From ‘Sesame Street’ to Spruce St.

Long before Jedi Master Yoda and the Na’vi from Avatar generated popularity on screen, puppets — deemed “the original avatars” by professionals in the field — entertained the world.

Wednesday night, the Penn Humanities Forum hosted a conversation about puppets of the past, present and future and their role on stage and on screen in Houston Hall.

A panel of two puppeteers and one puppet scholar first tackled the question, “What is a puppet?” Director of International Puppet Training for Sesame Street Martin Robinson made the distinction that an object without movement is just a prop whereas an object going across the room releasing “anguished love” is a puppet.

Theater critic, author and Rutgers University Theater Arts professor Eileen Blumenthal said that it was “a misguided question.” She herself wrote a book about puppetry — Puppetry: A World History — intentionally withholding the definition of it.

When asked if animation was considered puppetry, Robert Smythe, founder of Mum Puppettheatre in Old City, said the line drawn of what is and what is not puppetry is very “blurred.” He explained that puppets are objects whereas puppetry is a performance.

Puppets are considered by Smythe to be “hard-wired to the brain,” making even the grumpiest man change face. Blumenthal noted that even puppet shows that are awful are well reviewed because they involve puppets.

“It’s our blessing and our curse,” Robinson added.

All panelists got involved in puppetry for different reasons. Blumenthal became interested while working as a theater critic and becoming the “champion” of the puppet community because no one else was writing about them.

Smythe said it was in his DNA, adding that “it’s like asking what makes you gay.”

The panelists all agreed that Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets, is an extremely significant contributor to puppetry and that he makes it entertaining for all audiences.

Smythe added that “good theater should entertain the drunk” and “illuminate the universe.”

Director of the Penn Humanities Forum and English professor James English thought the event — which attracted over 75 — was successful, noting that “the room was nearly full” and “there were plenty of questions.”

English came up with the puppet-themed event because other events hosted by the Forum were more academic, whereas this was a “fun” event to end with.

College sophomore Sara Outing came to the event because a teacher in the Theater Arts department recommended it.

Outing said she likes puppetry because “it instantly connects with everyone” and enjoys puppets that “don’t look recognizable at first.”

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