Subject: Re: PUPT: critique
Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2002 10:20:36 -0400 (EDT)


Hi Mary - MANY years ago there were open puppet critiques at festivals.  The 
day following the performances the critiques were given ONLY IF the puppeteer 
that presented the show allowed it.  There were 5-6 'recognized' (how else can 
I say that?) puppeteers on stage - an open panal discussion type thing.  From 
Margo Rose I learned what the responsibilities/how-to-give-a-fair-review should 
be done.  She ALWAYS began by saying, "This is only my opinion" (not speaking 
for everyone on the panel). She always praised what was good and things she did 
not think helped the performance she would carefully explain why she felt that 
way and ALWAYS threw out 4 or 5 possibilities/ideas for a change in the show.  
She was terrific!  Very helpful and stimulating to the puppeteer 
being 'reviewed'.  So during the years that I would be up there 'talking' I 
also always began by saying, "This is only MY opinion" and pretty much followed 
Margo's format.  It SHOULD have worked, SHOULD have helped, SHOULD have been 
very illuminating and helpful to the members that attended (over 70 % would 
show up).

UNFORTUNATLY there were a few folks on the pannel that, for what ever personal 
reason, just ripped into the poor puppeteer sitting in the audience who was 
trusting enought to allow us to discuss their work openly, hoping to get 
unbiased opinions from those on the pannel - these 'few folks' would always 
give their opinion as if it were straight from God him/her self - would 
devistate the puppeteer, leave them bleeding for all to see.  One pannelist had 
the nerve to say, "There is absoutly nothing redeaming about your show - I 
suggest you take it out to your back yard and burn it!"  OUCH! Needless to say 
not all the puppeteers who wished to be reviewed were 'into pain' and the 'open 
reviews' were stopped.  It would have been easier to remove the offending 
panalists but, like in ancient Rome, some of the membership came to the reviews 
hoping to see blood - sort of a late mornings appitizer before lunch.  

The idea of having an open review panel is great and should have worked - good 
for the puppeteer who truly wanted to get some helpful input, improve their 
work, good for the membership to get them thinking about WHY they really 
liked/disliked the show, what THEIR suggestions would have been (yes, we took 
comments from the floor)and be able to articulate their opinions.  Perhaps some 
day an 'ideal' panel can be put together that can truly do a good service to 
puppeteers wishing some unbiased perspective on their production . . . and I 
guess that at the same time pigs will also fly to the moon.

David Syrotiak (the elder)


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