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the puppet as a figure of the other final P PIRIS 2013 - Central ...

the puppet as a figure of the other final P PIRIS 2013 - Central ...

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eing only a piece <strong>of</strong> paper. He also conceived Les Mains Seules by using just his barehands to form <strong>puppet</strong>s that would represent <strong>the</strong> fauna and <strong>the</strong> flora <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea beforebecoming human beings. Although <strong>the</strong>se acts seemed similar to Obraztsov’s varietyshows because <strong>the</strong>y both embraced <strong>the</strong> materiality <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>puppet</strong> <strong>as</strong> well <strong>as</strong> <strong>the</strong> bare hand<strong>as</strong> a <strong>puppet</strong>, <strong>the</strong>y were opposed on one major point. Unlike Joly, Obraztsov would neverbreak <strong>the</strong> illusion <strong>of</strong> life <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>puppet</strong>. For instance, in one <strong>of</strong> his pieces mentionedabove, Mussorgsky’s Lullaby, Obraztsov used to put <strong>the</strong> baby to bed and leave him. Inorder not to stop <strong>the</strong> suspension <strong>of</strong> disbelief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public, Obraztsov always did that<strong>final</strong> action behind <strong>the</strong> <strong>puppet</strong> booth. The audience could still believe that <strong>the</strong>re w<strong>as</strong> ababy sleeping behind <strong>the</strong> booth.In <strong>the</strong> 1950s and <strong>the</strong> 1960s, some soloists who worked also in cabarets went onestep fur<strong>the</strong>r than Joly. They created acts in which <strong>the</strong> <strong>puppet</strong> acknowledged <strong>the</strong><strong>puppet</strong>eer’s presence. That w<strong>as</strong> <strong>the</strong> c<strong>as</strong>e for artists such <strong>as</strong> <strong>the</strong> German soloist AlbrechtRoser and <strong>the</strong> French soloist Philippe Genty. Both used short-string marionettesmanipulated in full view <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> audience. Unlike Joly, who performed with quiteabstract forms or everyday objects like umbrell<strong>as</strong> that he used <strong>as</strong> <strong>puppet</strong>s, Roser andGenty used traditional <strong>figure</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>puppet</strong>ry, such <strong>as</strong> a clown named Gustaf for Roser andPierrot for Genty. For instance, during an act Roser would help his <strong>puppet</strong> to reach achair so Gustaf could sit down. The <strong>puppet</strong> would look back at Roser and nod to signifyits gratitude. Genty’s relationship with his <strong>puppet</strong> Pierrot w<strong>as</strong> more dramatic. Gentycreated a short piece in which <strong>the</strong> <strong>puppet</strong> Pierrot became aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong>strings that connected him to <strong>the</strong> <strong>puppet</strong>eer. Pierrot would try anything to untie himselfand would <strong>final</strong>ly cut <strong>the</strong> strings and die.Genty and Roser are fine examples <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>puppet</strong>eers from WesternEurope who followed a parallel path to that <strong>of</strong> some companies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Warsaw Pact.42

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