From: patriot-AT-mip.net
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 05:26:39 -0200
Subject: Re: Double Bridge Stages


I know Bob Brown and David Syrotiak and have seen both of them work.  =Ihave never seen either use a two-bridge set up, in fact, Bob usually used a
small platform with him visible at the back over a curtain and David, at
least when I've seen him perform, used single puppets with him in full view,
much like Albrecht Roser.  But that is NOT to say that they never have used
a double bridge.  Bob, I know, was with Baird for some time, so he is
certainly knowlegable of them and their use.

At 12:27 AM 12/11/96 -0500, you wrote:
>In a message dated 96-12-10 06:29:07 EST, David Adams wrote:
>
><< I would be fascinated to know about your "wonder stage" and it does sound
>like a
> wonder.  Why don't you render the plans and sell them through the Puppetry
> Store, for example ? >>
>
>I would not be interested in selling plans, but it is made from readily
>available scaffolding. It is heavy steel and requires a truck to move around.
>There is a clever safety latch mechanism that allows the pieces to hook
>together without tools. The bridges are made of aluminum and plywood and are
>quite lightweight for their size. I use a pair of seven foot bridges. Three
>puppeteers maximum at a time on the bridge.
>
>Nick Swindin used a double bridge, and we had a little discussion at the last
>P of A National Festival at Bryn Mawr about the gap between the bridges. He
>implied that he was using the 31 inch gap that Baird used, and I told him I
>had opted to close it up a bit to 26 inches. Somehow, this seems to be more
>than five inches less scary. I am sure I could still step across 31 inches
>with my eyes closed.  Nick appeared to be healthy and in good spirits, and,
>like many others, I was quite shocked when he passed away from cancer.
>
>Additionally, I have heard from Rudy Linke who informed me of The Puppet
>Parlor Theater in Chicago using a double bridge. This had rails on the gap
>side which prevents the puppeteer from crossing or straddling. Still it
>retained the main benefit of allowing two marionettes to cross onstage
>without having to pass the control around a puppeteer or to another
>puppeteer.
>
>I might add that Peter Baird is an amazingly agile bridge puppeteer.
>Thankfully, he has taken to wearing sneakers on the bridge instead of cowboy
>boots.
>
>Any others? Bob Kramer? Bob Brown? Tony Urbano? David Syrotiak? Anyone know?
>
>     -Steven->
>
>
>  --- Personal replies to: Widerman-AT-aol.com
>  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>
>
David M. Adams
Frederick, Maryland



  --- Personal replies to: patriot-AT-mip.net
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu