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Theater Reviews + Features | Pittsburgh City Paper: How do you survive the middle of life, and how to cope with the end of it? Two works in the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts embrace these big questions.
The Pigeoning is a world-premiere puppet play by artist and puppet-maker Robin Frohardt.
What a heartbreaking concept. There is something about puppetry that speaks to audiences. You can watch an actor's whole life fall apart in an evening, but you know that after the show he or she can go home and continue to live a normal life. Puppets, however, embody the character fully because that's the only life they possess. Alzheimer's stories are sad regardless. To watch a puppet endure this condition would be very sad. I look forward to seeing it.
I am glad the Festival of Firsts uses such a wide range of mediums, because it seems the Pittsburgh theater often plays it very safe. I think this is a healthy step for the community.
Some of my favorite shows that I have seen are puppet shows. Sadly, I couldn't get tickets for The Pigeoning (as they sold out right away!) but I'm glad to see puppetry coming to the forefront. Puppets give us a chance to create something larger than life, super creative, and different. Puppets can do different things than live actors can and vice-versa. I just know when I see a well done puppet show, I get completely taken in by the story. It's like watching a book come to life. It connects so directly with the imagination and I think because of that it makes it so moving. Puppets can be goofy and serious at the same time and can hold characteristics that might make a real life person seem too much like a clown or too serious, etc. For some reason we're more accepting of puppets and their qualities and I think this allows us to more effectively portray certain stories by this medium.
Both the "Pigeoning" and "Its Dark Outside" seam like compelling works of art. I love how they both utilize the body instead of the voice of the actor and show through actions instead of speech. The Pigeoning is such an interesting concept of having a puppet (Frank) experiencing obsessive compulsive behavior and going through life. It reminds me of myself in some ways of being overly clean and orderly. Since the play is only about action and no dialogue, then its crucial that the actors are experienced with puppetry. When you are controlling a puppet, you need to take movements slowly and thoughtfully so the movements aren't overlooked by the audience. I wish I could have seen this show, but Crucible. "Its Dark Outside" deals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia and utilizes puppets with no dialogue. Puppets, even though they express less emotion than people they have this sense of wonder and interpretation. I need to watch a puppet show sometime because I haven't seen one since I was young and I think now it could be very interesting.
3 comments:
What a heartbreaking concept. There is something about puppetry that speaks to audiences. You can watch an actor's whole life fall apart in an evening, but you know that after the show he or she can go home and continue to live a normal life. Puppets, however, embody the character fully because that's the only life they possess. Alzheimer's stories are sad regardless. To watch a puppet endure this condition would be very sad. I look forward to seeing it.
I am glad the Festival of Firsts uses such a wide range of mediums, because it seems the Pittsburgh theater often plays it very safe. I think this is a healthy step for the community.
Some of my favorite shows that I have seen are puppet shows. Sadly, I couldn't get tickets for The Pigeoning (as they sold out right away!) but I'm glad to see puppetry coming to the forefront. Puppets give us a chance to create something larger than life, super creative, and different. Puppets can do different things than live actors can and vice-versa. I just know when I see a well done puppet show, I get completely taken in by the story. It's like watching a book come to life. It connects so directly with the imagination and I think because of that it makes it so moving. Puppets can be goofy and serious at the same time and can hold characteristics that might make a real life person seem too much like a clown or too serious, etc. For some reason we're more accepting of puppets and their qualities and I think this allows us to more effectively portray certain stories by this medium.
Both the "Pigeoning" and "Its Dark Outside" seam like compelling works of art. I love how they both utilize the body instead of the voice of the actor and show through actions instead of speech. The Pigeoning is such an interesting concept of having a puppet (Frank) experiencing obsessive compulsive behavior and going through life. It reminds me of myself in some ways of being overly clean and orderly. Since the play is only about action and no dialogue, then its crucial that the actors are experienced with puppetry. When you are controlling a puppet, you need to take movements slowly and thoughtfully so the movements aren't overlooked by the audience. I wish I could have seen this show, but Crucible. "Its Dark Outside" deals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia and utilizes puppets with no dialogue. Puppets, even though they express less emotion than people they have this sense of wonder and interpretation. I need to watch a puppet show sometime because I haven't seen one since I was young and I think now it could be very interesting.
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