Muppeteer Jim Henson introduces and interviews several international puppeteers who have influenced him. This episode is with Bruce Schwartz, an American puppeteer.
Unlike other marionettists, Schwartz shows himself visibly on stage during performances but it's easy to forget he is there while watching his puppets. His work benefits from television as through closeups you can see how lithe, delicate and detailed his puppets and their movements are.
Some works shown include one where he dons a Punch and Judy type theatre box over his body and performs with hand puppets in comical settings. He's also an artist in other ways: sculpting his own puppets, choreographing their dances, accompanying himself with music and singing. He really takes the one man band approach.
Schwartz seems to have been mentored by Henson too, as he was invited to appear on The Muppet Show to accompany Cleo Laine, and also had a puppet commissioned by Henson. Henson even went as far as to say that Schwartz was one of his personal favorites. Schwartz's works cover a wide range, from broad humor to more artistic ballets and medieval characters, but meant for adult audiences, especially the bawdy humor in some sketches. His work was also featured in the film The Double Life of Veronique (and Captain EO).
I like how these videos don't just have little clips of performances, but whole sketches, letting you see a work from start to finish, as well as the behind the scenes stuff and Q&A. Unfortunately it looks like Schwartz couldn't make it financially despite his talent and has become a yoga instructor. I don't find any current works by him.
This series doesn't appear to be on DVD, but if you can find them on video I recommend this series on international puppeteers. They were made around 1985.
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