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Planning a Good Puppet Show

PLANNING A GOOD PUPPET SHOW

BY Phillip Huber

I am rarely planning a new production, since I am working in the format of a Variety Show. However, my planning for a new marionette act follows much the same principle as for an entire production. The very first people I consider are my audience members. Is my concept appropriate for the age, social, cultural, and education level of my audience? For me, it is particularly important that my concept transcends language barriers. In my world of the puppet, the spoken word holds far less importance than the visual and the musical. Does my concept seem compelling? This question is addressed on two different fronts. Will it be exciting and compelling for my audience, and... will it be exciting and compelling to me, especially after I have performed it hundreds and maybe even thousands of times? Is this concept inspired and unique in any way? This is another very important question for me as an artist. It is fine to be inspired by past creations and creators, but you, your art, and your audience will never grow if you do not try to find the unique and inspired way to tell your story. Does your concept have a definite beginning, middle and end? Can I introduce conflict or surprise to hold the audience's interest? When I have answered all these questions with affirmative answers, I know I am ready to begin the designing and building process.

If I have been true to all my principles, it is my hope that upon the completion of my show the audience will have been entertained, inspired, touched on some emotional level, challenged, maybe a little awed, and transported beyond their pre-conceived notions of what a puppet show means. I look upon a theater piece as a journey for artist and audience. It should deliver both to a place markedly different from the starting point. My goal is to make that journey seem effortless, surprisingly quick, and enjoyable for the audience. If all goes well, maybe the journey will feel the same for me! One thing is sure; I am educated and enlightened by every performance and every audience.

Tags: performance, puppet, theory

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Comment by Joseph Emory on March 28, 2010 at 2:34pm: Thanks Phillip for sharing that insight and perspective. Great subject for me as I have been resurrecting many of Fred and Jimmy's pieces as well as starting on some of my own designs. My thoughts lately have been of a constant theme or adventure, hidden within a compilation of several varieties of acts. Not the normal variety but instead taking those varieties e.g. Tight rope, Trapeze, Jugglers, etc. Weaving them together with the single thread of two characters as part of their adventure. Always coming back to the original quest they are on. Any thoughts on this aproach?

Comment by Toby van Eck on March 28, 2010 at 3:36pm: I have been doing Caberet Puppets for many years now. I have found that my show must work like a graph, this graph is determined by my audience. In other word I will take notice of my audience reaction as to how they react to different characters, this then allows me to arrange the numbers in such an order that the audience will enjoy. The other thing that I have discovered is to keep it short and sweet and fresh (older numbers gets replaced with new characters). I have up to 16 puppets that appear in a 30 minute show (hard work, but very satisfying).
But even after all these years it is still a learning process. Greetings - TOBY

Comment by Phillip Huber on March 29, 2010 at 1:04am: Thanks for the comments Toby. I agree. I also gauge audience reaction to determine the order of characters so that the show has proper highs & lows as it builds to a final crescendo. You never stop learning in this art form.

Comment by Phillip Huber on March 29, 2010 at 1:10am: Joseph, That is an interesting thought. You could probably make it work. It would be a challenge to keep it interesting for the audience when it is the same two characters that are mastering the various scenarios. The variety is seeing a brand new personality in each of the acts. I will never forget my early fiasco with puting an MC into a variety show & having the children in the audience yell " NOT HIM AGAIN" when they saw him for the 3rd time.

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