Puppet Shadow Shows
To work a Puppet Shadow Show is more difficult than either of the preceding entertainments, and requires considerable skill and ingenuity to present satisfactorily. As the name implies, the shadows in this case are cast upon the screen by lay figures, and the performers, of whom two are requisite, do not appear at all.
The simplest way to make a “stage” upon which to exhibit your puppets is to stretch a strong piece of cord across the corner of a room, and hang therefrom a sheet which shall reach from one wall to the other. Some people prefer to stretch it across an open doorway, but this is largely a matter of convenience, and is not always possible.
Before fastening up the sheet mark upon it a rectangle, as shown in [Fig. 9], the rectangle being five feet from the bottom, two feet high, and four feet wide.
Fig. 9.—Diagram of screen for puppet show.
Now take pieces of thick brown paper and tack them over the remaining portions of the sheet, so that when completed it shall be entirely opaque, except for the rectangle or stage upon which your figures are to perform. The brown paper will, of course, be on the side hidden from the audience. The next thing to be considered is the lamp, which should have a tin reflector and a one-inch burner. Arrange it in such a manner that it shall hang in the center of the stage and some eighteen inches or two feet from the screen—indeed at just sufficient distance to allow you to manipulate your figures without coming into collision with the light.
If possible shut out all light except that which is thrown by the lamp upon the stage, as the darker the room the more effective will be the appearance of the shadows. Take great care the sheet is so firmly fixed that it neither flaps nor creases.
Having accomplished this, turn to the making of the puppets.
The best material from which to manufacture them is thin zinc or tin, waste scraps of which any tinsmith will gladly sell for a mere trifle. With a pair of shears the metal can be readily cut to any shape, whilst it will also be strong enough to bear the rivets for working the figures.
The puppets should be about six inches in height. This is the best way to make them. Draw the figure selected upon a piece of fairly thin white paper, taking care to accentuate all prominent points and features. Paste the figure—e.g. a crossing-sweeper—upon a piece of tin, and carefully cut the outline with the shears as in [Fig. 10].
Fig. 10.—Partly finished figure of crossing-sweeper.
Fig. 11.—Constructing an arm and broom.
Fig. 12.—The figure complete.
Of course the puppets must be as comical as you can imagine, and should be neatly and accurately outlined. Notice that the figure has no arm, as this must be movable, and should be made separately, thus: draw the limb, holding a broom as in [Fig. 11], cutting it out in the same way as you have done the body.
Fig. 13.—A bear.
Now take a punch and make a hole in the body at the shoulder, whilst two holes must also be made in the arm, as at A and B in [Fig. 11]. Get five cents’ worth of quarter-inch iron rivets, and place one in the hole B of the arm. Make a loop in a piece of No. 9 size wire and place it over this rivet in the arm. Next bend the rivet with a pair of pliers, and fasten the wire as shown in [Fig. 12]. Put a rivet through A in the corresponding holes in body and arm, and bend the rivet head over as before. Your crossing-sweeper is now complete.
Fig. 14.—The elephant.
By pulling the wire, which should run down one leg, and thus be invisible to the spectators, the arm can be raised or lowered from below, and the figure will appear to be sweeping vigorously.
Upon this plan every other puppet may be constructed, making as many joints in a similar fashion as are required.
Fig. 15.—A crocodile.
[Fig. 13] shows how to make a bear, which can rear upon his hind legs and also open his mouth. He will serve as an example for making all animals such as the elephant ([Fig. 14]), or the crocodile ([Fig. 15]).
Set pieces such as a church or a house can be easily constructed from cardboard, as in [Fig. 16], whilst a very good effect can be obtained from a windmill with movable sails ([Fig. 17]).
It is scarcely necessary to add that the puppets needed depend entirely upon the piece you desire to represent.
Fig. 16.—A house.
Fig. 17.—Windmill with movable sails.
Supposing it is your intention to exhibit three separate plays in the course of the entertainment, three different sets of figures will be required. The younger members of an audience are quick to observe any repetition.
The figures are made so easily and cheaply that it will be quite as well to have a complete set for each play.