Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:23:28 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
From: Joe Dunfee <joe-AT-dunfee.com>
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] SOM- Audience


I was quite happy with the audience when saw the Salzburg Marionettes 
perform The Sound of Music on Tuesday night in Lancaster.  I also 
caught the final 20 minutes of the show on Thursday, and again felt 
it was a good audience.  I don't know why we faired better.

I will comment about one thing that surprised me.  When ever the 
puppeteers lifted the puppets from the ground, the audience 
laughed.  This action was used throughout the show, in both the more 
surreal and natural looking scenes (though mostly the surreal).

I've seen this simple action used before by other marionette 
performers, but never before did I see it use to such great 
effect.  I think in the      Salzburg Marionette's case, the reason 
is that they have such realism in their performance, that you totally 
fall into the illusion of the puppet as a person. So, when the puppet 
does something like fly into the air, you are surprised by the 
effect... as much as if a live person had done this on stage.

If I had done the directing, I would have restricted the flying to 
just the musical or surreal type numbers.  But, the fact is that the 
audience giggled at the flying, even to the very end.  So, even if 
the effect had worn out on this jaded puppeteer, it still worked its 
magic on the audience.

Joe Dunfee  joe-AT-dunfee.com
Gordonville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. 

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