Theater Puppets

Theater puppets are an amazing way to express yourself artistically. We use puppets from an early age: Our hands imitate animals and shadows. As we progress we watch others enjoy the process of learning, making the puppets become more and more human or life-like. In this review I will discuss my love of puppets and my favorites.

My particular favorite is Ron Lucas who has performed for several of the presidents since Ronald Regan. Scortch the teenage dragon and Billy the Cowboy are my favorite characters, but his use of a mask that has a moving mouth on a member of the audience has got to be one of the most hilarious variety acts I’ve ever seen. By throwing his voice he can say what the audience member could never say to his wife. I saw his act in the ultimate Variety Show in Atlantic City at Trump Plaza and must say his mastery is amazing, but also allows people to laugh and live.

There has been a surge of puppetry with the increase in theater puppetry in Churches to depict the bible stories and to teach the children lessons in ministries. And then there are the puppet parodies that can be seen throughout youtube. The artistic expression is both entertaining and therapeutic.

There are the iconic puppets. The Muppets. Jeff Dunham’s crew of “entertainers.” If you go to Amazon.com you can find slews of reviews on puppets. What is most important is that you find theater puppets that allow you to express yourself… whether purchased, custom made, or self-made by you.

I’ll never forget seeing a ventriloquist who has a voice just like Frank Sinatra with a life-sized puppet of Frank Sinatra in Atlantic City. I know it wasn’t him, but seeing him perform was awesome. As if there and he was alive.

Puppet theater has been a human expression ever since we made shadows with our hands, and can be as simple as a hand imitating a body or face like Senior Wences, or Bunraku of Japan that is so highly technical it is highly respected the more the puppet looks human or moves with human vigor.

I own several versions of puppets. From Charlie Mcarthy’s famous Edgar, and I own a folkmanis puppet in the form of a doctor. My love of puppetry for how it has helped countless children express themselves and to also allow them to learn has no bounds.

My favorite troupe: The Paperhand Puppet Intervention in North Carolina. If you can catch a show by them, by all means do so. Amazing earth-loving stories.

But for now, explore puppets for yourself. I will explore links to the top puppets and puppetry sites as well as products that are good for starting the experience.