From: HobgoblinH-AT-aol.com
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 05:46:28 EDT
Subject: Re: PUPT: Re: Performance/ training


I have watched the tennis game here for some time and noted the thread 
concerning whether to train actors to puppet or puppeteers how to act. 
Likewise I have seen the same issue dealt with by others in the field who do 
not often speak out in this group. I have worked out here in the bush a while 
now, and brought in various people to the company, and held on to them as 
long as they remained in the area. So far, I have never felt the slightest 
inclination to audition theater-trained people, and there is not exactly a 
population of puppeteers to choose from. (I did, however, have one actor for 
a time. Ego problems and undependablity made short work of him. The only 
puppeteer I ever auditioned was not copacetic personality-wise-- he did, 
however, have the manipuation totally down.) 

Be that as it may, I have been happy enough to  bring in people who were well 
above average in intelligence, or people who picked up puppets with a 
certain-- what do you say?-- joy. Anyone who fits into our company has two 
real obstacles to face-- improv and being wedged between two  rather intense 
and aggressive performers-- my partner and me. Manipulation I can gradually 
work them into-- God knows the kids out here in the sticks are not major 
critics. Acting in comedy is not really the same thing as acting in the 
larger sense-- comedy is more a matter of style and that terrible bugbear, 
timing. But considering that whoever makes a third in my company must often 
travel for hours with us hither and yon in a small car, I am glad to have 
someone smart enough, young enough, and flexible enough (and God willing, 
entertaining enough!) that they are fun to be with and ready to learn. So 
long as they do not bring preconceptions and emotional baggage, I'll take 
'em. 

And the plus of their being young means that they do not wince at all the 
schlepping involved!

Also: Someone please fill me in on the term "text-based"?

Alice


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