Imaginative Play: Puppets and Marionettes By Tamara Halbritter November 2003

“Puppetry is a mechanical extension of one’s imagination, a cabalistic blend of solid engineering and creative mysticism — a way of controlling other worlds while critiquing one's own,” according to Sanczere, an organization dedicated to artists and marionette lovers.

No wonder puppet theaters can be found in many countries, and what better way for children to make better sense of their surroundings than with marionettes or puppets to play with in their own homes?

New marionettes from Bohemian Crafts Co.

Wood is Good

Stringed marionettes were developed in Italy in the 1600s. Today, children and adults alike can choose from a plethora of wooden characters based on fairy tales, international folk stories and historical figures.

These wooden wonders (Pinocchio included) capture the essence of animals, ghosts, cooks, accordion players, royalty, fortune-tellers and iconic figures such as Albert Einstein.

Eskimo Girl Mermaid

New marionettes from Bohemian Crafts Co. include Betsy Ross, Ben Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington ($25 each). Other virtually “tangle-free” Bohemian marionettes range from geisha girls and ballerinas, to the Nutcracker and a Wizard of Oz Set (Dorothy, Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Witch).

CzechMarionettes (ToyShow) offers a huge selection of marionettes, including Kings, Queens, Jesters, Clowns, Dragons, Knights, Princes, Princesses, Fairies, Witches, and Wizards ($22 and up). They are specially handcrafted, hand-painted and garbed in hand-sewn clothes, and come from one of the traditional centers of marionette history.

Tellon Collections Inc. has a Dutch Boy, Cowboy, Pirate, Eskimo Girl, and several Clowns ($13.99 each). McGinnis Puppets recently added Laurel and Hardy ($24.95 each), as well as a Baker ($14.50).

Bozart's Delilah and Sir Dorric

Many of the latest marionettes are made of sturdy plastic. Bozart marionettes include the prancing purple Delilah the Unicorn Marionette ($29.99); Sir Dorric the Knight Marionette ($29.99), complete with armor, shield and sword; and Princess Destiny Marionette ($29.99), a fuchsia-clad goddess with gold crown.

The Sunny & Co. Toys’ 38-inch (ToyDirectory) Xanadu Zebra, Jane Deer and Suzi Snow Leopard ($19.95 each) all run through the woods on command. Their mini-marionette menagerie includes a springy Cheetah and Fox as well as a White Mutt, Golden Retriever and Husky ($5.95 each).

All Puppets Are Not Created People

A & A Fancy Zoo Puppets Folkmanis' Mini Mountain Goat

While marionettes can be traced backed several hundred years, fuzzy hand and finger puppets are a more recent invention. Elaine Stein, sales manager of A & A Fancy Zoo, explains how her clients’ needs changed from stuffed animals to hand puppets.

“Our puppets appear a lot in hospitals. Instead of just plain plush toys, they requested animals the children could interact with,” said Stein. “That’s why we created an ‘animal zoo’ of puppets who become like friends to the children.”

Plush Pup Frog

These popular A & A Fancy Zoo Plush Hand Puppets ($12.99 each) take the shape of wild animals, including a Bear, Raccoon, Fox, Rabbit, Squirrel, Skunk and others.

Folkmanis, Inc. (ToyDirectory) carries out the animal theme with finger puppets ($6 each): Mini Bear, Mini Eagle, Mini Mountain Goat, Mini Barn Owl, Mini Porcupine, Mini Bat and more.

Plush Pups (ToyDirectory) recently introduced their big-mouth puppet line, 14-inch hand puppets with moveable mouths. Choose from 11 different animal puppets ($12.95 each), including Cow, Elephant and Frog, or get the whole set for $142.95.

Lorax Hand Puppet Green Eggs and Ham Poly Puppet

Children of all ages go bananas for Axtell Expression’s line (ToyDirectory) of primate puppets. Puppeteers can choose from Chimpanzee, Orangutan and Gorilla models available in three different sizes (19", $24.95; 24", $39.95; 32", $69.95).

Professionals and Personalities

Manhattan Toy Company (ToyDirectory) helps augment the Dr. Seuss reading experience with puppets like the 10-inch Lorax hand puppet ($16.00). New to the roster of Seuss puppets this year are finger puppet sets of famed classics like Green Eggs and Ham, Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears a Who ($25 each).

Puppet Partners (ToyDirectory) specializes in multiethnic puppets for use by both children and adults. These “poly-puppets” let you change their wigs, hats and clothing to become different personalities. Some of their accessory sets include the Colonial Girl Accessory Set ($19.99), Poly Puppet Bible Man Accessory Set ($14.99), Poly Puppet Cowgirl Accessory Set ($15.99), and Poly Puppet Grandma Simple Accessory Set ($7.99).

Puppet Factory's Brother and Guy Spy Puppet Palace

Goodland, Kansas’ Puppet Factory (ToyShow) has a full line of Bible Puppets ($23 each), as well as Family and Friend Puppets ($22 each), that help children learn their lessons through imaginative play. The Brother puppet keeps his eye on the prize.

Reprint Mint helps children bring their puppet dreams to life with a puppet theater. Complete with three double-sided backdrops, the Puppet Palace is the perfect setting to stage shows for hand puppets or marionettes, and it’s also a great display item for your puppet section ($99.00).

Writers Bio: Tamara Halbritter has been teaching creative movement and dance to children for over 15 years. As a professional dancer and freelance writer, she puts plenty of playtime into her schedule. Currently, she is writing a book about a gifted pair who see other people’s dreams.

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