PuppetFest MidWest 2005 in Review
A fun time was had by all who attended this year's PuppetFest
MidWest, an annual, independent puppetry festival that is held every
July in Trenton, Missouri. This is the third year that a core group
of puppeteers has come together to share their talents in this unique
event. Everyone continues to enjoy the opportunity to focus on their
chosen week-long workshop, as well as nightly performances and
special events. It's amazing how much can be accomplished in a
workshop in just one week!
Workshops and performances were offered by:
* Jim Napolitano of Nappy's Puppets (Connecticut) workshop on
Shadow Puppetry has always been popular both with beginners and
experienced puppeteers. In one week, participants create their own
puppets, a puppet stage (and a box to carry it in) and at least one
vignette so they can go home and start performing.
* Luman Coad of Coad Canada Puppets ( North Vancouver,
Canada) offered his Script Writing workshop and performed "Up
Please", a wonderful puppet mime about life at the top of the ladder.
* Drew Allison of Grey Seal Puppets (North Carolina), offered
his Polyfoam Puppet "Boot Camp", where participants build a foam
puppet head and then work with it for focus, lip sync and
manipulation exercises. He also performed "The Emperor's New
Clothes", a classic tale enacted with great style.
* Lynne Jennings (California) offered her workshop on
"Tabletop Bunraku".
* Paul Mesner of Paul Mesner Puppets (Missouri) led a rowdy
group through a "Rod Puppets and Performance" workshop where everyone
made at least 3 puppets and then performed with them. He also charmed
the audience with one of his most recent shows, "Cats and Dogs or
Dogs and Cats".
* Leon Van Weelden of Chameleon Puppet Theatre (Missouri)
performed "Babaji and the Tigers", a delightful rod puppet
performance of a well known children's story.
* Phillip Huber of Huber Marionettes (Tennessee) opened the
festival with the dazzling "Suspended Animation". He also offered his
workshop on "Marionette Design on Paper".
* Pam Corcoran (Wisconsin) opened everyone's eyes with her
new workshop on Needle Felted Hand Puppets. Converts to this new
style of construction were enthusiastic and very vocal.
Every year, PuppetFest MidWest provides a venue for anyone
who wishes to share what they do with an audience. PuppetFest MidWest
provides the space, lights and sound system, the performer does the
rest. We call it the "Open Space". Taking the festival up on its
offer this year was Dr. Neff's Incredible Puppet Company featuring
George and Ann Szabo Neff. They performed a toy theatre piece by
Robert Poulter entitled "The Cure - A Gothic Melodrama". This was
described as a "work in progress" and half the fun was watching the
two performers still learning to work with each other.
The other "Open Space" entry was even more of a "work in progress"
and was created and performed by people who should have known better.
Drew Allison directed a stunning cast in the world premiere of
Stephen Carter's translation of "The Temptation of St. Anthony". St.
Anthony was played by Luman Coad, His Pig and constant companion by
Pix Smith, Peter Allen and Lynne Jennings played the King and Queen
of Hell, Paul Mesner was their Prime Minister, Phillip Huber his main
lackey, all the other devils in Hell (six of them) by Nick Barone,
the Saving Angel by Jim Napolitano, Orchestra (bowed psaltery, toy
piano, chimes, accordion and kazoos) by Todd Hart and Debbie Lutzky
Allen.
Small 10" carved wooden sicilian type puppets, costumes enhanced by
their manipulators, vied for space to stand on a miniscule stage with
3 changes of scenery, and a burning pig's tail. Quite a production. A
video does exist and is sure to be fodder for blackmail material in
the future. Rumor has it that the cast had a lot more fun than the
audience.
Following a hard day of workshops, performances and other
puppet related stuff it is nice to kick back and relax. In a stroke
of inspiration before the first festival, PuppetFest MidWest
organizers reserved The Wild Onion Cafe for festival participants
after the final performance every night. This is an intimate diner
just over the college property line where food and beverages (of your
choice) flow happily. It has become a very important feature of the
festival and has already been reserved for next year.
The 2005 PuppetFest MidWest has come and gone and future
plans are taking shape. Dates have been set for the next two years.
Future performers and workshop leaders include many of the same
puppeteers as this year, with the addition of the Carter Family
Marionettes.
Future Festival Dates: July 11 - 16, 2006 and July 10 - 15, 2007
For more information, go to www.puppetfestival.org or contact:
PuppetFest MidWest
Peter Allen & Debbie Lutzky Allen, Directors
P.O. Box 14
Jamesport MO 64648
Phone: (660) 684-6eight25