The Art of Misdirection

Last week I took my kids to see The Greatest Show on Earth. Besides being overwhelmed with the sights and sounds, the talent and technology, the fun and fears… I found myself wishing that I could pack it all up, replay and freeze-frame certain elements to puppet team directors and performance planners.

Magicians practice hour upon hour to learn how to misdirect your attention so that you don’t see what they’re really doing. Similarly, this three-ring circus did some serious planning to bring the audience focus away from the darkened areas where they were setting up for the next big act. It was spectacular and masterfully done.

So what’s that have to do with puppets?

It’s simple. I’m tired of sitting in the darkness for what seems like hours, in an awkward silence that is broken only by mysterious stage clunks and muffled whispers while the performer(s) clumsily prepare for the next scene. Please, I implore you… DO SOMETHING between acts, songs, or scenes… Play music or a narration, have a clown or magician or MC come out front and involve the audience some way, prepare an in-betweener video… something!!!

OK. I’m done. But I’d love to hear your thoughts… and since my poll system is behaving badly, you’ll have to just leave your comments below.