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An excellent way to begin puppet rehearsals is with prayer. Prayer helps puppeteers focus on the reason they are on the team, the holy and sacred mission set before them as they perform with puppets. Each puppeteer on your team brings with them to rehearsal the burden of problems and stresses that weigh on their minds. These burdens can influence the flow of a rehearsal or performance, especially when working with a youth team. Junior high and high school youth tend to have a more intense reaction than those younger or older than they. They are the least likely to be able to put their feelings on hold for the purpose of concentrating on a puppet rehearsal or performance. The members of your team may require your guidance, support, and understanding in dealing with these outside pressures. While prayer may be the quickest way to help your team focus, there may be times when spending a little more time might be beneficial.
Over the years I have written four devotions for puppeteers.
Dedication of Hands -Overcoming Weakness -Losing Sight of the Mission -Handling Criticism
It is my hope that in utilizing scripture to address the challenges associated with puppetry the members of your team will be open to allowing scripture to comfort them in the everyday pressures they experience.
On Handling
Criticism
In order to fine tune a puppet performance, there must be someone (most likely, you, the leader) watching from the perspective of the audience during practice. Puppeteers need to be reminded almost constantly to bend their wrist and stretch their arms. After all, if the members of the audience can only see the puppet from the head up and the eyes pointed to the ceiling, maintaining the audience's attention will be very difficult. Puppeteers need to be able to accept instruction without considering it to be personal criticism. It is very easy to stand out in front of the stage and point out everything that is wrong. However necessary this may be, the tone of voice these corrections are delivered in is critical in preserving the emotions of the puppeteer. It is extremely difficult to be performing behind stage and hear a continuous stream of corrections highlighting everything wrong with the performance. A good way for puppeteers to see and acknowledge their own mistakes is to video a practice and just let them watch without the leader's input. They are usually very quick to correct themselves and acknowledging their own mistakes will soften their criticism of others. Plus, you've eliminated the "negative Nelly" aspect of being a puppet team leader. The following scriptures can guide team members on handling constructive criticism both behind the puppet stage and in their personal lives.
Proverbs 4:13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well for it is your life.
Proverbs 15:32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and will increase learning.
Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
A Humble Mission
However humble our circumstances or undramatic our talents, our true purpose has been revealed. We were meant to be this person at this time and place. Not only for ourselves, but for You and other people - we were meant to make this particular contribution to the world. And so we must do it well. Do it with faith and patience, with all our strength and passion. And in so doing discover who we really are. - Marjorie Holmes
Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" He said, "Go and tell this people."
Isaiah 46:11 What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.
Isaiah 48:15 I, even I, have spoken; yes, I have called him. I will bring him and he will succeed in his mission.
Isaiah 48:17 I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.
Isaiah 55:10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my work that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
His Hands Puppets
Worktable Wrap-UP
I spent most of May repairing and re-furbishing some puppets for a puppet team I helped start twenty-five years ago. The most common repairs are eyes, hair, inside elastic, and worn wrists. At times an entire mouth plate needs replaced or some old foam needs torn out and a new form inserted. I work best repairing my own 15+-year old creations but do have success with other maker's puppets. Contact me if your puppets need some repair.
Prep for an assembly line for my June worktable. Practice Puppets! These will be easy for grabbing a quick minute in between wheat harvest duties for my "one-good-eye-farmer-husband". These are also good for workshops where kids decorate their own puppets. Reasonably priced! Let me know if you need anything special for your upcoming workshops!
