Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 21:02:36 -0400 From: Ashley and Mary Aimee Sydnor <mars-AT-visi.net> To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Tabletop Puppetry, Toy Theatre, Object Puppetry, mjm wrote: >Yes. I purchased a copy as soon as it was available. >A wonderful book indeed. I read and reread and use it almost every day, >as well as hype it to everyone I work with and for. > >Digression Warning > >On page 11 of THEATRE ON A TABLETOP, co-author Stephen Kaplin relates a >wonderful story about a personal solo performance by the late Ken Feit. >I experienced the performance of the Buddist parable, where Ken used >two fingers and gum wrappers folded origami style, much in the same way >as Mr. Kaplin experienced it. In fact I experienced almost all of Ken's >stories in the same way. Often just he and I, maybe sometimes another >person in a tiny room. Ken was a unique friend of mine. > >I imagine a couple of thousand people can make that same statement. Ken >was almost constantly traveling. He was from Chicago but called >Milwaukee his home base for a number of years. But he was rarely home >for even a week at a time. During one period of time Ken and I lived, >literally, in the same room. It was in an amazing household in an >amazing home built by our extraordinary friend and mentor, insui Giehl. >It was my room when Ken was on the road, which was most of the time. >When Ken came home, I slept in one of the many sleeping loft spaces >available so that Ken had a bit of privacy and to do his phone >calling/booking, which was his major activity while home. > >When he came to town we would always go out for a meal or three, often >with others all connected to Ken. Ken would tell us all about where he >had been and who he had met and how we should connect with them because >in Ken's eyes we were meant to know each other (and as it turned out >Ken was usually right). While I saw Ken's art close up and often in a >private performance, I also made a point to see the same material >performed more publicly for groups of adults and children. I have to >say that Ken Feit is one of the fundamental contemporary influences on >everything I have done as an adult artist. > >The San Fransisco Mime Troupe, the Provisional Theatre and the Bread >and Puppet Theatre are also fundamental contemporary influences. But I >read about the Mime Troupe and Bread and Puppet long before I ever saw >them perform. I've seen the Mime Troupe when they (used to) tour to >Milwaukee, as well as in CA. The first time I saw Bread and Puppet was >also in CA, and then the theatre company I cofounded cosponsored >bringing them to Milwaukee. I never heard of Provisional (now >disbanded) until my friends of Theatre X (also now disbanded) brought >them to Milwaukee after meeting them in Amsterdam. All used live >actors, masks and puppets in ways very similar to what we did. > >When the cofounder of the Milwaukee Public Theatre recently attended >the festival/conference in Saint Paul, I requested that she make a >point to see Great Small Works and any other companies and individuals >who performed Tabletop Puppetry, Toy Theatre, Object Puppetry, and >Theatre for Small Spaces. But she is not as interested in such things >as much as I am, and she missed them all in Saint Paul. > >So I am still in search of photos and even more, videos. Any info >appreciated. > >Michael Moynihan > > > >On Oct 17, 2005, at 11:56 AM, John Bell wrote: > > > >>Stephen Kaplin and Kuang-Yu Fong have a great book about tabletop >>puppetry... >> >>jbell >> >> -----Original Message----- >>From: puptcrit-bounces-AT-lists.driftline.org >>[mailto:puptcrit-bounces-AT-lists.driftline.org] On Behalf Of mjm >>Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 12:54 PM >>To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org >>Subject: [Puptcrit] Tabletop Puppetry, Toy Theatre, Object >>Puppetry,Theatre for Small Spaces >> >>I am a theatre practitioner. >>Playwright & director now mostly. >>I have used puppetry in many productions as well as studied and >>performed puppetry a bit. >>I have created one puppet video (TAKE A CHANCE) and one object puppetry >>production (TOBACCOSAURUS REX). >>I have a great interest in Tabletop Puppetry, Toy Theatre, Object >>Puppetry, Theatre for Small Spaces and have the publications that deal >>with those forms (thanks to the authors, some of whom are on this >>community list) >>But we see none to little here in Milwaukee. >>I am trying to advocate it with my peers, coworkers and students. >>I am also want to do more, which in the world of nonprofit theatre >>means finding funding. >>Are there any photos and videos available online that I can show folks? >> >>thanks >>Michael Moynihan >>Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA >>"Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire." - Confucius >> >> > >_______________________________________________ >List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org >Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org >Archives: http://www.driftline.org > > > Thanks for reminding me of Ken Feit. I can close my eyes and see him sitting under the big tree at the World Fest in l980. I was mesmerized by him and have a little Unicorn that he made for me. So sad that his life ended so abruptly. Mary Aimee Sydnor _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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