From: "W & P KREFTING" <kreftingfamily-AT-msn.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 21:52:51 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Shakespeare and puppets


Bravo, Bruce! I recall your performance/presentation at the regional 
festival (was it UConn 2004?).

Wayne Krefting


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Chesse" <bchesse-AT-imagina.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 8:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Shakespeare and puppets


To All Concerned.

I believe my father Ralph Chessé was the
definitive puppeteer to produce Shakespeare with
marionettes. in the 20's and 30's in San
Francisco. His book The Marionette Actor
chronicles that period. It is available through
Amazon.com or me. The price ranges from $25 to
$90 but I can sell it to you for $35 soft cover
or $50 hard cover (if I can still get them
wholesale from the publisher). None of my books
or my fathers are out of print and my video is
available as well.

In 1979-80 I produced a production of "Macbeth"
and played Macbeth with my family and a Canadian
puppeteer. which we video taped to have some kind
of record of the production. It is in the P of A
video archive  for anyone to see and I think the
VCR may now be on a CD.

Although I am most know for my expertise in the
area of  "puppetry in education"  I have always
functioned as a professional actor and worked on
stage with both my brother and father for many
years in classical plays of Shakespeare, Moliere,
and Chekhov to name a few.

My father's approach was to rehearse the plays as
actors first and then as puppeteers. We did them
live (without amplification) and in most cases,
complete versions of the plays rather than
abridgements, which was unusual for marionette
productions. My father was always a professional
actor as well as a puppeteer as was I and my
brother. I would be interested in knowing how
many puppeteers also work on stage as actors?
Puppetry for my father was always "theater" as
exemplified by Gorden Craig.
Liike Craig he wanted to also have complete
artistic control as well. Everything he did was
of his own artistic design.Ccheck out our website
chesseartsltd.com it has recently been overhauled
and now includes many photographs of his
marionettes and set designs.

[  MAD LEAR - see: http://www.puptcrit.org/attachments/Mad_Lear.jpg ]

Bruce Chessé
(still acting at 72)




>Dear Rolande,
>There are numerous examples, but usually excerpts are presented not 
>complete
>plays for obvious reasons. Most popular are Macbeth, A Midsummmer-Night's
>Dream and The TempestThere is a book devoted to the subjectwhich may be of
>use to you: ANTONELLI, E. et al: Shakespeare e il Teatro di Figura in
>Europa. 1983. 117 pages. 38 photos. Details of puppet productions of of
>Shakespeare's plays in Europe. Softbound. See also Bruce Chesse's book "The
>Marionette Actor.
>I'm afraid I do not have either for sale at the moment but you might find
>them elsewhere.
>Best wishes
>Ray DaSilva www.puppetbooks.co.uk
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