Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 10:43:57 -0400
From: Robert Smythe <robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org>
Subject: Re: PUPT: Re:


Dear Mark,

17 years ago when Mum Puppettheatre started, we couldn't get anyone 
to review our shows. Now one of our productions leads the pack in 
award nominations (not awards), something unthinkable even eight 
years ago when the Barrymore Awards were started.

As we have all been saying, the problem is one of perception, and 
audiences making up their minds, BEFORE they see a show, that a type 
of theatre is "not for them." I'd like to think that having a puppet 
theatre leading the pack shows that some people, somewhere, have 
changed their minds about setting foot in a puppet theatre.

Now that people realize that there is something of value inside our 
theatre, we can continue to change their perceptions even further. 
Our upcoming production of The Madwoman of Chaillot will use five of 
Philadelphia's leading actors, commedia dell'arte, magic, music, 
puppets and masks. We anticipate that people, on the strength of 
Equus (and the likelihood that they didn't see Equus) will come to 
see Madwoman because they know we exist, and because if a puppet 
theatre got 8 Barrymore Award nominations maybe its time to rethink 
what puppet theatre is.

As we all have seen, the lines between "live" theatre and puppetry 
(which, come on, is live theatre) are getting blurred.  If puppetry 
and puppet theatres are getting attention and respect, lets not split 
hairs by counting puppets. (That turn of phrase was for Christopher 
Oodare).

One last thing. For me, puppetry is about creating a consistent 
reality, one in which anything can happen, but whatever does happen 
contains its own kind of logic. We started working on Equus with the 
idea that puppets would play a large role in it. Over time, ideas 
changed. I don't think puppets for puppets' sake makes sense, and so 
we made changes in our original plans as we went along. I think that 
is part of being an artist. I would also say that this production of 
Equus grows directly out of my experience and philosophy of puppetry.

I realize that many of these remarks could be viewed as arrogant, and 
I apologize if anyone takes them that way. On the other hand, I hope 
you will all understand that we here at Mum are incredibly proud of 
the work we have done to put Mum and puppetry in the public eye, and 
we'd like to crow a little. I'm sorry more people weren't able to see 
the results of that work during the recent regional festival.

Robert


>Robert,
>Congratulations on the awards...
>
>But aren't they sort of the problem you were talking about????
>After all, all those awards were given to a "live theatre" piece...
>Very well done too....
>
>But it was a different venue then puppetry that got a lot of attention..

-- 
Robert Smythe
Artistic Director
Mum Puppettheatre
115 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-2000

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


  --- Personal replies to: Robert Smythe <robertsmythe-AT-mumpuppet.org>
  --- List replies to:     puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Admin commands to:   majordomo-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
  --- Archives at:         http://lists.village.virginia.edu/~spoons