General Stage Directions for a Puppet Show
from Puppet Theater Script Ideas (http://www.creativityinstitute.com/puppettheaterscriptideas.aspx)
Here are some suggestions to make your puppet productions more enjoyable for your audiences.
Voices:
Let the children make up a character voice they think suits the puppet. It could be a specific character from movies or TV that suits the part, such as the Cowardly Lion from the "Wizard of Oz," Mickey Mouse's high falsetto, and so on.
Talking:
With moving-mouth puppets, the natural tendency is to SHUT the mouth with each syllable. But people do the opposite, and so should puppets. It may take practice, but try to get the children to OPEN the puppet's mouth with each syllable.
And don't overdo it with big flapping mouth movements, unless the puppet character is yelling. Subtle movements that open the mouth just slightly on each syllable are more realistic and more convincing.
Walking: To simulate walking and running, don't let the children merely slide the puppets across the stage, but do small "step-size" bounces to represent each step.
Body Language:
Show your children how to use pauses and body moves as part of their acting. Sometimes a hesitation plays as good as a spoken line. For example, when lion puts his paw on the mouse to stop him, the mouse could freeze, pause, say his "oops" line, slowly turn and do a quick startled shake.
Help the children develop their own "body language" moves. Paul Winchell, the great puppeteer and ventriloquist, was a master of the slow turn. Think of all the other ventriloquists and puppeteers you've seen. Animated cartoons use the same techniques. |
