Side by Side

When she first became interested in using puppets in library programs, Jean Pollock discovered there were few interesting scripts suitable for amateur puppeteers that were appropriate for performance in library and school settings. She decided to write plays taking into account the puppet collection available, the time available for rehearsal and performance, and limited puppeteering skills. The plays acknowledge that children know what is funny and what is not, appreciate and use witticisms, and have the sophistication to follow a plot and participate in the joy of creating an illusion. Playful and fast-paced, the scripts are simple enough to be suitable for young audiences, while the humor and interaction between puppets and the audience will extend the appeal to older children as well. Each play is supported with useful production notes, program building notes to adapt the plays for classroom and library use, and a bibliography listing books and media that can be used to develop a study unit or program around the play.