Greetings, readers! My name is Esra and every week we, the marketing team here at PST, are going to give you a special inside-look at how some of our shows come to life!
Adapting the Story
Colorful scenery, exciting puppetry, and a delightful musical score - you can see and hear it all in the Crabgrass Puppet Theatre's retelling of the tallest of tales, Jack and the Beanstalk, which is everything it should be: a fun, giant-sized adventure for all ages.
Now, some of you may be wondering: what are the "mechanics" of puppet theatre, especially with this particular show? Well, we're glad you asked!
Let's begin with the stage. Rather than create two separate sets, the talented artsits at the Crabgrass Puppet Theatre combined Jack's home (bottom) with that of the Giants (top).
The question is: why? Simple. Jack and the Beanstalk tells the story of a young lad who exchanges the family cow for a handful of magic beans. When he plants the beans, a beanstalk grows in his backyard and Jack, being ever-so curious, climbs it, only to find himself high above the clouds in the Giants' world.
In order to create this illusion - the Giants living atop the human world on the beanstalk - the artists at the Crabgrass Puppet Theatre combined what could have been two separate sets into one.
Of course, we know you readers to be just as curious as good 'ol Jack, so you've probably got some more questions. Perhaps one like, "How does the real Jack appear smaller next to the Giants if they're puppets?" Good question! If the real Jack stood next to the Giants - well, he would appear more giant than the Giants because he's an actual person and the Giants are puppets. So, to solve this problem, the artists at Crabgrass Puppet Theatre created a puppet-sized Jack, thus making him appear smaller next to the Giants.
Remember, this show's about bringing the story of Jack and the Beanstalk to life. In order to do that, the artists at the Crabgrass Puppet Theatre had to make certain adjustments on stage. By combining two sets - Jack's home with the Giants' home - into one, they were able to create the illusion of two worlds, one on the ground and one in the sky, atop the beanstalk. And by creating a puppet-sized Jack, they were able to create the illusion of a tiny Jack, making the actually small puppet Giants seem giant-sized.
To see these wonderful "mechanics" at work, check out a preview of the show below:
Thanks for reading! Be sure to come back next week for another "Behind the Scenes at PST."
Yours truly, Esra - Marketing Intern.
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