Date: Sun, 11 May 1997 22:03:05 -0400
From: Robert Smythe <mum-AT-philadelphia.libertynet.org>
Subject: Re: Punch & Judy Redux


Randel McGee wrote:
> 
> I enjoy discussing  issues, both tame and wild,  however, I  personally
> dislike  it when a discussion leads to "soap-box oratory" and rushing to
> judgement. 

Randel,

Rob D'Arc called me last week because he was concerned that information
was going out over the 'net that he couldn't control. Rob is not
connected to the 'net. He told me that he was worried that his decision
to close his theatre would be seen as the result of this incident by
puppeteers he has never met. This is not true, just coincidental. He
tried something for ten years and now has the guts to try something else
(touring) in order to keep his dream of puppetry alive. He has my
respect and admiration for that.

I, too, dislike rushing to judgment. That is why I only replied to your
original posting after a lot of thought about the various issues raised.
If you don't like the result of your posting, perhaps you should not
have rushed to post a synopsis of a newspaper story before you could
explain the extenuating circumstances as you have  done only now.

I personally dislike it when there is an insistence that the issues
raised in this incident or anywhere on this list can't be discussed
openly and honestly because it all happened to yet another down-trodden
puppeteer. I have had the chance to speak with Rob about all this and
I'm just as sure as you are that he is a good person. So I wonder why
you would have a group of puppeteers around the world read about an
incident that _is_ understandable and is one that Rob would like to put
behind him. 

I also feel, Randel, that you wanted people to rush to judgment and were
then surprised when not everyone saw the situation in the same way you
did. Regardless of how good the person involved is, the facts as related
in your post merited discussion--why else would you post them to a
discussion list? 

As far as soapboxes go, I have noticed that on this list no one, not
even you, Randel, is immune from speaking passionately about the things
we believe in. 

I happen to believe that it is time that puppeteers stopped complaining
about the state of the art and took a _hard_ and long look at what we
are doing to perpetuate current perceptions of puppetry.

In the end, it doesn't matter how much we discuss or commiserate or pat
ourselves on the back; what counts is how we handle our interaction with
our audiences. If this puts me on a soapbox, so be it.

Robert Smythe


  --- Personal replies to: Robert Smythe <mum-AT-philadelphia.libertynet.org>
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu