puppets and science

[thatguywhojuggles]

I am currently working for a theatre company in Sullivan IL. I am part of their touring show. We travel to schools all over central Illinois and perform two shows, "Sword in the Stone," and "Knights of the Round Table." In both shows I play Merlin the Magician. In the show I get to do a little juggling and magic, and the kids love it. We do as many as 13 shows in a week. We will do as many as 160 shows in the season. The kids really enjoy it--they rarely get to see live theatre. My contract goes till May.

When my boss asked if I would work the tour again in the Fall, I asked her if she would consider a puppet show for one of the shows. Long story short, she liked the idea and has offered me the opportunity to create a puppet show (writing the show, and building the puppets.) I'm very excited about this idea, because I would like to create a mad-scientist puppet. The show would promote science and critical thinking. She did however tell me I couldn't bring up Evolution. Apparently here in the midwest, it would be too controversial. Nevertheless I'm excited to be able to promote science and critical thinking.

So I start the brain-storming process. And I thought I would come here, and ask you folks what you think of the idea, and if you have any suggestions for a direction to go. Any feedback will be appreciated.

If you care to see an example of my puppets, check this page out:
http://www.thatguywhojuggles.com/Gallery/Puppets1/index.htm

 

[Ducky]

Have a puppet show of the Titanium Superhero beating the crap out of Kevin Trudeau.

Man that would rock.

That sounds very cool, and I congratulate you! How about a puppet show going over something specific, like Pasteur or Einstein? You could make it somewhat fictionalized with some comedy for the kids? Maybe Einstein and Newton playing with an erector set? Hilarity could ensue...

 

[Goshawk]

Well, when you say "mad scientist" to schoolkids in Central Illinois, what you get back is, "Frankenstein". However, a puppet show based on using dead body parts to create a monster is not gonna go over good with the Children's Librarian at the Decatur Public Library who schedules the end-of-summer puppet show reward party for the summer reading club, unless you can think of a way to make it (a) funny, (b) not icky, and (c) not scary.

 

[Goshawk]

Rocket ships, space flight, and Mars in particular are very big around here. Maybe critical thinking as pertains to Mars/Martians/little green men/The Cydonia Face?

Can you make a Mars Sojourner puppet? Like Herbie The Love Bug...

 

[AnotherSillyAlias]

I think anything that promotes the ideas of science and critical thinking to kids can only be a good thing.

On a side note: I think it's a sad reflection on a society that finds evolution "too controversial".

 

[supercorgi]

I am currently working for a theatre company in Sullivan IL. I am part of their touring show. We travel to schools all over central Illinois and perform two shows, "Sword in the Stone," and "Knights of the Round Table." In both shows I play Merlin the Magician. In the show I get to do a little juggling and magic, and the kids love it. We do as many as 13 shows in a week. We will do as many as 160 shows in the season. The kids really enjoy it--they rarely get to see live theatre. My contract goes till May.

When my boss asked if I would work the tour again in the Fall, I asked her if she would consider a puppet show for one of the shows. Long story short, she liked the idea and has offered me the opportunity to create a puppet show (writing the show, and building the puppets.) I'm very excited about this idea, because I would like to create a mad-scientist puppet. The show would promote science and critical thinking. She did however tell me I couldn't bring up Evolution. Apparently here in the midwest, it would be too controversial. Nevertheless I'm excited to be able to promote science and critical thinking.

So I start the brain-storming process. And I thought I would come here, and ask you folks what you think of the idea, and if you have any suggestions for a direction to go. Any feedback will be appreciated.

If you care to see an example of my puppets, check this page out:
http://www.thatguywhojuggles.com/Gallery/Puppets1/index.htm

I think that's brilliant even if you have to stay away from Darwin and the whole evolution thing. You could still touch a lot on science or critial thinking. How about Ben Franklin? Always a favorite with American audiences. Newton, Einstein, etc? Or hey, you could do something on Houdini and his career in exposing fake mediums. History offers so many opportunities. Debunk Nostradamis! Pyramid theory! Anything! Let you imagination go wild! Best of luck!

 

[Roboramma]

Your puppets are brilliant!

 

[ImaginalDisc]

A puppet of Benjamin Franklin explaining electricity, and bifocals would be fantastic. Plus, since he's such an important American historical figure, you could use him in histry themed presentations.

 

[Molinaro]

Make it all about evolution!

 

[thatguywhojuggles]

fowlsound:
Have a puppet show of the Titanium Superhero beating the crap out of Kevin Trudeau.

Man that would rock.

That sounds very cool, and I congratulate you! How about a puppet show going over something specific, like Pasteur or Einstein? You could make it somewhat fictionalized with some comedy for the kids? Maybe Einstein and Newton playing with an erector set? Hilarity could ensue...

I doubt K-5 kids would know who Kevin Trudeau is. With any luck, by time they grow up, none of us will remember who he was. I do like the idea of introducing real scientists... perhaps it could be a gameshow, or a talk show interviewing famous scientists... hmmm... thanks for the ideas.

Goshawk:
Well, when you say "mad scientist" to schoolkids in Central Illinois, what you get back is, "Frankenstein". However, a puppet show based on using dead body parts to create a monster is not gonna go over good with the Children's Librarian at the Decatur Public Library who schedules the end-of-summer puppet show reward party for the summer reading club, unless you can think of a way to make it (a) funny, (b) not icky, and (c) not scary.

I agree. And I don't think I would use the term "Mad" in any of my promotional material. He'd be a loveable mad scientist... clumsy, and a little eccentric, but with good intentions (it would be necessary to show that even scientists make mistakes. "(a) funny" would be a primary focus, with lots of children interacting--I'd want them to have memorized "OHECK" by the end of the show and be able to call it back to the puppets. Observation, Hypothesis, Experiment, Conclusion, Knowledge.

Goshawk:
Rocket ships, space flight, and Mars in particular are very big around here. Maybe critical thinking as pertains to Mars/Martians/little green men/The Cydonia Face?

Can you make a Mars Sojourner puppet? Like Herbie The Love Bug...

I was actually involved in a touring show when I was in college that was all about Mars. It was a silly show with no educational redeming qualities, but fun entertainment. And I got to drive the remote controled rover. I like the idea of having a robotic puppet though. That's an excellent idea, thanks!
Here is a poster I designed for that show: http://thatguywhojuggles.com/Gallery/Shows/Mars Mayhem/mm poster.jpg

AnotherSillyAlias:
I think anything that promotes the ideas of science and critical thinking to kids can only be a good thing.

On a side note: I think it's a sad reflection on a society that finds evolution "too controversial".

Agreed. I was actually surprised my boss let me go with the science theme. She knows my views and disagrees with me when it comes to Evolution, God...
I figure if I can plant the seed of rational thought/critical thinking, perhaps when the question comes up when they are older, they'll see the subject more clearly.

supercorgi:
I think that's brilliant even if you have to stay away from Darwin and the whole evolution thing. You could still touch a lot on science or critial thinking. How about Ben Franklin? Always a favorite with American audiences. Newton, Einstein, etc? Or hey, you could do something on Houdini and his career in exposing fake mediums. History offers so many opportunities. Debunk Nostradamis! Pyramid theory! Anything! Let you imagination go wild! Best of luck!

Thanks. I do like the idea of introducing real scientists from the past. I don't know about introducing specific bunk like Nostradamis or Pyramid theory--I'd like to keep the ideas simple. Perhaps somethign along the line of:
Puppet #1: There might be a hundred dollar bill under this box.
Puppet #2: Oh, that's wonderful. I can't wait to lift the box and spend it!
Puppet #1: I didn't say there was one, just that there might be one.
Puppet #2: I like the idea of there being a hundred dollars under the box. I sure could use some new puppet pants.
Puppet #1: We could always look under the box and see...
Puppet #2: Oh, no. I'd much rather just believe it is under there and leave it at that. When the time comes to shop, that's when will lift the box. It just feels nice to believe.
(or something like that...)

Roboramma:
Your puppets are brilliant!

Thank you very much!

ImaginalDisc:
A puppet of Benjamin Franklin explaining electricity, and bifocals would be fantastic. Plus, since he's such an important American historical figure, you could use him in histry themed presentations.

I am liking the idea of using past famous scientists. I'd have to keep the explanations simple enough for K-2 kids though. I'd love to write multiple shows.

Molinaro:
Make it all about evolution!

I wish!! However, a paycheck is good. And so is a show that promotes critical thinking versus no show at all.

Thanks everyone for all the good ideas. Keep them coming.

 

[Capsid]

Great project! Scientists are not very good at getting the message across to the layman and the media do a poor job too. So this seems an excellent vehicle for this tricky task.

A recent survey in the UK suggests that kids regard scientists as not being normal people and that the career path is not for them. So I would request that you do not use the mad scientist character as this is clearly giving a distorted view which kids (in the UK at least) perceive as something they do not desire or aspire to. As a scientist myself I found this quote amusing

"Because you would constantly be depressed and tired and not have time for family", and "because they all wear big glasses and white coats and I am female".

So girls are particularly turned off it seems because scientists don't look good. I blame the entertainment industry.

Anyway, best wishes for the project!

 

[Jellby]

So I would request that you do not use the mad scientist character as this is clearly giving a distorted view which kids (in the UK at least) perceive as something they do not desire or aspire to.

I agree. Try to stay away from the lonely scientist who works alone. Represent instead the teamwork real science is, and have some women scientists. Well, that could be too much for a puppet show, but it can be suggested in the dialogues at least...

 

[ZirconBlue]

I don't really have anything to contribute to the original topic. I just think its interesting that you're in Sullivan, as I spent the first 13 years of my life in the same county. I still have siblings in Mattoon, IL, and another brother managed a bar in Decatur for quite a while....

OK, carry on.

 

[drkitten]

So I start the brain-storming process. And I thought I would come here, and ask you folks what you think of the idea, and if you have any suggestions for a direction to go. Any feedback will be appreciated.

One suggestion I'd make -- how about a mystery of some sort? Instead of the traditional "mad scientist in a lab coat," you could go for a "mad scientist in tweeds" Sherlock Holmes type interacting with a number of other detectives and forensic scientists and something.

The whole point of "science" isn't the equipment, after all, it's the thought process. And OHECK describes much of both fictional and realistic crime scene investigation. If I'm running an experiment to see if it's possible for the cookie jar thief to get from the window to the big oak tree without leaving footprints, that's just as much an experiment as if I'm trying to figure out whether I can replace colloids with sulphates in unobtainium salts.

One possibility that might work would be to make the Sherlock Holmes type an avid book reader, and whenever he gets into trouble, he goes and finds an appropriate book from the library shelves, at which point the author of the book -- some famous scientist from the past -- comes out and talks to him and they can discuss what the next step should be. This gives you an excuse to introduce lots of famous characters in a controlled setting.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Ripley Twenty-Nine]

One suggestion I'd make -- how about a mystery of some sort? Instead of the traditional "mad scientist in a lab coat," you could go for a "mad scientist in tweeds" Sherlock Holmes type interacting with a number of other detectives and forensic scientists and something.

The whole point of "science" isn't the equipment, after all, it's the thought process. And OHECK describes much of both fictional and realistic crime scene investigation. If I'm running an experiment to see if it's possible for the cookie jar thief to get from the window to the big oak tree without leaving footprints, that's just as much an experiment as if I'm trying to figure out whether I can replace colloids with sulphates in unobtainium salts.

One possibility that might work would be to make the Sherlock Holmes type an avid book reader, and whenever he gets into trouble, he goes and finds an appropriate book from the library shelves, at which point the author of the book -- some famous scientist from the past -- comes out and talks to him and they can discuss what the next step should be. This gives you an excuse to introduce lots of famous characters in a controlled setting.

Just my $0.02.

That sounds like a great idea. Plus it would play into the whole popular 'CSI' type of show... Though obviously not involving gruesome crimes.

 

[Loon]

Also, kids like things that go boom.

Perhaps you can have one mad scientist type in the lab, but the others be competent and normal-ish. What's the practical limit on the number of characters?

 

[thatguywhojuggles]

Thanks Loon, Ripley Twenty-Nine, drkitten, Jellby, & Capsid. I appreciate your imput. It all gave me good ideas of a direction to go.

I wanted to share that direction with everyone here. I'd love more feedback. I'm about to submit the idea to my boss and see what she thinks.

Here is what I have so far:

(c) Walter Beals 2006
Puppet Show
“Don’t take my word for it!”

Two central characters are a grandfather and his young granddaughter who has come to his house to visit him. Grandfather was a scientist when he was younger. He lives alone, an eccentric, mysterious, but loveable old man who likes to tell stories. And he especially loves visits from his granddaughter. The granddaughter is a typical young kid with typical young kid problems. She often comes to visit her Grandpa for advice, but mostly she visits him because he always tells great stories.

So the story begins with “Tricia” the young granddaughter on her way to visit her grandfather. As she walks in the woods, she speaks to a bird that is flying along side, and in this one way conversation with the bird (who only chirps back,) we find out who the girl is, and where she is going, and a little about her grandfather. We also find out that this story is set about 50 years into the future. Also it should be clear that she and her grandfather, when you meet him, can’t see past beyond the fourth wall—no interaction with audience at all.

Grandfather and Tricia sit down for tea. Somehow the subject of heroes comes up. Tricia talks about the superheroes from comic books. Grandpa starts talking about a branch of real heroes of the real world, scientists. Then he discusses fictional advances in science by scientists in the last 50 years. He then goes to a book so he can read to her about scientists of the more distant past.

As he reads about each scientist come alive, out of the book. Then Grandpa and Tricia are able to interview each scientist, and ask him or her about their work. Each scientist would also do a scientific experiment in order to demonstrate some element of science.

The unique thing about the scientists who come out of the books is that they CAN see the audience and interact with them during experiments. There is an ongoing joke about the fact that Grandpa and Tricia can’t see the audience.

Each experiment should be large, visual, and exciting. Tricia’s excitement about science should grow over the process, and she should be very convinced by the end that she wants to be a scientist.

Throughout the interviews and experiments, they would be collecting information from each of the scientists, about the process of how science works (OHECK) Observation, Hypothesis, Experiment, Conclusion, Knowledge. “OHECK” Would be a fun to teach the kids to memorize and get them to repeat it back in some manner.

Some suggested scientists: Galileo, Copernicus, Newton, Einstein, (and definitely include a scientist related to farming, like: Norman Borloc—of course it would be great to interview him before writing the script.) I would include a farming scientists since so many of the kids in central Ilinois are tied in to farming in some way or another. It would also be good to put in a female scientist (Henrietta Leavitt, or other ) perhaps because Tricia expresses interest in being a scientists, but then thinks that she can’t because she is a girl.


After the last interview Tricia asks her Grandfather to tell her about the science heroes of the last 50 years, the ones who’s fictional work he described at the beginning. He tells her it is getting late and he’ll tell her all about them the next time she visits. But that as a treat, before she goes, he will show her one of his experiments. His experiment is a window to the past. He then asks her if she would like to see what children her age were like 50 years ago. She eagerly accepts, and when he turns on the device “window” they can finally see the audience, and are able to see the audience.

After interaction with the audience they turn the device “window” off, and Grandfather tells Tricia that it is possible that one of those kids she saw in the audience could be the next great scientist (hero). Finally they discuss and wrap up the play. They would discuss the importance of science, and go over “OHECK” again. Grandpa could reiterate that her being a girl in no way should keep her from becoming a scientist if she wants to be.

The topic of the title should be addressed at the end too. When asked if every single thing he told her was true, perhaps the old Grandfather admits that he has been known to make up stories now and then, and that she should not take his word for it, but to do as scientists do and do her own search for knowledge in schools, libraries, museums, planetariums, aquariums, and out in nature.

 

[Capsid]

That's wonderful. I wonder if you could relate how the health of the audience was a poor comparison to 50 years in the future. The grandfather could joke that 50 years ago there were chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer which don't exist anymore. It may help to protray how science is working for the world we borrow from our children.

 

[Deetee]

Fantastic! As I read through the responses in the thread, I was thinking of things to suggest, but your own "screen play" makes my unimaginative musings seem trivial.

We wanna see it when its done!
Get it taped/on disc please.

ETA: Fleming/penicillin is a good example of OHECK, and one kids could easily understand. It would be nice to introduce something like DNA-Watson-Crick but for smaller kids this might be too complex. What about Mendel - again things like peas/flowers can be visualised quite easily by kids?

 

[thatguywhojuggles]

That's wonderful. I wonder if you could relate how the health of the audience was a poor comparison to 50 years in the future. The grandfather could joke that 50 years ago there were chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer which don't exist anymore. It may help to protray how science is working for the world we borrow from our children.

Thanks for the compliment and suggestions!

I definitely plan on painting a bright future. Even though I have it set 50 years in the future, I start out the show with her walking through the woods. To show that nature is still alive and thriving (optimistic, yes...)

I will definitely have him mention that science has advance the quality of life, and helped protect nature.