Date: Mon, 13 Jan 1997 23:27:34 -0500 (EST)
From: jdunfee-AT-shadow.net (Joe Dunfee)
Subject: Re: Marionettes


>>I am 11 years old and got a puppet with strings for Christmas.  I am wanting
>>to learn to use it correctly so I can have fun.  I could not find a puppet
>>group in Arkansas where I live.  So, can you tell about a book or someone I
>>could contact to learn more? 

>>Jana Chism

  I was able to find several good books in our library system.
Unfortunately, they weren't at our local branch - I had to go to the main
library downtown. They also had a few videos that featured marionettes. So
the libraries will be your cheapest source of books (free!) You may also try
a university library in your area. While you may need some help with some of
the research, you are old enough to start to take advantage of the large
libraries.

  Also, remember that marionettes are considered to be the hardest kind of
puppet to make and to manipulate. So, if you find it frustrating, consider
another kind of puppetry. I can recommend a book called "The Muppets Make
Puppets" that shows how to make many kinds of puppets without using any
special materals or special skills (like carving or mold making). It is
currently in print and any book store could order it, if it is not in stock.

  I don't know what kind of marionette you have, but if you have one of the
cheap mexican ones sold to tourists, it will be impossible to manipulate it
well. They are just not a well made marionettes. The Flamingo kind of
marionette, with 4 strings for the body, head, and two feet... are very easy
to make walk around and are also low cost- but then again they are quite
simple. 

Joe Dunfee
Miami, Florida U.S.A.



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