Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 20:37:26 +1000
Subject: PUPT: Outdoor puppet masqueade



 I haven't had the opportunity to  see large scale 
(community oriented)outdoor puppetry and mask work as 
practiced by Bread & Puppet, Welfare State International, 
In the Heart of the Beast,Wise Fool, etc. I do outdoor work 
with masks and puppets but its 'low' scale. Consequently 
my logistical problems are smaller and different from 
something much enhanced in size.  

And since I come from a 'theatrical/dramatic' as distinct 
from a visual arts background I do tend to see the work in 
the form of dialogue -- a touch larger in format than 
commedia dell arte -- but 'dramatic' often text based rather 
than purely visual.

But I have the need to tool up and do work on a much 
broader scale...

>From what I gather from research, the aforementioned 
groupings employ scenarios based on puppetry/mask 
mime enriched by music and formatted by  narrative voice 
over on occasion -- often projected via a sound system. 

Is this correct? 

Similarly, what other options are employed -- especially, if 
one didn't want to trade in his words and dialogue?

The project I have in mind is a large scale fire driven 
performance in front of three thousand people with 
audience and participatants drawn from the local 
community. Creating the actual figures -- masks/puppets -- 
doesn't present the problem so much as the meshing of 
elements into an intelligible narrative.

In the lead up to this event, on the day, there will be a 
promendade history pageant --and this big puppet 
masqueade will be a celebation employing local and 
traditional motifs. 

Any input  would be appreciated...

A corollary question concerns the employment of outdoor 
shadow puppetry storylines performed on large screens 
(sheeting between poles)with figures 8-12 feet high..Surely 
some one has done stuff like that at some stage? Any 
pointers?

And further: over the now so many years, I have been very 
interested in the  form explored by Jean Claude van Itallie's 
work in the sixties -- in "American Hurrah" and "Motel" 
where large mannikins replaced actors. Being excited by 
plays whose performances were banned here in Australia 
(the whole censorship system collapsed as a 
consequence of this particular banning of van Itallie's 
plays) is an unusual response (I did catch the plays later)-- 
but the dramatic method employed was great. I loved it! 
While I know van Itallie has turned elsewhere -- I was 
wondering if anyone was familiar with the approach and 
knew of some ongoing experiments in that regard...a sort 
of sixties protest version of Samuel Beckett. 

Dave Riley.
__________________________________________

The Mask (& Puppet) Studio
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dhell/mask.htm
P.O.Box 103, Northgate QLD Australia
Tel: (07)32664281  ABN #: 68307427249



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