File puptcrit/puptcrit.1003, message 263


From: Gregory Ballora <gregballora-AT-sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:10:36 -0800
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Citations


Just to throw another wrench of opinion into the works, I have been following this discussion to some degree, and I see the opinion that "Children's" puppetry is not given the attention it is due as opposed to "Adult" puppetry, even though there are far more "Children's" shows out there. Two problems that I see are:

1) The people judging are not children, so they are biased right there. Should we put kids on the electing panel?

2) Yes there is more children's shows out there, but admit it, most of it is schlock. The shows that are good are often far more "safe", and the adult shows are the area where I see more innovation. That makes some sense, cause with kids, it is all new. It doesn't have to be "Different" if it is the first live puppet show they have ever seen. 

Now, I am not saying there is not schlock in the "adult" theater world. There is plenty of it. But from what I have seen, and yes this is just my big fat opinion, the schlock of adult theater is that inexperience. They are trying. The schlock of children's theater is too often due to negligence and apathy. And what I hate the most is the people that could not make it in adult theater who then settle for children's theater and puppetry, but are bitter about it.

Alright, come and get me Puptcrit!
Greg Ballora

PS, this is coming from someone that has been working in children's Puppetry for 25 years, who currently teaches at Cal Arts, and who has been on the team of two Unima Citation shows. So I feel like I am a fan of all the camps here.
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