really know how to put up a good  
front. Went there between every show. All drinks were on the house, too, paid  
for with political payback money from inferior companies who got invited to  
perform at the festival. Snoozing through a few boring shows was well worth the  
free suds! And the entire time there was that rep from Pixar, explaining how  
everything would soon be digital, including performers and audiences! You  
just pay for the download and it plays to a virtual audience in two minutes  
instead of two hours! What a time saver that digital stuff is! And then there  
was that unbelievable sex orgy on my bus ride over to the Heart of the  Beast 
Theater. We never even made it off the bus to see the show! Well, I'm not  
surprised the theater looked empty to you. . . . . . 
JUST KIDDING. 
 
 
But seriously, folks, I thought it was a great festival with very few  
hitches. As always, there were good shows and bad shows. I am always happy to  see 
shows at a festival that I would not have any other opportunity to see, all  in 
one place in one week. I prefer to judge quality for myself, and tastes  vary 
quite a bit. In one instance, I experienced a good show and a  poor show by 
the same company, and I was quite astounded by that. Dug  Feltch, hilarious! 
Luckily, he had more backstage help the second evening of  Pot-Pourri. I was 
thrilled to see the movie "Strings," and work the puppets, and  see the short 
puppet films compiled by Heather Henson, in addition to the live  shows. Although 
I regretted not having time to see them, I was gratified that  there were 
other media compilations being shown, thanks to Gary Busk, including  one 
concurrent with the puppet slam that, unfortunately, couldn't accommodate  everyone. 
Even with extra time between some of the shows, I didn't have a  chance to 
speak to everyone I would have liked to catch up with.
 
Chevy's stayed open until 2:00 a.m. (the legal limit) most of the nights of  
the festival to service the party crowd, just across the highway from the  dry 
campus. The guitars, banjo, mandolin, sax and singers found a place to jam.  
(You know who you are.) When there was a show scheduled that I had already  
seen, I took the opportunity to check out the Mall of America, and see  
consumerism run rampant. Others went to museums and visited downtown. The  campus was 
very compact, and the dorms, theaters and food were blissfully  short walks 
from each other, which could even be accessed indoors during  the heavy 
rainstorm. As a performer, I was treated cordially by the staff and  crew. Thank you! 
I'm sorry we "critters" didn't organize as well as Jim had  hoped. In the 
future we should arrange to have an FTF (face to face) meeting,  like the old AOL 
group did way back when (remember fope?). I had to schlep  that heavy new tome 
by Eileen Blumenthal, I got at a discount at the festival  store to read on 
the plane ride home, too. Glad I saw her speak and got it  signed. I took some 
outstanding photos and my traditional video of the excellent  exhibit. I 
finally slept for two days after I got home. Thanks for a memorable  fest, and I 
hope we have many more to come. See you there!
 
     -Steven->
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 8/3/05 1:29:25 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
Jimsan777-AT-aol.com writes:

Dear  Critters & M'netters:

Anyone want to discuss the good and not so  good parts of the St. Paul 
Festival? Can we stand the criticism?

I  will stick my neck out! 

Personally, I felt there were  some excellent moments, but unfortunately 
some very slow and disappointing  shows.   I thought there was too much 
"down" 
time.    There was too much time between one show and the next with nothing 
to 
do.  The University disallowed alcohol or adult programming, so the Puppet 
Slam  
was moved to the much-to-small space at the hotel.   After each  last 
official 
performance of the day, there was an hour or more with  nothing to do: no 
drinks, not even coffee or sodas, in which to imbibe  while waiting for pot 
pourri, 
which began way too late. Many left  disgusted. or tired of waiting...and 
there 
were some good  acts!!!!   Doug Feltch did a nice job of emceeing in spite of 
 
technical difficultes.

Maybe the organizers thought  they would have many more registrants.   I 
registered late and  my number was 368, so at most there were probably less 
than 
500  attendees.   All could have fit into the larger of the two  auditoriums, 
but we were divided, so there were many empty  seats.   I   understand the 
problems with which  organizers must contend,   but I wonder if they even 
previewed a  
couple of the shows chosen?   Were they "politcal pay back"  invitations or 
was the price right, or was there another  reason?   All the people with whom 
I 
spoke, who had left these  shows early or stayed to the bitter end, 
questioned 
why they were  included. 

The workshops, on the other hand, seemed to cover  practically all areas of 
interest sans digital technolgy and its aspects  to puppetry.

Realizing that you can't please everyone, I  wonder if ANYone was pleased.  
To take a week out of your year to  attend a festival is expensive and a time 
investment.   I  understand why people would not want to attend, as stated on 
this BB.  There is also the "family" friendship aspect, which is a personal  
thing.   

So what are your  thoughts?   how can we improve Festivals in the future?    
What do you want included?   What would it take to encourage you  to 
participate?   Or were you well pleased and think I'm out of  line to even 
question?   
In the spirit of cooperation, I hope  you will respond.

Jim Gamble




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