From: "Spence Porter" <SpencePorter-AT-post.harvard.edu>
Subject: Re: PUPT: RE: Puppetry awards
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2004 19:16:42 -0500


Hi, Everybody!

"The legitimate stage" has always struck me as a rather peculiar expression.
It goes back at least to the 1840s, and the meaning of "legitimate" in the
expression is an archaic one--"real, genuine, worthwhile".  The expression
originally was used to distinguish dramatic classics, Shakespeare for
example, from what the speaker regarded as shoddy mere entertainments.  In
more recent years, it's usually used to distinguish "real" theater from such
things as vaudeville and burlesque (and, in more recent years, from
television and movies--quite illogically, since "stage" is enough to make
that distinction).

Obviously, there's a powerful argument for abandoning the term entirely,
especially since very few people have any idea of exactly what it means!  In
particular there's a bit of variation from speaker to speaker as to whether
musicals would count!  There are people who would regard Sondheim musicals
as legitimate but not a musical revue.  In short, there is more than a
little subjectivity, and more than a little illogic in the use of the term.
I suspect that underlying your question is the other question, "Is puppetry
"legitimate theater"?"  I repeat that I think the expression should simply
be dropped!  However, if one wishes to use it in the same way that it is
commonly used, it would depend entirely on the context of the puppetry--and
on who is doing the talking.  If the speaker doesn't consider musicals
"legitimate", then certainly that same speaker won't approve of puppetry
except in a non-musical and traditionally dramatic context--for example as a
visual effect in a basically traditional production of Shakespeare.
Puppetry in "The Lion King" would count as legitimate to anyone who
considered musicals legitimate, because it happens in the context of a
"legitimate" show.  However, nobody who uses the expression at all would
consider a Punch and Judy show "legitimate theater"--at least, not unless it
were presented in a Broadway theater as serious drama!

To which I add the question, should we care?  I think not.

Best,

Spence


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Liz Evans" <liz-AT-etherboy.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 6:03 PM
Subject: Re: PUPT: RE: Puppetry awards


> Will,
>
> How would you define legitimate stage?
>
> K. Elizabeth Evans, Artistic Director
> Renaissance Artist Puppet Company
>
> Puppeteers of America
> Mid Atlantic Regional Director 2001/03
>




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