From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>
Date: Fri, 8 May 2009 11:39:44 -0400
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Smelly puppets?


Yes, the smell thing has been done in shows. It's a nice plus if used 
judiciously. I'm sensitive to overwhelming smells (like perfumes, 
scented candles and the like) - particularly artificial scents - so I 
would certainly say the judicious use of scenting in a show would be 
advisable. One, maybe two, on a lower subtle level would do the trick.

   I have a show ("What's Cookin'?") that has only seen some small 
segments work shopped where some baking takes place - both figuratively 
on stage, and literally back stage. Some day it is going to get to the 
front burner (pun intended) and the show will get finished and see a 
tour, but I have to figure out some logistics first. It just hasn't 
been a priority.

  Once or twice I managed to arrange ginger bread cookies to be baked in 
conjunction with my "The Gingerbread Boy" show. More often, though, the 
sponsors want to just have the kids decorate and/or take them home. A 
ginger bread plug in air freshener is in order.

   I also worked with Heidi Rugg (of Barefoot Puppets) in the early 
stages of her "Little Bread Hen" show. It's an original adaptation of 
the Little Red Hen story in which the hen bakes bread. The other farm 
animals don't want to help, but they do want to share in the bread when 
it's done. Heidi's put a bit of a twist on the original story. I 
honestly don't remember if we shared the idea or if I presented it to 
her, but anyway, I loaned her a small oven in which she bakes a pan of 
brown and serve biscuits behind her set each show. The baking is timed 
to be done a few minutes before the end of the show, just as the hen's 
bread is done, and the smell is quite delicious and effective.

   When I was house manager at a theater I used the same idea for lobby 
sales. We baked fresh cookies (Otis Spunkmyer, frozen pre-made) timed 
to be done just as intermission started and the patrons flooded the 
lobby. We sold a LOT of cookies on the smell alone.

   As to the fog machines, some do have or allow a small amount of 
scented oil mixed with the fog juice making the aroma a bit more 
palatable to some.

   I hadn't thought of the campfire smell, or some of the other possible 
smells. I'll have to give that some thought. An old trick we used to do 
back in the 70's was to put a drop or two of aromatic oil on a light 
bulb. As the bulb heated up, so would the oil, spreading the smell. 
Might have to try that for a show. I've also used one of those pine 
plug in room fresheners behind an artificial Christmas tree, which was 
very effective. The same could be done in a smaller room for a show 
that took place in an outdoor setting. If it comes in during the show 
(by not powering it until the show starts) I think it would be more 
effective than if it were already smelling up the place when the house 
opened. The smell would be more subtle and creep into the 
conscientiousness. The effect would then be one of the audience feeling 
like they bought into the show so much they could smell the forest. I 
would never admit that I set them up before hand.

   Smell-a-rama lives on.


Christopher

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