Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 20:49:51 -0400
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Suitcase Puppetry


"Suitcase Puppetry" refers to shows that use a suitcases for the stage 
or as the primary set pieces. Usually the scale is hand puppet or 
smaller. But  you can make larger scale shows also. One of the best 
suitcase shows I've seen (actually a "trunk show") was performed by the 
Carter Family-- back when they were known as "The Family Bathtub",  and 
long before they became experts on Baroque Puppet Opera. The whole 
premise of the production was a madcap exploration of things (and 
puppeteers)  popping in and out of  their assortment of old steamer 
trunks.  I believe they had gotten a grant from Amtrak to perform it in 
railway stations up and down the West Coast.

In a similar vein, back when the term "going postal" had particular 
cultural significance, Paul Zaloom once created a "UPS Show"  where 
every scene popped out of different  cardboard box.

With Chinese Theatre Works,  I once made a puppet stage for our "Toy 
Theatre Peony Pavilion" that  folded  down inside a wooden artist case. 
The trick was good enough that we decided to end the show with 
disassembling the little proscenium stage and packing it into it's 
case.

Even though none of these three shows used actual suitcases, the theory 
is the same-- the luggage defines the show in a very concrete way.

Stephen

On May 9, 2006, at 4:47 PM, Jamie Ashby wrote:

> I think, as Matthieu writes, it is mostly a matter of scale. Like 
> "tabletop"
> puppetry, this is a term that is being used more and more, and clearly 
> not
> everyone who uses it is working from the same definition.
>
> Ronnie Burkett began to get noticed doing "suitcase" hand-puppets 
> shows for
> adults with a "strap-on" puppet theatre. More recently, in Toronto, 
> Mark Keetch
> did a "suitcase" puppet piece. At least, I think you could call it 
> that. While
> he didn't literally put it in a suitcase, it collapsed down and fit 
> into a
> roughly suitcase-sized box. See his website for a series of pictures
> demonstrating this:
>
> http://www.zagadka.ca/html/p_ourtime06.html
>
> Hope this is of some help. I don't have Philpott's dictionary handy, 
> but I'm not
> sure that it would be in there.
>
>
> Best,
>
> Jamie Ashby
>
>
>
> Quoting Terri Mennear <tmennea-AT-rpl.regina.sk.ca>:
>
>> Hello:
>>
>> I have come across the term "suitcase puppetry" in a couple of places.
>> Can anyone tell me anything about this form of puppetry?  Thanks for 
>> your
>> help.
>>
>> Terri
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