When a little and unanimated puppet enthral the audience with its squeaky voice and lively gestures, the person who puts life into this being is worth a look at.
At an event organised by the Goethe-Zentrum here on Wednesday evening, Paul Affeld performed with his glove animal puppets for the third time in the country. The German puppeteer, musician, and founder of the band ‘Puppetmastaz’ Affeld is focussing on a fusion of classical acting, puppetry, and dance. He and his six band members showcase around 500 concerts in and around Europe.
Affeld recollects reading about a laughing school in Bengaluru that practiced the art of laughing yoga. “Ever since I have been waiting to visit this land that believes in the miracle of being happy”, he says. Affeld’s first puppet stint in India, a fusion show with Anupama Hoskere in Bengaluru, was much appreciated. “Indians have a deep understanding of their culture and hence being appreciated here is not quite easy,” he said. “But, every other art has a religious connotation here. People are ignorant of their capabilities.”
His second show in the city titled ‘Back from the dark side of the moon’ revolved around the theme of identity crisis. “With my screenplay, my puppets (a dog, a monkey and a bird) added a touch of fantasy to the play.” For his performance here and Kochi, Affeld has chosen a slightly different avatar. Acting is emphasised now. Along with his famed puppet character ‘Mr. Potato’, a bird and a shadow too accompany him, telling aloud their tale. “If you have a cardboard, sheets of paper, scissors and a glue, you can set up a workshop on puppeteering,” he says.
Taking inspiration from the works of Jim Hansen, Affeld believes that any person who has the potential to make people laugh with his ‘hands in gloves’ can master the art. For him, satisfaction is the biggest reward. “There is no award for excellence in puppeteering, but if you are happy singing and dancing around and making your audience laugh, I believe that’s the greatest faculty you are gifted with,” he says.
German puppeteer and his ally, Mr. Potato, aim at taking the art form to new heights.
