From: Stephen Kaplin <skactw-AT-tiac.net>
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 20:53:09 -0400
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Making memories - birthday puppet show


Dear Michael,
  I suggest you start rehearsing your son into the octopus role. Than  
you can retire and let him do all the hard gigging.

Ska.
Kuang-Yu Fong
Executive Director
Chinese Theatre Works
(718) 457-1627
chinesetheatreworks-AT-gmail.com








On Apr 8, 2010, at 3:35 PM, Michael Dowell wrote:

> Yesterday was my son Kainani's 5th birthday, and we went to his pre-
> school to perform one of my company's puppet shows, "Martina's
> Undersea Adventure". But my son wasn't planning to watch... he wanted
> to perform! I told him he could play a fish during the pre-show, but
> he said no. He wanted to perform the actual show. Finally, I had to
> tell him. "No. Sorry. Wait until you're older and then you can
> perform." But 5-year-olds have a lot to teach the rest of us about
> bargaining, since they don't hear the word "no".
>
> Meanwhile, the crowd was getting restless. My son wouldn't go sit in
> the audience with his friends, so I told him he could watch from
> backstage. Of course, when the show started, he ran out to join the
> audience, where I assumed he would remain. Ten minutes into the show,
> my son ran backstage, grabbed the fish puppet - right on cue - and
> started puppeteering. He did an excellent job. A little later in the
> show, he performed another character, right on cue. Then, just before
> the lead villain, a giant toxic-waste Octopus enters, my son ran
> backstage and said "I want to be the octopus!"
>
> Note: he didn't get to do the octopus. Too much singing and dialog.
> But he asked for what he wanted... and on this particular birthday,
> for the most part, he got it. Sometimes it can be exhilarating to just
> get out of the way and let things happen the way they need to. As a
> result, he got to perform the puppet show with his dad on his 5th
> birthday, and we have another memory to share.
>
> -Michael
> Moodoo Puppets
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