Cuparia

My brother and I have a number of Punch & Judy puppets waiting to be painted, but I can’t afford our preferred paint yet. I tried using acrylic paint in liquid form, but we had much more satisfactory results when we used acrylics that came in tubes. Alas, even the least expensive tubes are beyond my means at the moment.

I am still debating whether to start making 2′ or 3′ marionettes. The former would allow me conserve money and space with a smaller stage, but it also means it would be more difficult to see for larger audiences. I should experiment, I suppose. It doesn’t hurt to make one of each.

I still need to modify my current glove puppet fit-up. I need to find proper striped canvas above all else.

And before I attempt another performance, I must acquire a sound system, and preferably one of those headset microphones.

As for the marionette stage, I worked out the minimum dimensions for my purposes, which at this point would mean a total width of 18′, a height of 9′ (or 10′), and a performance area 6′ wide by 3′ high, elevated 2′. That’s a lot of PVC pipe sections and connectors.

I made another puppet head of Punch the other day because I felt the first was not Punch-like enough. Meanwhile, Daniel has made puppet heads of Joey the Clown and the Policeman, as well as finishing the Devil he made some time ago. Everything needs to be painted, but that will have to wait until I can afford the proper paints. Other Punch & Judy characters remaining to be made are the Baby, the Ghost, the Hangman, the Crocodile, Hector the Horse, and Toby the Dog. Daniel made a Ghost already, but the neck is too thin and fragile, so we shall either try to reinforce it or make another puppet head.

I also need to start working on the hands. I am undecided about whether to make molds or make each one individually.

I’m still brainstorming about marionette construction, marionette theatre construction, and marionette plays. I know it will involve much more time, work, and expense. It is a longterm goal.

A third puppet head has been sculpted for my Punch & Judy puppet show project: the Doctor. No, not the one from Gallifrey — the Doctor a.k.a. the Quack from the traditional plays. I think I’ll give him an 18th century powdered wig and a tricornered hat. Anachronistically, when I make the Policeman, I’ll give him a late 19th century British policeman’s helmet. Punch & Judy are eternal; I can clash historical periods to my heart’s content. Come to think of it, maybe there ought to be a Doctor Who crossover…

So many ideas, so little Time…

Although I have no end of ideas for glove puppet shows, I must confess I have been racking my brains trying to decide what kind of marionette shows I want to do. Perhaps time travel would be an even better idea done with marionettes. I’ll have to think about this.

I still haven’t painted anything yet, but I’m optimistic about Friday morning.

Sometime this weekend, I shall redesign the links page and add the puppetry links (of which there are more than a few).

If only I could work out the logistics, I’d like to design and build a puppet stage for marionettes. They need to be elevated so the puppets can be seen easily by the audience, and the backstage bridge upon which the puppeteers stand must be even higher. If I were building a permanent stage for a theatre (which, in my dreams, I’d love to have), my concerns would be minimal, but a portable puppet stage for marionettes presents all sorts of challenges, especially to one who must pay strict attention to budgetary limitations. For now, it is an intellectual exercise, a puzzle.

As for the question of the bridge, it occurs to me that those Little Giant ladders might be good for the job. I’ve wanted one since I first learned of it. Offhand, I can’t think of a more practical alternative that is also portable. (And by “portable” I mean: able to be transported in a small automobile.)

I sculpted a second puppet head today: Judy, the wife of Punch. I haven’t painted Punch yet, but I’ll do so tomorrow and also start work on a third puppet head. I haven’t decided yet whether it will be another Punch & Judy character or a new version of one of the characters from my Harry Potter puppet show.

I’ve been thinking about other effects I’d like to add to the puppet shows, particularly any involving magic. Colored lights and strobe lights could be very useful whenever a character casts a spell. It would be dramatic, unexpected, and easily managed. So, now I’m adding lights to my shopping list of necessary equipment.

I sculpted a new puppet head today. It was my first effort to capture the likeness of the (in)famous Mr. Punch. It was rather laborious, as I have discovered the more exaggerated puppets tend to be, but a protagonist as important and ubiquitous as Mr. Punch deserves the investment of time and effort. Tomorrow, I shall paint him, but the costuming will have to wait until I can find the material, acquire a sewing machine, and learn how to sew (or persuade someone to do it for me). Hm… Photographs may be in order.

I have also been contemplating improvements on the puppet stage. The first will be to increase the height. Currently, my puppet stage measures 3 feet wide, 3 feet deep, and 6 feet tall. The stage window is 4 feet off the ground. The backdrop is a translucent black fabric that allows the puppeteer to stand behind it and see out (somewhat) without being seen. The slight advantage this affords is negated by two disadvantages: the puppets are not visible at a greater distance; and the puppeteer’s movements are more restricted. By raising the stage window by just 2 or 3 feet, more people can see the puppets at a greater distance and I can give the puppets much greater freedom of movement. Och, and a third advantage is that I could use various opaque backdrops as scenery, since they will be overhead and out of the way instead of in front of my face.

Other stage improvements include replacing the small tables with a legitimate rack for hanging props and puppets; making a proscenium; making a stage board; acquiring the appropriate fabric for a traditional Punch & Judy puppet stage (and, once found, discovering an ingenious way to modify it for rapid set-up and take-down, perhaps something along the lines of the shower curtain principle).

And if there is one thing I have learned from the performance on the 20th of July, it is this: bring your own sound system. Of course, I have no sound system, so it would be a hard rule to obey at the moment. I’ll have to buy one eventually, however, if only to have an emergency backup. (Incidentally, we were able to find someone who had a karaoke machine at the last minute, but I never want to come that close to being forced to cancel due to technical reasons again.)

Meanwhile, my brother and I are making puppets again, and I am thinking about new puppet plays to write. ‘Tis great fun.

“That’s the way to do it!” — Mr. Punch