File puptcrit/puptcrit.0510, message 202


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
>>    
>>
>
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>  
>
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
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