From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 19:28:20 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Narration ~ When to use and how much is too much ?


Pixie, et all,

   Regarding narration ~ when to use it and how much is too much. There 
are no absolutes to this. Much depends on your style of performance as 
well as the type of puppets used. For some, narration would be counter 
productive. For others it fits right in. Still others, the whole show 
is narration and it is perfectly fine. (I've seen shadow and object 
shows that were all narration and action - no dialogue - that worked 
well.) Some of it depends on the script as well, of course.

   Personally, I perform in a story telling style (where the puppeteer 
is often visible to the audience) for most of our shows. The puppeteer 
is an integral part of the performance. Within one show, I am sometimes 
narrator/storyteller, sometimes a character, sometimes simply the force 
behind the puppet (or under, or above, depending on the kind of 
puppet). In a few instances, a character (either puppet or human) may 
have some narration. Narration works in our shows, but not in every 
show or everywhere in the show. Often the narration paints pictures 
with words.

   How much is too much narration? Again, not an easy or single answer. 
Opinions differ, too. For me, the closest I can come to a "rule" is 
that it is too much narration when it dominates or obscures the action 
and/or dialogue. Too much would definitely be when you are narrating 
the action that is taking place. (Unless you are performing for the 
blind, so I guess there are still no absolute rules.)

   When is it most appropriately used? The closest concise answer I can 
think of is introductions, transitions, and conclusions. It can be used 
to cover short parts of a show where no puppet action or dialogue that 
carries the story forward is happening on stage (like scene changes). 
It can be used to cover expanses of time or space that might be 
impractical to cover via the characters. But narration is not the only 
tool that can be employed for this. One other is music.  I'm sure there 
are still others, but that comes quickly to mind.

   How should it not be used? Probably the more difficult of the 
questions you asked. When it should not be used is probably easier to 
answer. IMO, it should not be used to explain away weak points in the 
story or script, or to pre-educate the audience about what they will be 
seeing. It usually should not be used when puppets, dialogue, or action 
can just as easily carry the story and show forward. It should not be 
used to prop up the show in any way.

   When and how is it preferable to use? When it fits the style of the 
telling and/or performing of the tale. When its use enhances the 
overall show. When using puppet action or dialogue is impractical for 
the needs of the show. (Sometimes this is necessitated by the nature of 
how many are in the company, if you tour, the scope and/or scale of the 
show, budget, etc.) As I believe others have touched on, a human 
narrator is not the only choice either. Costumed character, a puppet, 
mask, or bodiless voice are just some of the other choices. IMO, it is 
not preferable to use a lot of narration when none or only a little 
will do. It's easy to get carried away. Think economy of descriptive 
words.

   With any luck I've struck (or come close to) that balance of "enough 
but not too much" with this post.

Christopher

PS - I once heard a quote that someone who gave speeches regularly was 
asked how he determined how long his speeches should be. His reply (and 
this was in a less "sensitive" time) was "A speech should be like a 
woman's skirt: long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to be 
interesting." I working on applying that rule to my posts. 

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