From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mathieu_Ren=E9?= <creaturiste-AT-primus.ca> To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org> Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:59:57 -0400 Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Hobey and Mathieu in NYC Hi all. I'm back from the trip, and I'm very glad I went. It wouldn't have been as great without the help of a few putcritters, who were great with suggestions! And it wouldn't have been possible at all without one generous couple in particular who hosted me for two nights. I'll let them come forward if they choose, a while ago I learned some people prefer to keep their good deeds private. I was glad to meet Hobey Ford at the premiere of Hunchback, on Friday Night. It was also very endearing to see so many children have fun with their Peeper Puppets, some with one on each hand, after the show. The venue happens to sell them at their concession stand. So, this is how we coherce kids into becoming puppeteers now? Right on!!! LoL. The Hunchback was very entertaining and inspiring to me. I especially liked the wonderfully articulated sets (two large towers on wheels, with two ladders each on pivots, everything thickly wrapped in brown fabric, a few giant wooden crates) and actor's performances. Lots of emotions, as themselves and as characters, carried through clearly. They all were acrobatic and impressive on those apparently dangerous structures. The puppeteering needs more work (I think they are actors first). Some puppet vignettes were rough, more like playing with dolls than giving them life. The paper mache puppet heads and masks seemed a bit too rough and too "paper-mache-bumpy" to me, but I'm just being difficult as a builder watching his favorite medium not reaching its full potential. They just need to use much smaller pieces of paper, which would have avoided the obvious bumps caused by too many forced corners when draping. The strenght of them seemed ideal when I examined Quasimodo's head up close. The sculpture of them were very good. Everyone seemed very happy with the look. The little finishing aspect did not stop me from enjoying their character or life. lt was a good show to see. I had a great time, and recommend it to people who enjoy a good entertaining play. It was a good birthday gift for me. I concur with Hobey, the kids in the audience seemed to react well at Esmeralda's death. I was expecting some gasps or sobs, but none came. The next day, I had very good times when Hobey and I talked Shop and Puppetry and Inventors on the way to and from his show (Animalia) at a Public Library in Jersey. The show was awesome. He started with his Peeper Puppets routine, which is even more fun in person. The show was captivating and a lot of fun, I haven't enjoyed myself that much at a live event for a long time. I was quiet and attentive, then, giggling and laughing and clapping with the rest of them, and had no time or inclination to let my mind go technical during the show. The animals interacting with the crowd were a hit. So was the daring visual "puppet joke", which I'll keep quiet about, to avoid spoiling it for you. Hobey's Animalia set is very simple and very efficient, focusing all our attention to the puppets, which were exquisite and moved as if they were alive. The non-verbal storytelling was beautiful and very efficiently constructed. The life cycle of a butterfly was the frame bringing everything together. To me, this show has a clear multi-layered message of respect for nature and life. Hobey made it all happen without preaching, in simplicity and grace, with good moments of humor. I find it hard to refrain from talking more in details about the show, but I wouldn't want to spoil any surprise! See this show! Book this show! He finishes his performance by explaining about how the show came to be, how he became a puppeteer, giving some puppeteer warmups, a bit about puppet making, and answering other questions. He is a good storyteller and captures the audience's attention with seemingly no effort. This part makes Hobey Ford an ambassador of Puppetry in no uncertain terms. Before the show, I particularly appreciated how he answered a woman who questionned him about the kind of show he was going to give. He answered something along those lines: It's a puppet show for adults and children. It's for everybody. Indeed! I'd love to see it again, and more shows from him. I'm going to work on the locals here to invite him to perform. I had a few misadventures and a long moment of grumpyness and frustration on Sunday (cured with perfect french fries, a book, and absolutely heavenly pie). After writing it all down, I realize it probably wouldn't interest many people, so I'll skip that and just make a brief list of what else I did on my wonderful weekend: .Ripley's Believe it or not, Odditorium: very disapointed and felt ripped off (steep price for results), lots of items were low quality or broken, and employees were fake-nice and pushy. Still, some interesting stuff in there, will inspire me randomly. .Swedish Cottage: loved the beautiful venue, inside and outside. Nice people run it. got to see backstage, briefly, but didn't se much, standing out of their way while settiong up for next show. Disapointed by Peter Pan show's puppeteering, altough the puppets and sets were very nicely done and could move well. The show was in previews, so of course we were warned it would be rough. I felt they had just started rehearsing in that same week. Don't know if it's true. The three puppeteers accompanying the Director looked very new at this, which can be one explanation. .Central Park: loved the park itself, next time I'll rent a bicycle to visit more. .Roxy Delicatessen (time Square or Broadway, not sure which): went twice, loved it, will be back. .Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory (Water Street, close to Brooklyn Bridge) wonderful Ice cream, best butter Pecan I ever had. .Toys R Us (nothing seemed really new in toys, but the lifesize Jurassic Park animatronic T-Rex was interesting). .New York people: so much variety it's hard to describe, but I was positively surprised. I met lots of nice, interesting, helpful and curteous people. But you can only find out if you walk up and talk to them, I noticed was the case wih a lot of folks. Lots of frowns turn upside down! One exception: a rude police officer yelled directions at me, when I first stepped out of the subway and asked how to get to a street nearby. The fact that I didn't know what a courtyard was, must have triggered her. That or she hates tourists. Maybe I'll get my revenge someday, making a puppet after her, if I need such a nasty character. The sun was nice, the city was waiting, she didn't phase me anymore than two minutes! .New York Crowds: very very big, very much in a hurry, very hungry, unnafraid of cars, and feels very lonely for a single guy lost in it. I'm sure the whole city takes on new looks and vibes when shared with someone special. .New York food: yummy but dangerous! I didn't find any "real" health food restaurant near Times Square, although I looked. Fast food seems to be king everywhere I went. The only exceptions are the pricey high class restaurants, which I haven't sampled. I like the fast food tastes, but not its consequences. I'd like to get a real New York steak on my next visit, healthy or not. What? Food's my only drug! (puppetry don't count as addiction, ok?) .New York Desserts:I love the cheesecake, and the all-natural roasted nuts in honey. The people I met, the things I experienced and learned, the confirmation that "it can be done", made this whole trip a great experience. I already know that I love New York city when it's for a visit. I also believe that I'd adapt to its beat, if I were to land a job in Puppetry over there. I'm sometimes seen as hyperactive here in Montreal. There, my beat fits right in. As long as the bedroom is not setup in the middle of Time Square! Be it known, I'm ready for ya now, Big Apple! Gotta go back to making stuff and impress the big wigs. _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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