PUPPETS: ART AND AMUSEMENT

“A puppet must always be more than his live counterpart—simpler, sadder, more wicked, more supple …an essence and an emphasis,” said Bil Baird, master puppeteer.

Puppets, universally appealing, poke fun, chase one another in hilarious synchrony, argue with authority and communicate clearly with and without words. They confront human fears and conflicts, improvise, problem solve and move audiences to new worlds. Puppets accomplish feats no humans dare try; soaring through the air, swimming the ocean, metamorphosing before our eyes. They seem to listen to one another, feel emotion and think.

Yet, puppets of every variety are inanimate objects until brought to life by the skill of the performer. Then, the puppet becomes an actor and creates the illusion of life through gesture, movement, sound and color. A puppet show is a complete theatrical experience. Audiences of all ages delight in sharing this imagined world.

The size and type of puppet is determined by the concept of the show. Are the characters human or abstract? Is the show designed for adults or children, a large or small stage? Is the script farce, fantasy, folktale? Is the content classical, historical, avant-garde?

Professional puppeteers may animate only their bare hands or found objects, but most often manipulate carefully crafted puppets. Puppet materials include fabric, papier mache, celastic, styrofoam, Pariscraft, wood and metal. Puppeteers continually experiment with new designs and wares.

Here are a few of the more popular styles of puppets:

Marionettes are jointed, often carved of wood, moved by strings and the weight of gravity from a bar structure. Puppeteers manipulate the stringed figures from a bridge above the stage. Marionettes appear in large theater pieces and opera as well as cabaret and children’s stories.

Hand Puppets, designed to cover the hand and forearm, are among the most popular and versatile. Some are simple, crafted from scrap and everyday items. Many are elaborate, boasting meticulously sculpted faces and exquisite costumes. All appear on puppet stages of various sizes and shapes, with backdrops and stage sets, lighting and music. A few puppeteers carry their stages on their backs in informal walk-around shows. Hand puppets are vital tools in education and therapy for children.

Rod Puppets, more easily seen from a distance, are bigger than hand puppets. They are held by a center rod through the puppet. Puppeteers manipulate auxiliary rods attached to long, jointed limbs, which allow for expansive gesture. A popular variation is the combination hand and rod puppet.

Shadow Puppets, originally from the East, are flat, opaque or colored transparent figures, some intricate, guided by slender rods from behind a carefully backlighted screen. Audiences see the magical effects of fluid movement and distorted silhouettes, which heighten the drama. Shadow shows range from intimate children’s folk tales to mammoth screened accompaniments for symphony orchestras.

Puppeteers do not stint in the preparation necessary to create illusion. Puppet sizes and styles may vary within the same show as long as the performance is “of one piece.” To satisfy perspective, shows often feature the same puppet character in a range of sizes, from tiny to life-sized. To make stage business more effective, puppeteers may also create puppets of the same character in different styles even if the character appears for only a few seconds in its new guise. Each of the additional puppets has the same face and costume as the original. Careful attention to detail helps create the magic.

Whether puppets are articulated by hand, rod, string or wire, audiences are enthralled. Puppets, in the hands of master puppeteers, communicate to us, reach to our souls and transport us to their world.

Biography

Artist Information

Biography

Klint has enjoyed playing music all of his life. Growing up, he played just about anything he could get his hands on. The instruments ranged from piano, kalimba, drums, harp, accordion, to udu clay pots.

All of his music comes through inspiration. “It’s like someone else is using me as a tool. I feel like there is some other force that flows through me.” Inspiration can come at any time. At times, he will be doing nothing more than driving his car while and suddenly musical inspiration fills his mind. He has to pull over and write down the music while it is fresh in his mind.

He started piano at an early age, and has an intense passion for it. He began playing percussion while in the 5th grade, and continued until he graduated from Payson High School. Wile there, he was the Drum Major for the Payson British and Scottish Military Marching Band during his Junior and Senior years. Klint still enjoys playing the Scottish snare drum with a local pipe band in Utah.

Klint plays in community drum circles for youth programs, schools and within the community. Go to the Drum Circle page for more info…

Klint realized another passion when he discovered Puppeteering 6 years ago. Simply put, hell in love with Puppet Theatre. He has performed throughout Utah County and Salt Lake Counties. For more info go to the Puppet page…

“Music is my therapy: writing, practice and performing. When I’m feeling down, music has a way of stopping time. It seems to make everything feel right again. It takes your troubles away when you share your lover of music with others. In high school, I used to play the piano for 5 to 6 hours a day. I would practice the same song over and over. I wondered why each time I played it, the song never felt the same twice. When I play music, it takes me to a different world. I feel like I become a part of the instrument. That is why every time I would play, even if it was the same song, it had a different purpose. I came to the conclusion that God had blessed me with the gift of music.”

“There are people in this world that all have many different needs. When I play, I am inspired to play for whatever their needs are at that time. Even in the same song. You can reach people in so many ways. Music has a magic that touches every one of us in a way nothing else can. Music has a spirit that can reach within, and take us somewhere else. It is different for all of us. “

“I love sharing music.” Visit Klint’s Amazon Album.

Instrumentation

Links  

Calendar Drum Circles Main Street Puppet Theatre Video Photo Press Calendar Magic feather Everest Peace Project Amazon Album

Main Website

Klint Crawford Ring Tones

Klint Kopo Crawford on Facebook

www.klintcrawford.com