Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:42:50 -0800 (PST)
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Adapting Grimm's Fairy Tales...


--- On Sun, 1/25/09, Pixie Moss <enchantedgypse-AT-gmail.com> wrote:

>I would like to start out using an old Grimm's or other fairy tale and
was hoping to get some advice on adapting fairy tales to puppet plays.
How do I begin ?  What is the first step ? Is there an easy formula for writing out a script and adapting a fairy tale ? Should I make the puppets first, or script ?


Pixie,
These are my opinions, and others will differ with me with good reasons, I'm sure.

1--Get a big book of Grimm's Fairy Tales or Andersen's or Aesop's Fables and start reading. Note the ones that appeal to you.  Narrow it down to 3 or 4 before you start the next step.  If some of the stories could be done by characters you already have, they should get preferred status, but they still may not make the cut.
2--For your finalists, Write an outline of each story, breaking it down into scenes.  Make notes of characters, settings, needed scenery and props, special effects, and anything that stands out to you.
3--Look at your finalists, and choose one to script and build.

WHICH CAME FIRST:  The Puppet or the Script?
If you script first, then you can build to fit the needs of the script.
If you build first, then you can write a script that capitalizes on the special abilities of your puppets.
You wouldn't want to start building penguin puppets unless you've already come up with a great idea for "The Penguin Princess and the Pea."

BASIC STORY FRAMEWORK (Willy Claflin)[For creating or adaapting stories]
Main Character
Friends/Relatives/Enemies of Character
Character's Problem
First attempt to solve problem
Why it doesn't work
2nd Solution
Why it doesn't work
3rd Solution
Why it works and the end result

--Willy Claflin is a great storyteller who uses Maynard Moose, a puppet, to tell Mother Moose Tales.

I hope some of this will give you ideas.

Keep 'em flying
or 
Crash 'em with style.

Terrance V. Mc Arthur
Fresno (CA) County Public Library


      
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