To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:53:19 -0600
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] (no subject)


On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:46:12 -0500, nmt wrote
> A good puppet performance is what one would refer to as 'puppet 
> theatre' and a bad show is what one would refer to as 'a puppet 
> show' 

I'm not comfortable with defining a puppet show as a "bad show" and 
defining "puppet theatre" as a "good performance".  Whether it is a 
perfomance with people or with puppets, we use the word "show" not to 
describe the quality of the performance, but to name the experience.  "Avenue 
Q" is a Broadway show.  But we've used the "s" word.  Is it therefore by 
definition "bad"?  Locally, community theatre isn't critiqued because the one-
horse-town-newspaper-reviewer doesn't review anything by a company that is 
all volunteer.  He has a mental attitude reflecting the idea that community 
theatre isn't "real theatre".  Is that what we're trying to accomplish?

I think you're trying to come up with a way to differentiate between a good 
show and a bad show by saying one is a just a "show" and the other 
is "theatre" (sound nasal and snobbish when you say it).  But I've seen 
quality productions in a community theatre or with a church ministry and I've 
seen lousy productions from bigger named groups.

Having been involved in a lot of community theatre, I'd say there is a lot of 
good stuff being done by community theatre and a lot of bad.  But it's still 
theatre.

  I would also expect 
> the person doing the critic [sic] of a puppet performance to also take 
> into consideration, and comment upon, the over all design and 
> manipulation of the figures.
> 

That's getting into the truly important element of the critique:  the 
performance itself. Critique the story, the design, the performance without 
the condemnation that it's not "real theatre".

--
Sandy Barton
sandbar productions

SDG

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