Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 11:36:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jim Gamble <jimsan777-AT-yahoo.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Help in Building Bunraku Puppets


Dear Michele, 

  In response to your appeal for Kabuki help, maybe
the following will be of interest:

  I am not an expert in Bunraku, but have viewed a
number of performances in Japan (Nagoya and Tokyo) and
have been treated to various tours backstage at their
primary location in Nagoya as well in Osaka. I have
been allowed to put my hands on the puppets and see
the internal workings of the animated heads....they
use whale baleen for spring action.... They provided
many demonstrations during the 1980 UNIMA Festival in
Japan. The Kabuki theater tours during parts of the
year, but is resident in Nagoya (if my memory serves
me correctly.)

  We, my company, used the Kabuki style for our own
production "Tales of the Ashanti," first created for
Open House at Hollywood Bowl about 15 years ago.

 Recently deceased extraordinary puppeteer, Roger Mara
wrote the basic script and designed the show, with
Caldecott Award Winning author, Gail Haley, writing an
additional piece to bring the production from 30 min.
to a 50 minute version for theaters. Beverly Armstrong
drew primary designs. Greg Ballora created the puppets
themselves and developed some creative manipulation
rod techniques allowing each puppet to be worked by a
single puppeteer.  The show has now toured to many
parts of America....with rave reviews, I might add!

I believe we have photos of the puppets on my web
site:  www.jimgamble.com   If not, I know Ashanti
photos are included in the Gallery Slideshow on our
recently released nine DVD, (along with a tour of our
studio.)

  Greg used dyed Scott Foam for basic construction,
with somewhat muppet style mouth, but did a great job
making the puppets NOT muppet-like at all. 

  The Theater Dept at the University of Hawaii has
also produced Kabuki productions...they are premier in
Asian Theater Arts inviting outstanding Oriental
Artists and Directors to teach in residence from time
to time.  Some of my performing tours have overlapped
times when UH students were at work in Honolulu.  I'm
sure Dr. Tamara Hunt can provide additional info on
their programs.

  I hope this rambling account is helpful. Many
American puppeteers have experimented with Kabuki
style, adapting to their own needs.  Cross cultural
experience helps puppetry in general.  I've been
fortunate to experience so many different parts of the
world, myself.  

   Sincerely, Jim Gamble





 
--- Michele Repyak <starbelle22-AT-charter.net> wrote:

> Hello, 
>  
> My name is Michele, and I am a student who is taking
> an International 
> Baccalaureate World Theatre Studies class at my
> school. As a part of this class, 
> we are required to write a research commission on a
> specific element of a piece 
> of World Theatre. For my project, a director has
> commissioned me to help her 
> design Bunraku puppets for her production of Love
> Suicides of Sonezaki. We are 
> required to have several primary sources in our
> reasearch, and I was wondering 
> if you would be able to answer some questions that I
> have and if I can include 
> you as a source in my commission letter. If you
> could help me or direct me to 
> someone who is knowledgeable in this field it would
> be greatly appreciated. 
> Thank you! 
>  
> Michele 
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