File spoon-archives/puptcrit.archive/puptcrit_1999/puptcrit.9911, message 184


From: HobgoblinH-AT-aol.com
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 00:08:42 EST
Subject: Re: PUPT: Swazzle  P&J


In a message dated 99-11-23 23:21:37 EST, you write:

<< I am indeed getting my Punch & Judy kit a 
 kaboodle together -- hopefully in time for a local festival on 
 December 4. Calling myself: Professor Ratbaggy's Red Cordial Show. 
 'Tis my puppetarian launch. With luck I'll be working the beaches 
 over summer.>>

Sounds great-- good luck with your launch. I would be glad to hear which of 
the cast you are going with.
 
 <<However, I have a question of afficiondoes: when using the swazzle 
 for Punch's voice is one expected to be understood?>>

In the use of swazzle, the general practice is to have the bottler echo what 
Punch says and react to it so that the audience can understand; and to keep 
his speeches repetitious and simple, so that they can understand much of what 
he says, anyway-- "That's the way to do it!" and "Oh, no, I didn't" and "What 
a pretty baby!" In case there is no bottler, then the characters onstage tend 
to echo his speeches, then react to them. I have heard some fairly 
understandable swazzlers, but in general, no, they are hard to understand. 

 <<  Also: what's the feeling about substituting kazoos for swazzles as 
 the kazoos can be sharper with words?>>

Alas, a kazoo is in your lips, which makes pronouncing words a bit tough.

<< I can handle a squeeky falsetto  easily -- should I rely on that for Punch 
and introduce the swazzle  during fight and anger sequences? I cannot imagine 
a Punch figure  without a swazzle.  >>

I have no problem imagining Punch without a swazzle-- I have seen some very 
good Punches without. If Preston won't mind my taking his name in vain, he 
does a great Punch with a very natural voice, and it is hilarious. If you 
haven't already mastered the swazzle, December is breathing down on your neck 
like a freight train, and its use is quite tricky. A squeaky voice does fine. 
It would be safer at this late date than chancing swallowing the swazzle in 
mid performance. I am thinking of doing a swtch in voices myself, to a 
slightly lower, more masculine tone, as my new Punch figure looks more robust 
and mature than my first. It'll still be a bit nasal and tinny, though. 

Alice, who will have the pleasure of being Professor Hob on first weekend of 
December.


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