Date: Sun,  4 Aug 2002 19:25:50 -0400
From: " joe" <joespuppets-AT-paonline.com>
Subject: Re: PUPT: "Black" Art for the Marionette Stage


  I have seen a few black-art puppet performance which I felt would have been much better if some more attention were given to the technology. So here a few comments...

  Regarding the use of "shing lights in the eyes of the audience"...  when magicians use the black art technique, they will commonly employ the technique.  But they use the term "dazzlers".

  What happens, is that the human eye can't adjust to see both bright objects and in dark shadows at the same time.  By placing objects on stage that are bright, you can make it harder to see black covered items.  The light source should be something that looks like it belongs there. Eg, a few candles, or even just a very light colored border to the stage.  The source can be regular theatrical "back lights" that are upstage, but it is important that this lighting trick not be overdone or look like it was deliberately done.

 The next task is to keep the black areas as black as you can.  This involves keeping light off of those areas as much as possible.  Also, the best fabric is velour. A kind called "triple velour" is really the best. 

 Of course, for a magician, the technique must perfectly hide the hidden stuff... but puppeteers don't need that. Still, for U.S. audiences seeing this kind of puppetry for the first time, it helps them to focus on the characters better. The technique is very dependent on good control of lighting...something puppeteers may not be able to depend on. 

  Even if the puppeteer is somewhat hidden, don't assume what they are wearing doesn't matter.  I.e. jeans, tennis shoes, and a somewhat wrinkled black hood would be very out of place for a black-art performance of Peter and the Wolf with a live orchestra.  An all black tux, with black shirt, etc. would be a much better choice.  Even in less formal situations, something as simple as black pressed pants and a simple black vest would be a more professional appearance.

Joe Dunfee

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Joe Dunfee
Strasburg, PA USA
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