From: "Mark S. Segal" <segalpuppets-AT-comcast.net>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 07:20:43 -0400
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Seeing Pro puppets up close


Caro,
I saw the Star Keeper several years ago at the Annenberg's children's 
theatre festival in Philadelphia.
The show may have changed since then ( I hope so) after all a piece that is 
in performance is also usually in constant development and growth. (or 
should be?).
My memories of it are vague (ish).
What I remember feeling was disappointment that all this creativity all this 
stunning visuallity left (me) and the audience bored and waiting for it to 
end.
I think the main problem (and like I said it was a long time ago) was that 
there was no character that I could empathize with. The story for me wasn't 
clear and easy.
In one of the old books...whose was it? There is the mention of the 3 E's of 
puppetry. Elucidate, Educate, Entertain.(Maybe elevate is in there too - 
does anyone else know of this? can anyone else help????)
I was entertained (for a short ....too short a period of time for the 
outstanding work being done).
Was not elucidated....feel asleep every now and then (I think)...but then 
again what puppeteer doesn't in a darkened theatre???? :)
Educated??? Don't remember taking anything away with me.....
As a member of  an audience I like things kind of clear cut. I don't want to 
have to figure out what is being presented...what is the vision. This 
doesn't mean I don't want to think.....I do, I want to be moved.  There have 
been and there are plenty of pieces that I have seen that do that. Just a 
few points as an example: I really enjoy Mum Puppet Theatre's work (in 
Philadelphia) .....there is usually an integrity of theatricality that I can 
trust and do look forward to. May not always like the piece but am never 
bored...they tend to invest me (the audience)  in their work; 
Figurtentriangle's Metamorphosis which I saw in 1980 will always stand out 
in my mind...... Crabgrass's work is always (to me) fascinating, gosh there 
are a lot as I start thinking about it...last year at the festival Nosferatu 
stood out (again for me)..
I don't have to understand, but I cannot be confused and I do remember 
thinking at the end of the show,  (Star Keeper), so what.
I think that humor and causing an audience to laugh (in recognition?) is 
extremely important.....don't remember a lot of humor in that piece...just 
hmmm "Artistry".

The best example of the importance of humor and relationship to the audience 
(for me) was exemplified in the movie Jaws...There is a scene where Richard 
Dreyfuss is underwater and finds a boat with a hole in it....(we have not 
seen the shark yet - I don't think) the tension is palatable the music may 
be  playing he is looking into the hole...there is movement...and a bloated 
corpse pops through...
The audience (in the movie theatre) jumped and then started laughing in 
relief. Wow what a great moment. I became a fan at the moment.

Re Star Keeper:

The saddest thing (to me) is that a majority of the audience felt the same 
(ennui)...and the physical work on the stage did not really deserve it.
But this was a long time ago and I am sure it has improved. It had too much 
potential not to.

Mark

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Caro Naidin" <ursulica29-AT-yahoo.ca>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 8:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Seeing Pro puppets up close


>
> Hi, Mark.
>
> I cannot guess the reason you were not impressed by
> "The Star Keeper" :O) However, the strange
> atmosphere could have played a role. Or perhaps
> the idea of the show: my friend, for instance,
> was "terrified" of the thought that a fragile worm
> engaged himself in a nightmarish trip. In contrary,
> I found it being mysterious and exciting that a
> worm took on a heavy challenge. Um... Just think,
> a worm with a took and a backpack, obsessed with
> a fallen star. So I did not care less that the poor
> worm was encountering nasty, fussy or bizarre
> creatures, since he was as grotesque looking and
> egotistic as the others. ;O)))))
>
> Caro
>
>
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