1975_12 The Daily Collegian December 1975

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4-THE DAILY COLLEGIAN       Thursday, December 4, 1975
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BASIC BLACK WILL be the color scheme for
the puppeteers in the "Sorcerer's Apprentice."
Liz Koehler and her 12 cohorts will be covered
from head to toe in black jumpsuits equipped
with black hoods, gloves and shoes. With black
lights flooding a' dark stage and floor, the
puppeteers should be Invisible as they manipulate their charges.
Behind the sceries...
Thunday, December 4, 197S      THE DAILY COLLEGIAN—5
A
rentice
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DIRECTOR ROBERT JANSEN and assistant director Pam Hriman brief the puppeteers on
their cues and review staqe movements with
them.
Imps, toads, and a two-headed dragon are part of
the puppetry-black light magic to be performed ln
the Little Theatre ln today's opening of "Sorcerer's
Apprentice.*
The Child Drama Center production will use a
combination of live actors and more than 40 puppets
ln a different version of the old European children's
tale about a sorcernr and his young apprentice,
Walter.
Robert John Jansen, director of the Child Drama
Center, adapted the story for puppetry and is directing the play. He said It Is technically the most complicated play he has done.
Much of the play Is performed under black lights
to camouflage black velour-dressed puppeteers and
provide unusual colors to flourescent-costumed puppets and actors.
Many problems were encountered In staging the
show.
PLAYED rr by EAR
•We didn't know If the puppeteers would be seen
till the light levels were set,* Jansen said. "We had
to play It by ear.'
Dust also causes the black velour costumes to
be visible, so a near sterile environment had to be
kept backstage, he said.
If the puppeteers crossed In front of each other,
their shadows would be visible to the audience. This
caused Jansen to use "a completely different concept
In directing style," he said.
To make the puppets and actors visible, flourescent
cloth, spray paint and face makeup were used. Some
of It Jansen said, had to be purchased from New
York and Los Angeles.
Costume designer Becca Van Dalsem Said she had
to create "dual-purpose costumes" which would look
IH
good ln black light
light.
The most mater
velour puppeteer
100
The family shoi
about 100 people
majoring ln di
dance, and music
Puppets, sets ;
though some *te
professional pup;
said.
Children froo
schools have bete
run Thursday
Wednesday thn
•It is our
a theatre expert':
said.
The  children a
history  from  the
history   from  •
people wore and &
thro
rout)
phllo
Math can be 1
of  material used
can be  learned
used ln the play, J
Cyn Koukos, a
slstant, has put tl
petry to provide
to elementary teac
Koukos, who 111
said the study (I
about puppets as
puppets.
oak tuo "bizarre* ln white
usei (or the thirteen black
said.
VOl.VED
Jensen said has involved
ucil'ii,   Includes  students
ilogy, child development,
ere made at CSUF,
was provided by a
m  I.os  Angeles, Jansen
■Clovls    elementary
in Ihe performances which
) this week (Dec. 4-7)and
I ;i)ec. 10-13) next week.
i production Is not Just
:nlng process,* Jansen
Shadow, rod, and string puppets are used in the
play as well as a modified version of Japanese-
Bunraku puppetry.
EVIL SORCERER
The Bunraku style of puppetry is used for a nine-
foot high "evil sorcerer." One puppeteer said the
nine-foot-tall puppet, which has eyes that light up
and a mouth that opens and closes, "gives me the
creeps."
Another -puppeteer, Beth Myerson, Jokingly said
•that thing scares me and I'm ln college."
Costume designer Dalsem, who helped make the
giant puppet, said, "I don't think it's scary at all I
think It's Just fun."
More Information about performance times and
reservations is available at the Theatre Arts box
office (phone "481-2216 or 487-2053). Tickets are
50 cents for children and $1 for adults and students.
so:i.e math, sclef.ee and
Se said. They can learn
b» and understand what
that time. '
till
cM>-rstandlng the amount
irodictlon, while science
liferent kinds of lighting
Center graduate as-
l>' guide" about pu»v
itlon about thetopi^
■ laughter ln the play,
history   and stories
telling how to make hand
NARRATOR BRIAN ROBERTS and puppeteer
Dan Thompson put the final'touches on some
make-believe toads and imps in the theatre
workshop. .
1
STUDENT  ACTOR GEORGE Canon is fitted for the fikrt of
Walter, the apprentice.
CYN KOUKOS INSPECTS a plaster mask of an evil
sorcerer that will be used In one of the magic
sequences of the Child Drama Center production.
Koukos will be starring in the role of Myrtle, the
sorcerer's daughter.
Story by Jim Denman
Photos by Barry Wong
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