Library Puppet Show

Today we went to a Library Puppet show. At first, as the music turned on and I could see the amount of puppets they had (the group turned out to be kids) I thought the puppet show was going to be much better, as a production, than Rosalita's puppets. But the performance ended up falling flat, and Jonah was antsy to the point where we had to leave. It made me understand why Rosalita, a lady by herself, with sort of ugly homemade puppets and no sound equipment, or it would seem, "rehearsals" or "lines" was in fact so much better than these kids.

Don't say because they are kids. That guy who used to do Elmo (before he got into trouble) started as a child. And I saw clips of his shows. He was a genius.

Don't say because Rosalita is British. Well... maybe it is because Rosalita is British.

The point is, one person who "has it" doing a show by themselves, can change and shift the story to the audience. As single fidget or comment, and the story changes. This encourages audience participation. This makes the crowd part of the show. A sound system, too many characters, lines, that can all hold you back.

It was cool that the show I just saw tried to put Science facts into it. And they tried to tell old folk tales.

About I thought about those original folk tales being told around a fire, being that close to the story teller. Eyes glazing over in wonder as they tried to picture the essence that the teller suggested a knowledge of through mere words, and pauses, and tone.

I have a friend who can tell stories like that, sort of.

Maybe this is something I should work on too, especially with my Pirate Cheung Kung Fu character.

Actually when the kids came out and did a little skit (which they didn't memorize and which was just thrown together, and not by children who normally do this sort of thing)
Jonah actually liked it better.

I think it was because it was kids performing. Again, I think the lines were really holding them back. The characters without many lines did much better.

It got me thinking, if there was a make your own puppet show, or make your own story type of stage at one of these festivals. Kids would love it. They would dress up, get up on stage, make their play, and then other kids would watch them. How cool would that be? The stage would have to be small so that they weren't afraid to do it. A big stage can be imposing on a kid that isn't used to that. But a small stage with little chairs would be fun.