Song of the North 2 Dispatch to David

I got the opportunity to see Song of the North with a group of classmates and Caitlin as well. However, we got to see it from behind the screen. We were able to watch the shadows play out on the screen but also look at how it was all happening behind the scenes; Mechanisms for dancing women, trays to separate and organize the different puppets, and costumes and headpieces filled with more texture and color than you would think for a shadow puppet play.

I loved the use of color within this story and lack there of when it came to the shadows. The colors within the backgrounds were wonderful as well as the colors implemented in the puppets. For instance, one of the shadow masks had color in the “hairpiece” the character would be wearing. Another is in the dance scenes or when the princess sang, they would project light onto colorful and sparkly material to get that effect of flashing lights or magical elements at work. It was very effective and extremely practical.

Something I also loved about getting to look behind the scenes is see the actors in their element! I got to see how the actors moved with their mask, how they had tiny dance parties off to the side during scenes they were not in, and even were able to play characters they look and sound nothing like in real life. It almost makes me thing this is a live action version of voice over and animation.

When taking a look at the entire production and the behind the scenes, a few things that caught my eye that I want to note are:

1. 1. The Puppets both are simple and complicated. The masks had not just color but also texture. The puppets that were handheld typically had one to two movements that would affect them, the more complicated having three. However, you need only your two hands and imagination to be able to bring the puppets to life.
   2. Light tricks are fascinating. My favorite trick of the whole show was when the princess sang and they shone a light on a sparkly blue and green fabric that reflected and refracted the light and gorgeous ways. Another great trick was the flashbacks where they would shine a light on a mirror to create a foggy effect of a memory, still doing the puppetry skills but adding just one other element for light reflection.
   3. The actors are both puppeteers and characters. No one was just one thang other than the two lovers from what I grasped in conversation with the actors. Each actor both had roles as the slimy knight and the controller of the dancing women in Iran. Everyone is versatile and it takes everyone going all in the bring the show to life.

Inspiration/ideas for The Great Sea Serpent:

1. 1. I would love to find some cool materials that we can create light tricks with! The shiny material they used almost gave an underwater affect and so I wonder if we can do a similar thing, especially to help district the different zones of the ocean.
   2. Costumes could be both versatile in working as a shadow puppet and an actor onstage. If there were some actors that were portraying one character who is seen as both shadow and animated, a fun idea is how we can incorporate this into the costumes and how it might look to be both marine accurate and also lean toward helping with the storytelling.
   3. I appreciated how there was an overarching narrator who we met at the top that reminded us they were telling us a tale. I wonder if this is something we can incorporate, especially because we have so many connecting stories within our piece.

Thats it from me! This has been Amanda Elena reporting from behind the scenes! Back to you, Catlin, Tracy, and Deon!