Subject: PUPT: Re: monologues
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2002 17:50:32 -0400


Since my name has come up here, I thought I'd throw in a couple of cents.
(It's like that horror movie, say my name 3 times and I appear).  I think
the wrong way to do this is to do a monologue with a puppet.  It's the old
"if you can do it better with an actor, why use a puppet?"  theory.  Puppets
can't do monologues as well as actors.  We aren't impressed with the puppets
recitation of the text and in a strict monologue setting the puppet is not
capable of creating the empathy that is inherent in a human being.  It would
be possible to create that empathy over the course of  a full play but not
in the couple of minutes of an audition monologue.  It's like the fact that
there is nothing more boring than a puppet standing and singing.  We're not
impressed with the puppet's voice or interpretation of the song (especially
if it's recorded) any interest would be created in the movement of the
puppet to the music.  (more on this in next reply).

I think the way to go would be to use the puppet either as a sounding board
for the monologue, a second person in the scene for instance, or as an echo
of the person doing the monologue.  The puppetry would need to comment on
the monologue or if the puppet is delivering the monologue it would be
dramatically necessary to see why the performer is delivering the monologue
through the puppet.

P.S.  I once did a production of "the Scottish play"  in which the prophetic
apparitions were portrayed by puppets.  The witches wore cloaks which
transformed into puppets of the three apparitions, a giant ghost of a
knight, a recently birthed, screaming baby head, and a bunraku boy made of
sticks.  It worked rather well, I thought.

To be continued in next reply.
Preston

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Robinette Kowal" <maryrk-AT-earthlink.net>
To: "Puptcrit" <puptcrit-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2002 3:20 AM
Subject: PUPT: monologues


> So here's my newest challenge.
>
> Portland, OR has a pretty strong puppetry scene, and the local theaters
> are becoming increasingly comfortable with incorporating puppets into
> conventional theater.  We also have a theater arts group that sponsors
> Fall and Spring auditions that all the directors come to.
>
> I'm thinking that I want to go to this but- I need to come up with an
> intelligent way to present the notion of puppeteer as actor, to those
> directors that insist on using puppets with no notion of the need for
> skill.  I have yet to come up with a way to audition as a puppeteer that
> avoids appearing to be a gimmick.
>
> I would like to do a monologue from a "known" work in order to try to
> drive home the point that puppets can work in mainstage, adult work.
> Any thoughts-  even random ones?
>
> Oh by-the-bye... although the meeting with the critics hasn't happened
> yet, we posted a notice offering a puppetry workshop to local actors and
> have had a good response from non-puppeteers.  And as a side benefit- a
> director called me to be a manipulation coach for some puppets he
> incorporated into "The Birds" by Aristophane.  Paid me too.
>
> Mary
>
> --
> Mary Robinette Kowal
> Other Hand Productions
> http://www.otherhandproductions.com
>
>
>   --- Personal replies to: Mary Robinette Kowal <maryrk-AT-earthlink.net>
>   --- 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
>




  --- Personal replies to: "Preston Foerder" <preston-AT-pfpuppetry.com>
  --- 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