From: Brett DeBruyn <brett-AT-echothree.com>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:01:27 -0600
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Glue & Q


I must say, I am a huge fan of Avenue Q. I also must say that, seeing  
the performers talk as they work the puppets IS 'poor puppeteering'  
but in this particular show, it worked. i was fortunate enough to see  
John Tartaglia perform on stage in New York. It was great. Even more  
interesting however, was the, when I saw it again in Des Moines Iowa,  
the sex scene was even racier than in New York. Quite surprising. As  
for why the general public may rave about it even though the  
performance may not have been good in a particular show or area (as in  
Naomi's case), The general public has little knowledge of what 'good  
puppeteering' is. Indeed,  just having a puppet flop on stage is  
enough to satisfy the average civilian's puppet desire (which means,  
if you are even a notch above flopping the puppet onto the stage, the  
average audience hails you as a master).
Many people's experience with adult puppetry begins & ends with Avenue  
Q and Jeff Dunham (whom I greatly enjoy as well).
I spoke with a mall PR director about performing in her mall. When the  
subject came up about puppets and various types & styles she said  
"Well, I liked Avenue Q'...I assured her my marionettes were  
appropriate for adults but still not as racy as any on Avenue Q. She  
is coming to a sow on the 16 of Nov. to see what my performers do.




On Nov 12, 2009, at 11:11 AM, Naomi Guss wrote:

> It's interesting to read other people's thoughts on Avenue Q,  
> particularly
> referencing the American production. I've only seen the Australian  
> one and
> personally found it trite and very badly performed (this was the  
> opening
> night performance for the entire Australian tour). The sad thing is  
> I and my
> puppeteer friend both thought the puppeteering was horrendous, but  
> the show
> has received constant rave reviews - although it seems several  
> people who
> saw the Aussie version have noted concerns over the performance, it  
> doesn't
> seem to be picked up at all by mass media reviewers... who seem so  
> busy
> being excited about the 'adult' aspect of the puppetry to consider  
> whether
> or not the show actually *is* any good.
>
> I guess this conversation intrigues me most because America has  
> *way* more
> puppetry accepted/acceptable for adult audiences - for Aussies, this  
> is
> pretty much the first time they're seeing a show since watching Sesame
> Street as a kid. Avenue Q has been accepted by audiences here as if  
> it's the
> 'be all and end all' of puppetry for adults, and it's nice to see that
> others in the puppetry community, especially given the 'popularity'  
> of the
> show in the US and elsewhere, have similar concerns.
>
> ... Also, having see John Tartaglia perform a song at the National  
> Puppetry
> Festival, I am astonished at the true difference between the  
> Australian
> puppeteering and his. If Tartaglia had performed in the Aussie tour,  
> I would
> have gone home *much* more impressed.
>
>
>
> -------
>
> Naomi Guss
>
> www.puppetsinmelbourne.com.au
>
> Puppets in Melbourne
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Puppet People [mailto:puppetpeople-AT-nycap.rr.com]
> Sent: Thursday, 12 November 2009 7:55 AM
> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Glue & Q
>
> I went to see Ave Q, not thinking I would like it...and I laughed my  
> asss
> off! It was not a great peice of theatre...meaning it didn't make me  
> think
> deep thoughts and ponder my existence and purpose of life, nor was it
> something that stayed with me...but in the moment I enjoyed myself  
> greatly!
>
> Michelle
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alexander Winfield" <sheepwpunks-AT-gmail.com>
> To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Glue & Q
>
>
>> I am curious to see Avenue Q - it always fascinates me to see a  
>> show that
>> IS
>> popular, that has millions of dollars spent on it, that has been  
>> seen by
>> hundreds of thousands. What has made the show popular? Does the  
>> audience
>> really seem to enjoy it as much as they expected? I remember seeing  
>> a very
>> lackluster production of Chicago that inspired very few laughs and a
>> generally stoic atmosphere from the audience, only to get a standing
>> ovation
>> at the end. Perhaps, finally, we give respect to something in part  
>> due to
>> its size, in part due to its success?
>>  Another side-affect of Avenue Q's popularity: when I put on a  
>> production
>> of my small, dark show 'Lords of Nowhere' last year I advertised it  
>> as a
>> puppet show for adults. I received many calls from prospective  
>> patrons who
>> assumed that 'adult' meant it was to be like Avenue Q - meaning  
>> language,
>> some adult situation etc. as opposed to adult in theme and content.  
>> Is
>> studio Q now the standard 'adult' puppet show by which others shall  
>> be
>> judged (at least until it is forgotten).
>>
>> -Alexander
>>
>> On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 2:14 PM, <puppetswithpizazz-AT-gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> I wrote a review for my guild newsletter called, "Potty Mouth  
>>> Puppets
>>> Take
>>> Over Sesame Street." I think I am the only one who wasn't thrilled  
>>> with
>>> Q. I
>>> know I am an old lady, but fourth grade cheap jokes don't hack it  
>>> for me.
>
>>> I
>>> have seen so many hilarious puppet plays that I was upset that they
>>> stooped
>>> to cub scout naughty jokes. And besides, while I am on the  
>>> subject, one
>>> of
>>> the things I love about puppets is their basic innocence. I like
>>> innocent--and I don't mean soft, fluffy and preschool. Nancy
>>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Mary Horsley <mphorsley-AT-verizon.net>
>>> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:19:17
>>> To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Glue & Q
>>>
>>> Yeah, they even match......Cookie - Trekkie; Nickie and Rod - Ernie
>>> and Bert; Princeton - Kermit; Kate - Ms. Piggy, the live actors, and
>>> the commercials......
>>>
>>> Mary
>>> On Nov 10, 2009, at 7:46 AM, Hobey Ford wrote:
>>>
>>>> If you take the R rating out of Ave Q don't you just end up with
>>>> Sesame Street?
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 7:39 AM, Hobey Ford <hobeyone-AT-gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> I own 2 or 3 really cheapo glue guns.  here's the big tip.  It  
>>>>> might
>>>>> be the most dangerous tool which you use.   Why... because you  
>>>>> will
>>>>> get casual in using it.  Avoid big glops of glue.  Spread the glue
>>>>> with the tip of the tool.  I challenge you not to burn yourself.
>>>>>
>>>>> Good luck.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 9:23 PM,  <wumpmucket-AT-fuse.net> wrote:
>>>>>> Sorry about the pun, I can't help myself.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have never worked with a glue gun, although I would like to.
>>>>>> What is a favorite brand/model for working with foam/fleece/
>>>>>> plastic-iky stuff?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> . . . .
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As for Ave. Q, my wife and I caught the touring Broadway Across
>>>>>> America cast this past April in Cincinnati.  Overall I enjoyed  
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> performance, the script left me a bit sour though.  I felt that
>>>>>> the writers could have made the show smarter/funnier without  
>>>>>> the R
>>>>>> rated scenes.  Call me old fashion I guess.
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
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>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> Archives: http://www.driftline.org
>>>
>>> Mary
>>> mphorsley-AT-verizon.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
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