PUPPETEERING

 

PUPPETEERING

 

Brought to you by the Gus and Gia Puppet Show

An individual that makes an inanimate object, meaning something that is not alive, and make it appear as though that puppet is “alive” is a puppeteer.  This inanimate object might take on various forms like a well-known creature, a human, an animal or any other object.   Some cultures find puppetry quite imperative and even consider it a unique and special art form.

The puppeteer may be invisible to the audience by keeping it behind a sheet or other built covering, or it may be visible to an audience.  The use of wires, string, electronics, wires, or even by the hands being placed inside the puppet, or holding the puppet on the outside of it, allows the puppeteer to operate and move the puppet.  These carefully staged movements allow the puppet to look “alive”.

These creative objects can be utilized in performances that are theatrical in nature, as they closely resemble dolls.  The degree of fanciness in the puppet can range from the most simple all the way to more complex, and thus a greater degree of skill is required to operate those puppets. 

One type of puppet is the kind where the operator of it is in full view of an audience.  This would be a ventriloquist, and the puppet is called a dummy.  Typically, a performance with this type of puppetry would show a conversation taking place between the puppeteer and the dummy.  The puppeteer would speak normally and then when it was the puppet's (or dummy) turn to speak, it is actually the puppeteer speaking for the puppet with a different voice.  That voice will seem to emanate from the puppeteer's abdomen or stomach (which is Latin for “venter”).  The lips on the puppeteer will not move, however the lips of the dummy may move to give the appearance that the puppet is talking.

There are many types of puppets.  A simply constructed puppet is placed on the finger and it looks “alive” by the finger moving.  Similar to the finger puppet is the sock puppet in which a sock, or something like a sock, is worn on the hand (like a glove), and the thumb emulates the jaw.  A hand puppet is analogous to the finger puppet, only it is larger.  A paddle puppet is close to the description in its name in that it is a puppet which is located on the end of a paddle.  The Jumping Jack Puppet is one in which the arms and the legs of the puppet are connected to a string.  Upon the string being pulled in the downward motion, the legs and arms of the puppet then move in an upward motion.

Some puppet's require some imagination minus the ordinary characteristics of a traditional puppet, like a shadow puppet.  A figure is cut out and placed onto a rod, then it is put in front of a screen.  In order to give the puppet some life, the puppeteer will will move it about. 

The String Puppet, which is also known as a Marionette, involves a puppet that is attached to strings.  Those strings are then hanging from above, in the theater.  This complicated form of puppetry is difficult to master as some Marionette's can have as many as thirty different strings to operate.

Overall, the enjoyment and amusement derived from puppets can be seen throughout the world.  Religious stories delivered during festivals, or general information can be taught in an entertaining way via puppets.  These shows have been the source of audience enjoyment for hundreds of years.  Physicians have even used puppets to open a child's communication in determining certain challenges that a child may otherwise be reluctant to share.  The value of the puppet, and the puppeteer can be seen in countless ways.

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