Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 11:53:30 -0400
From: Robert Smythe <robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org>
Subject: Re: PUPT: Maybe They're Right . . .



>Certainly in England that's pretty much the case.  Most people think of
>puppetry as being Punch and Judy, and maybe the Muppets, and a rather
>bloodless version of Punch at that.  Where I live in the Midlands, the
>Midland Art Centre puts on a yearly puppet festival of sorts, but much
>of that is aimed t children.  The same conservative attitude also
>applies  to other folk art forms, unfortunately.  The high art/low art
>division is alive and well here, I'm afraid.
>
>Regards,
>Mark

I once asked Penny Francis about touring in England and she put me 
right off it, I'm afraid. "No one here thinks puppetry is anything 
that one should have to pay for," she said (do your own version of 
Penny, if you like). Her point was that, in the mind of the average 
Brit, puppetry is something found at the seaside at holiday time. You 
certainly wouldn't think about going inside for it.

On the other hand, companies like Faulty Optic seem to be doing quite 
well, although I heard that the Little Angel theatre had closed. Is 
this true?
-- 
Robert Smythe
Artistic Director
Mum Puppettheatre
115 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2000

robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org
http://www.mumpuppet.org


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