Puppet Families
Before we discuss a few specific ways puppets can be used to tell stories, let’s define the main categories into which puppets are usually classified. Within these main categories the ideas for creating a puppet are limited only by one’s imagination.
Hand puppets are puppets that fit over the hand in some manner, so that the hand literally gives them life. This family of puppets includes, but is not limited to: finger puppets, glove puppets, muppet (or moveable mouth) puppets, and sock puppets.
Indonesian rod puppet
Rod puppets are built on or around a rod which the puppeteer holds to manipulate the puppet. Some of these puppets are very articulated, having moveable mouths, heads, and arms, while others have very limited movement. Included in this puppet family are wooden spoon puppets and stick puppets; shadow puppets are often classified as a type of rod puppet.
Indonesian shadow puppet
Shadow puppets are flat, cut-out silhouettes held with at least one rod against a semi-opaque white screen that is back-lit. They may be made of leather, thin cardboard, wire, or colored gels. Sometimes a puppeteer’s own hands may be used to create a variety of shadow creatures.
String puppets are inanimate objects suspended from strings connected to a control device. These puppets, often called marionettes, may be as simple as a scarf or as complicated as a complex trick marionette.
Mask/body puppets are masks and/or costumes worn by actors who create the characters represented by the costumes. Some Disney theme-park characters, or Big Bird from Sesame Street, are good examples of body puppets.
Bunraku is a specialized form of puppetry originating in Japan. These unique puppets are life-size, doll-like creations with articulated faces operated by three puppeteers. One puppeteer operates the head and left hand, another the right hand, and yet another the feet.
Selecting the Right Puppet
Selecting the right puppet, whether purchased or constructed, is an essential first step. Consider what you want to achieve through using the puppet. Part of the fun of telling a story with puppets is choosing a puppet that suits you, as well as the story you want to share. You may choose to make your own puppet, purchase a ready-made puppet, or bribe someone into making a puppet for you.
Many times creating the puppet becomes so engrossing and time-consuming, the creation process stops when the physical puppet is finished. It becomes an arts and crafts project that often ends up in a box or on a shelf.
In reality, after the puppet is finished, the creation process is only about one-third complete. To finish the process, a puppet must be given a character or personality that is uniquely his. Creating a puppet character that fits the purposed use and that feels comfortable to the puppeteer/teacher is important. Character creation includes: choosing a voice and manner of speaking, movement, and mannerisms. A well-developed character will convince the audience the puppet is really “alive.”
It is essential that the puppeteer believe in the puppet character–enough to convince someone else that the character is real. Children, in their make-believe play, do this without consciously thinking about it. Along with believing in the character, the puppeteer must take responsibility for whatever the puppet says or does. Children tend to take puppets quite seriously–especially when they find them funny. Generally speaking, if you are not having fun with the puppet, the children won’t pay attention because they know the puppet is not “real.”
After characters are established, in most cases, some rehearsal must take place to assure that the puppet is used to convey the story material effectively. Rehearsal, of course, would not occur in a free play or therapy situation.
