From: "Hunter, Kurt" <KHunter-AT-siemens-psc.com>
Subject: RE: PUPT: Truth and consequences
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 11:25:27 -0500



I've thoroughly enjoyed these "puppet theory" type discussions, so here are
my random questions/observations to toss into the mix.

1)  As much as I'd love to see a Spieler administration here in Minnesota, I
don't think we're going to manage to convince Sandy to run for Governor.

2)  The discussion seems to have slid into the old trap that "puppetry must
be theatre".  It's been said before that puppetry is a tool that can be used
in theatre.  It's a tool that can also be used in dance, pagentry, stand-up
comedy, cabaret, etc.  Although I didn't see "Symphony Fantastique", I've
read many reviews and saw some video that Basil brought to a "master class"
that he presented in Minneapolis.  From that, I'm assuming "Symphony
Fantastique" was closer to dance than theatre.  I know that I approach a
dance concert with a different set of expectations than I do a "theatre"
performance.

3)  I get a little uncomfortable, when we start talking about "educating
audiences."  I personally love performance art, avante garde theatre, etc.
We have a fair amount of those kinds of works to see in Minneapolis, and I
love seeing things done in ways that I haven't seen before.  However, if
theatre is about communication, you have to meet your audience where they
are.  I think In the Heart of the Beast is especially good at this.  You
don't have to become versed in Heart of the Beast's language to be drawn
into the power of one of their performances.  Although they are continually
expanding the language of puppetry, a person from the neighborhood who have
never seen theatre of any kind would not be confused or put off by a HOTB
performance.  A good HOTB performance would draw them in completely.

4)  I think educating puppeteers is a much bigger issue than educating
audiences.  How many puppet shows have you seen that didn't even have any
idea about dramatic tension or structure?  Shows that didn't give you
characters to care about or that went on for another fifteen minutes after
the conflict had been resolved.  When I win the lottery, I think I'll mail a
copy of the "Steven's Course in Puppetry" to every member of the P of A.
(Since I don't buy lottery tickets, my odds don't look good.)  When I read
the Steven's Course a year or two ago, my main reaction was "It took me 20
years to figure this stuff out on my own."  I think the biggest problem with
puppeteers is that they try to run before they've learned to walk.  The
second biggest problem is that they never figure out that they aren't
actually running.

Well, that's enough rambling for now.

Kurt Hunter


		-----Original Message-----
		From:	Stephen Kaplin [mailto:skactw-AT-tiac.net]
		Sent:	Sunday, August 29, 1999 6:03 PM
		To:	puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
		Subject:	PUPT: Truth and consequences

			 So anyway,  I won't believe that puppet theater can
truly bust
		some mainstream cultural ass until I see Sandy Spieler
elected governor of
		Minnesotta.
			 Until then, let's play for gods!
						Stephen Kaplin


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