More than meets the eye

Young Chang

The way we think and the way we move -- this is what makes us

“uniquely human” in Robert Smythe’s opinion.

As director of Mum Puppettheatre, a company that performs shows around

the globe, Smythe sticks to this philosophy. His puppets do not speak and

are formed from such things as a block of wood, a blow-dryer, a ball, a

finger and, when relevant, a shadow. Viewers are supposed to concentrate

on the puppet’s actions -- which speak louder than words.

“We are a touring company devoted to working with puppets and working

without language,” Smythe said.

That absence allows children, parents, grandparents and visiting

relatives from foreign countries a chance to all see the same show, he

explained.

The puppet group will put on “Fantoccini” for local audiences this

weekend at the Orange County Performing Arts Center as part of the

Saturdays at The Center series for families.

“Fantoccini” is defined as “a dramatic performance by puppets.”

Known for using puppets made out of junk or items recommended by their

audience -- including bare hands and bald heads -- the Philadephia-based

Mum Puppettheatre has, among other awards, won three citations for

excellence from the North American chapter of Union Internationale de la

Marionnette since they formed 16 years ago.

“[The group] inspires the kids to see very ordinary objects as

something they can be creative with,” said Bethany Bohall, manager of

education programs at the Center. “[The performers] will take something

ordinary, turn it into something very different, and there’s your play.”

Center officials were introduced to Mum Puppettheatre last year, when

they hosted a showcase event.

“It’s not a puppet show, though when people hear ‘puppettheatre’

that’s what they think of,” Bohall said. “It’s storytelling ... It’s very

hard to describe.”

Smythe said their intention is not to confuse, but rather, to reach

everyone.

“Basically, let’s strip away a whole bunch of layers of stuff that

people are used to and get back to the basics of what makes a really good

time in the theater: everyone having a really good time,” he said.

The performance will include sounds -- screaming, laughing and wet,

slurping noises -- and music, but no speech. It is up to the viewer’s

imagination to bring the puppets to life.

People come up with different interpretations of what’s happening,

which makes for interesting conversation afterward, Smythe said.

“If you open up your ideas of what a puppet could be, any inanimate

object could be used by a performer to kind of evoke life,” he added. “We

actually require the audience to meet us more than halfway.”

Recalling last year’s performance, Bohall said one puppet -- the

shadow caused by a ball on a finger -- had a problem with her phone

ringing all the time. Later, this puppet is made fun of by other puppets,

who are also made from fingers and balls. The first puppet takes her

whole head off and tries on a new one -- a new ball. The others still

laugh at her. She tries four different heads.

“It says a lot,” Bohall said. “About changing ourselves for others.”

In another act, she watched a blow-dryer covered with a piece of cloth

-- a giraffe is what she saw it as -- interact with an upside down

watering can -- probably an elephant.

“They had a conflict they had to resolve,” Bohall said. “It’s very

much a creative process that happens in the moment between the audience

and the actors.”

FYI

WHAT: Mum Puppettheatre’s “Fantoccini”

WHEN: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. today

WHERE: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa.

COST: $8

CALL: (714) 740-7878