File puptcrit/puptcrit.0902, message 57


From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 13:39:00 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Costuming a Puppet



On Jan 31, 2009, at 1:00 PM, Alan Cook wrote:

> Puppet costumes are not for streetwear, but for effect---it is all 
> about how it looks to the audience.
>
> Most oldtime puppeteers had standard reference books on theatre 
> costumes of different eras---Middle Ages for fairy tales, Renaisance 
> for Shakespeare, and so on. Other books covered Asian costume types or 
> whatever else you needed. For puppets they can be simplified.
>
> You may want to get books on basic sewing--they do exist. For hand 
> puppet bodies a shirt or blouse pattern usually differs from a human's 
> pattern in that the arms are upraised, rather than hangng down. 
> Whatever you do, just remember that the pattern you develop is for a 
> puppet, not for a person.

Puppet costumes are a little more than "how it looks to the audience." 
They also must allow the puppet to move in the desired way. Some 
differences and allowances must be made in converting "standard" 
patterns to puppet patterns. But, some shortcuts etc can be taken as 
well. No need to add a real zipper to a pair of pants for instance. 
Once they're on, they're on for life (or until a mechanical failure 
must be addressed.) Also, you can often dress a puppet prior to the 
extremities being permanently attached, so neck holes and such don't 
have to function as in a normal piece of clothing.

Old pattern books from the fabric store often have great examples of a 
look of a costume, especially if they cover the halloween period as 
that book has more "costume" pictures than the regular books. Once your 
abilities grow you can "fake up" almost anything for a puppet if you 
can imagine the pieces from the picture.

Christopher

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