To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:37:33 -0500
Subject: [Puptcrit] Puppetry's new roles


* offshooting from the thread: Workshops, helping too much? *

Hobey Ford brings forth a great topic, when he says:
"I worried that puppetry would become obsolete in our
high tech culture but I think the opposite has happened.  I think it
is more valuable than ever."


Indeed!

First, allow me to divert a little bit to come to my point.
I personally saw my mind change about a type of puppetry that I used to 
doubt very much: object puppetry. But then I saw a very good show of it, 
their great storytelling skills, and simple efficient and inventive 
manipulations made it all come to life, the hammer, the teapot, the army of 
many forks planted on french baguettes. The copany is Theatre de la Pire 
Esp=E8ce, and the show is "Ubu sur table" (also performed in spanish as "Ubu 
Sobre la Mesa").

If this storytelling power is true for object puppetry, it is also true for 
any form of puppetry.
So a good puppeteer can tell a good story in any and all situations, no 
matter the financial situation.

I believe in today's world, technology, as practical and wonderful it is, 
has had the unforeseen effect of distancing the public with the performers. 
There's a physical aspect in Puppetry that no TV or other electronic 
displaying device can come close to.  During the live show, there is a 
unique energy (unique to every single show) shared between public and 
performers. It cannot be transmitted in reccordings, it cannot be displayed 
by devices.  After a live show, you get to meet the cast, both the animators 
and the animated.
After a reccording, you turn off the machine, there is no remaining link.
No amount of special effect on film can come close to a simple effect 
performed well in front of you.

What I believe we must always keep in mind when creating new shows, is how 
we can not only grab people's attentions, but also how to involve them in 
the story. It does not always need to be a performer or puppet actually 
going into the audience and interacting, but it is certainly one of many 
valid means.

I'm curious to learn what puptcritters are doing along these lines.







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