Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 18:07:10 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Suitcase Puppetry


On May 9, 2006, at 11:36 AM, Terri Mennear wrote:
> I have come across the term "suitcase puppetry" in a couple of places.
> Can anyone tell me anything about this form of puppetry?

I sort of took the term quite literally in creating a production 
entitled TOBACCOSAURUS REX.
An Object Puppet Production "exploring the need for young people to 
make intelligent choices about the use of tobacco." The script and 
production were created by in collaboration with to young interns, 
Jonathan Blackmon  and Reuben Shead. The production was created to be 
licensed to school and youth groups who would use the script and sound 
track CD to create their own suitcase production and perform the show 
for other young people in the community.

The objects/puppets not only lived and were transported in an actual 
suitcase, but the suitcase became the tabletop (desktop, in reality) 
set/puppet stage for the performance.

I was inspired by the works/practices of Paul Zaloom, Great Small 
Works, Chinese Theatre Works and of course my dear friend and so 
missed, Ken Feit. I began doing theatre as a performer at age 6, and 
wrote, directed and performed my first play at age 8. But puppetry 
didn't figure in most of my work until a co-founded Milwaukee Public 
Theatre (it had a different name at the time - 1973).

In our first 2 person touring show (all our shows toured) we used 
object puppets without even knowing the term. An animated umbrella, 
various sized balloons and our seemingly disembodied gloved hands 
conprised the first third of the show,

But most of the early work with puppets tended towards the larger size 
of the spectrum.

In FAREWELL TO FARMS OR POOD REVUED we had a "LUNCH & FOODY" show where 
the Punch stand-in, Mr. Lunch, beat the daylights out of junk food 
puppets with a big spoon. The puppets were all about 18"- 24" in size. 
It toured with DR. PLUTONIUM'S ENERGY CIRCUS which paired live actors 
with slightly larger than life sized puppets and a set that turned out 
to be a 15' tall Mother Nature puppet.

Once we began doing productions designed to be done outdoors, the 
puppets only got bigger.

Michael Moynihan
Milwaukee


_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org
Archives: http://www.driftline.org