Book Description

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Burmese marionettes enjoyed a rare and powerful privilege as speakers for both kings and subjects. Never merely for entertainment, puppetry was a high art held in much esteem. Marionettes were means of making people aware of current events; a medium for educating the masses in literature, history and religion; a display of lifestyle and customs. These yoke-thei, 'small dolls', enjoyed greater freedom of speech, dress and movement than live performers. They therefore played a significant role in the development of dance and dramatic arts. The author is a well known Burmese painter, and this lively book is liberally spiced with information about Burma and Burmese ways. It contains a systematic presentation of the Burmese marionette tradition, a tradition in the danger of extinction ... Read more

Book Description

Puppets have existed in one form or another in nearly every culture throughout human history. From the intriguing shadow puppets of Java to the romantically challenged Miss Piggy, from African carved-wood actors with outsize genitalia to merry maniac Mr. Punch, puppets are incredibly diverse, reflecting the varied cultures, environments, and personalities of their creators.

In this lavishly illustrated volume, Eileen Blumenthal provides a comprehensive overview of the history and techniques of puppetry, examining the unique nature and abilities of puppets and illustrating the countless roles they (and their creators) have played in societies across the globe for thousands of years. She draws on examples from an astonishing array of puppeteers, performances, and historical artifacts, providing readers with an in-depth view of this intricate world of constructed actors and the eclectic-and often eccentric-artists who create them. With a lively and accessible text and a wealth of illustrations, this one-of-a kind volume will be treasured by lovers of both visual and theater arts. AUTHOR BIO: Eileen Blumenthal is professor of theater arts at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, and a writer on contemporary Asian and Western theater. She has written hundreds of articles and reviews. She is also the author of Joseph Chaikin: Exploring at the Boundaries of Theatre and coauthor, with Julie Taymor, of Abrams' highly acclaimed Julie Taymor: Playing with Fire. ... Read more

Book Description

Stop-motion puppet animation is one of the most unusual and demanding art forms in the world. It uses a variety of skills, including design, sculpting, metal work, mold making and casting, taxidermy, filmmaking, storytelling and acting, and can be seen in the simplest commercial spots on television to more complex animated shorts and science fiction and fantasy feature films.

This work explains research and design of puppets, and details the fabrication of stop-motion puppets around a metal armature skeleton using the build up and foam injection processes. The former technique uses pre-cut blocks of foam formed with a pair of scissors or other instrument into the shape desired and attaching them to the armature. In the latter technique, the character is sculpted in clay over the armature. This clay sculpture is then replaced with foam by using a plaster mold and injection gun techniques. Finishing techniques described include the making of hair, eyes, eyelids, teeth, horns, nails, and chitinous (insect-shell-like) surfaces. The manual also covers the process of creating replacement heads using rubber molds (such as RTV) and urethane castings. A glossary and bibliography complete the extensively illustrated work. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Puppet Scripts for Sunday Mornings
A great resource for any Puppet Ministry! Joan M. Sercl gives tips on how to introduce your new puppet(s), voice suggestions, memorization tips, list of puppet resources, ideas for quick stage ideas, and an easy-to-use table of contents sorted by month (i.e. Dec. includes puppet skits on Christmas). Even if you've already gotten started, this book includes 52 scripturally-based skits that Joan M. Sercl has written with the ventriloquist in mind. So, you're not a ventriloquist, . . . I'm not either, AND the book is great. Joan suggests that you -- use your imagination! We've done exactly that by adapting some of the scripts for several puppets (to involve more teenage volunteers). The message in the Purple Glove skit (easily performed with dyed gloves) is worth the price of the book alone. ... Read more

Book Description

In this fascinating and colorful book, researcher and performer John McCormick focuses on the marionette world of Victorian Britain between its heyday after 1860 and its waning years from 1895 to 1914. Situating the rich and diverse puppet theatre in the context of entertainment culture, he explores both the aesthetics of these dancing dolls and their sociocultural significance in their life and time.

The history of marionette performances is interwoven with live-actor performances and with the entire gamut of annual fairs, portable and permanent theatres, music halls, magic lantern shows, waxworks, panoramas, and sideshows. McCormick has drawn upon advertisements in the Era, an entertainment paper, between the 1860s and World War I, and articles in the World’s Fair, a paper for showpeople, in the first fifty years of the twentieth century, as well as interviews with descendants of the marionette showpeople and close examinations of many of the surviving puppets.

McCormick begins his study with an exploration of the Victorian marionette theatre in the context of other theatrical events of the day, with proprietors and puppeteers, and with the venues where they performed. He further examines the marionette’s position as an actor not quite human but imitating humans closely enough to be considered empathetic; the ways that physical attributes were created with wood, paint, and cloth; and the dramas and melodramas that the dolls performed. A discussion of the trick figures and specialized acts that each company possessed, as well as an exploration of the theatre’s staging, lighting, and costuming, follows in later chapters. McCormick concludes with a description of the last days of marionette theatre in the wake of changing audience expectations and the increasing popularity of moving pictures.

This highly enjoyable and readable study, often illuminated by intriguing anecdotes such as that of the Armenian photographer who fell in love with and abducted the Holden company’s Cinderella marionette in 1881, will appeal to everyone fascinated by the magic of nineteenth-century theatre, many of whom will discover how much the marionette could contribute to that magic. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful for small theater groups/high schoolers to try
Dennis Silk has a grand insight into how things work in theater. HIs extensive work with large puppets, his poetic soul, his life long love of theater make this a must have book for small theater groups to use. More of these pieces should be seen. ... Read more

Book Description

Indispensable, step-by-step guide tells absolute beginners everything they need to know to become a polished and entertaining ventriloquist, including how to develop the art of speaking without lip movement, how to perfect dialogues and special effects, how to use props, write and memorize scripts, plan a show and much more.
... Read more

Reviews (5)

not worth it
Has only a tiny section on the really important stuff about the hard letters. The rest is padding. I'm going to look for something more serious.

Great
I think that this book is great for beginers because it teaches basic stuff to advanced stuff. If there was anyone that was interested in becoming a ventriloquist this is the right book for you.

Great book for The Absolute Beginner
Cheery and breezy, this well written, easy to understand book takes you from your first exercises on how to talk without moving your lips, to dealing with the "problem letters" (W, P, B, M, and F) to advanced techniquies such as the distant voice and echoed voice, to writing your own scripts and preparing for performance. Along the way. Mr. King provides you with several routines that you can use to sharpen and refine your skills as well as advice on giving your best when performing. Highly recommended, indeed!

Excellent Ventriloquism resource!
Great book for somebody wanting to learn the art of ventriloquism. It is basic and deals with the subject in an easy to understand manner. I highly recommend this book for any beginner.

Quick and well written reading on becoming a ventriloquist
A handy guide to learn ventriloquism complete with tips and some great scripts. I enjoyed that it wasn't too long making it easier to use for reference and easy to take along and read anywhere. A good find. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of my favorite and FUNNIEST how to do "vent" books!
As someone who got interested in ventriloquism (and eventually dumped a 20 year newspaper career to work with WOODEN dummies) I was often frustrated reading how-to-do-ventriloquism books. Most were either amazingly boring, unknowingly pompous, or filled with cutsey-comments that seemingly padded an explanation of what I believe is actually a relatively easy "art" (if you are nutty enough to practice in front of a mirror until you perfect the "hard" letters). This is one of my FAVORITE now to do ventriloquism books -- and to this day it remains the funniest. I still do a routine in my show based on the structure of one of Paul Stadelman's classic bits (I have long since replaced the actual jokes). The late Paul Stadelman was a "classic" and I believe underrated vent who performed, taught and was on television for many years. And this book is worth it's price just for the zippy routines with Stadelman and his dummy Windy Higgins. These don't go on and on with long set-ups but are punchy, quick pay-off bits (and if Stadelman used a pun it was seldom groan-inducing). Stadelman was clearly more influenced by vaudeville and comedy teams than by other ventriloquists (which I think is GOOD). At the least these routines help readers understand routine construction and setup-joke structure. The late, wonderful Col. Bill Boley (another performer who deserved a higher national profile since there are zillions of ventriloquists running around doing bits of his published work and others who painstakingly "emulate" his original routines) was the only other ventriloquist whose published routines came CLOSE to doing this. And to TEACH you vent? This book has it all. It gives you the substitute letters (to say for the hard letters) and words to practice to perfect them. It also tells you how to make a puppet out of your hand, gives you performing tips, has some great ventriloquism-related photos, and and list of suppliers and organizations (some of this is outdated now). If someone was interested in "vent" and had this book, George Schindler's Ventriloquism: Magic With Your Voice and the in-its-own-class Maher Studios correspondence course they'd have it all. Plus, if they have this book they're going to also have some BIG laughs while reading it. Paul Stadelman is truly ventriloquism's unsung hero!

A must for budding Ventriloquists!
Learn how to throw your voice! Make your hand talk, your shoe sing, and your mother-in-law shut up! Everyone will be tongue-tied when you start talking to the lamp shade -- and it talks back!

Paul Stadelman, a professional ventriloquist who starred on his own television show for many years, shares with you the secrets that have made him a hilarious success.

Ventriloquism, as taught in this book, is easy to learn. If you follow a few simple rules, anybody can do it. And it's so fun that once you start, you'll be talking to yourself for hours.

This book explains how to use standard puppets as well as novelty figures such as balloon animals and gym socks. Includes 22 complete comedy dialogues to get you started. All outrageously funny. ... Read more

Book Description

Clear explanations and over 70 illustrations demonstrate how to position your hands to make lifelike shadows of a lumbering dinosaur, a pair of playful monkeys, an eagle taking flight, a cat scratching itself, a howling wolf, a neighing horse, a dog that eats a rabbit, and many other figures. Good advice also on how to organize a performance of your own shadow art.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

A tragic tale of how Mister Sinister came to be
This is the tragic story about the origin of Sinister. Scott Summers and Jean Grey are brought back to the Victorian age. It was when Sinister was still known as Nathaniel Essex: A brilliant scientist, who was way too obsessed with reaching his goal: Creating the perfect species. He even puts his neglected wife aside in the name of science.

Other scientists slam his ideas and he only meets failure when trying to pursue his goal. But then he meets En Sabah Nur, also known as the evil mutant Apocalypse - Who tells him there is a way for him to do it. All Nathaniel has to do is choose between that or the love of his caring wife.

This is a very good story about love, the difficult choice this man had to make and how he came to the decision he eventually made. After years and years of hating Mister Sinister for everything he's done to the X-Men... You find that he's had a heart once. And I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the guy. They did Sinister good with this story. The writing is great. The thoughts, emotions and distant relationship between Nathaniel Essex and his wife Rebecca are done marvellously. The events can be shocking at times (don't ever browse through a comic book quickly!!!)

The art is very dark and contains alot of shadows - which works very well for this setting and story. It sets the mood for the story just right. Some might take a while to get used to the style, but that happens pretty quick once you get deep into the book.

If you've loved the love story of "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm", I'd recommend this. I would probably be sorry for saying this, but... It made me shed a tear :o)

Excellent 4 part series all wrapped into one.
Overall this is a good story, interesting plot.. and of course features the coolest enemy of them all (IMHO) Apocalypse! Seems he's at the root of just about everything in the x-universe these days eh?

Excellent artwork and a great read. I highly recommend it to the Apocalypse fan . ... Read more

Book Description

This instructional book reveals the mysteries about using a "rabbit in the hat" puppet. Magician/puppeteer Douglas L. Wathen shares from his own experiences with this little character. Includes ideas for character development, props, routines, audience involvement, and more. With such simple ingredients, a wonderful world of unforgettable ministry opportunities unveils itself before your eyes with blessings bestowed upon performer and audience alike. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantastic Ideas for unforgettable performances
Once you've read the ideas in this book, you can create a puppet sidekick for your Magic act that will never be forgotten. Beware: this sidekick could very well become more famous than YOU! Lots of great ideas to spark your imagination toward developing a whispering rabbit-in-the-hat puppet. No ventriloquism and very little puppetry skill required--but like anything worth doing, you've got to practice this stuff to make it work. ... Read more

Book Description

Puppets and masks are central to some of the oldest worldwide forms of art making and performance, as well as some of the newest. In the twentieth century, French symbolists, Russian futurists and constructivists, Prague School semioticians, and avant-garde artists around the world have all explored the experimental, social, and political value of performing objects. In recent years, puppets, masks, and objects have been the focus of Broadway musicals, postmodernist theory, political spectacle, performance art, and new academic programs, for example, at the California Institute of the Arts.

This volume, which originally appeared as a special issue of TDR/The Drama Review, looks at puppets, masks, and other performing objects from a broad range of perspectives. The topics include Stephen Kaplin's new theory of puppet theater based on distance and ratio, a historical overview of mechanical and electrical performing objects, a Yiddish puppet theater of the 1920s and 1930s, an account of the Bread and Puppet Theater's Domestic Resurrection Circus and a manifesto by its founder, Peter Schumann, and interviews with director Julie Taymor and Peruvian mask-maker Gustavo Boada. The book also includes the first English translation of Pyotr Bogatyrev's influential 1923 essay on Czech and Russian puppet and folk theaters.

Contributors
John Bell, Pyotr Bogatyrev, Stephen Kaplin, Edward Portnoy, Richard Schechner, Peter Schumann, Salil Singh, Theodora Skipitares, Mark Sussman, Steve Tilllis. ... Read more

Book Description

What a collection! This book is full of quality puppet scripts written for use in the church or other Christian environment. Each script is two to five minutes long and most scripts use only two or three characters. A variety of Bible-based topics are included, as well as a section of Bible-story scripts. Topics include: honesty, kindness, the great commission, Bible memory, tithing, salvation, anti-smoking, the armor of God, Adam and Eve, Jonah, Moses, Noah, and more! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Review for Quality Puppet Scripts
This is a great collection of short puppet scripts that are perfect for children's ministry. I use these scripts with my church every other week and I've been a part of some amazing results. If you are thinking of starting a puppet ministry team, this collection of scripts is a good way to start teaching the Word of God to other people. I have also purchased "Seasonal Puppet Scripts" which is similar to this book and is by "One Way Street". ... Read more

Book Description

The 30 original, reproducible puppet scripts in this collection are designed for the one-person show. Advice and suggestions on all aspects of presenting a puppet show, patterns for puppets, and illustrated instructions for construction accompany the scripts. Grades PreK-3. ... Read more

Book Description

What a collection of seasonal scripts! This book is full of quality puppet scripts written for use in the church or other Christian environment. Each script is three to seven minutes long and most scripts use only two or three characters. A variety of Bible-based topics are included for New Year's, Valentine's, Easter, Mother's/Father's Day, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Save Your Money : You Can Write Better Scripts Yourself
I was really disappointed with the quality of the scripts in this book. The scripts seemed mundane and very ordinary. I was hoping for more witty, cleverly written plays. The book is definately overpriced.

Great collection!
This script book is full of humorous scripts that I use at my church puppet ministry to teach children the good news of the bible. The scripts in this book are catagorized by holiday and the table of contents lists the message of each puppet skit, making it easy to create a theme for vacation bible school, children's church, etc. The scripts are also easy enough for young children to understand so that a clear message is sent out to the children. ... Read more

Book Description

"The pages that follow are an account of a personal excursion into the world of the wayang golek puppet theater of Indonesia, a world populated by marvelous puppets, the carvers who create them, the musicians whose orchestra accompanies the puppet theater, the audiences whose lives they influence, and the puppet masters themselves, whose powers are respected by villager and city dweller alike.... My original intention was to write a history of the origins of the wayang golek theater, but I quickly realized that the puppeteers are as fascinating as the puppets. The project shifted to an oral history of wayang golek, told in the voices of the puppet masters themselves. Their interpretation of the ideas embedded in the structure of the wayang, their individual philosophies, and their personal reminiscences, interspersed with anecdotes of supernatural events, convey the world of the wayang golek theater directly and personally, in a way that traditional analysis cannot." --- from the Preface ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fantastic
I am Balinese and collect and sell wayang golek puppets.

I hadn't been able to find a really good book on the subject - but now I have. I certainly recommend this one - the text is never boring. The author quotes real puppeteers and traces their histories. Unfortunately the art is dying out a bit, but luckily there are some young puppeteers, so there is hope.

The photographs are superb and the background stories of the epics and the characters in them are excellent.

Most of the puppeteers are men - but not all - there is a very impressive American lady puppeteer too.

This is not just a coffee table book. Highly recommended.

Academically engaging and a top notch read
Mimi Herberts book explores deeply the world of the Wayang Golek, weaving scholarly facts and personal accounts into a tapestry as rich as the art it examines. Whether doing research on Eastern puppet traditions or simply pursuing personal interests, her work offers a fully comprehensive tour of one of Indonesias oldest artforms. Students, scholars and even museum book stores would do well to have a copy on their shelves.

An Excellent and Beautiful Book
Mimi Herbert and Nur S. Rahardjo with Univeristy of Hawaii Press and the Lontar Foundation have produced an excellent and beautiful book on the Wayang Golek of Indonesia. All students of Indonesia and those interested in the arts of Asia should have this book in their library. The photography is superb and the text is well written and comprehensive. If you have an interest in this subject BUY THIS BOOK. You will not be disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description

Puppet ministry team directors, you must have this valuable resource book, full of how-to pages for preparing, organizing, recruiting, rehearsing, and planning puppet team performances. It includes reproducible forms such as medical consent, commitment contracts, attendance records, performance checklists, and many more! The Puppet Director's Notebook is the best resource handbook for the local church puppet ministry director ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is a vital tool for directors of puppet ministries.
This notebook gives information and helps for puppet ministries. The notebeek also has forms that the director can use as they are, or as a guide. There are check lists and certificates as well. The best part is the book is spiral-bound, so you can have the book open to the desired page.

I highly recommend "Puppet Director's Notebook" to all directors of puppet ministries. ... Read more