Greetings from the upstairs coffe shop area at Borders Books in Burlington.
I’m sitting here killing time as I wait to see the Paul Zaloom show at the Flynn at 8. I got one of the last standing room only tickets. I just decided to catch this show after spending 4 hours at a small workshop that Zaloom gave at the Flynn this afternoon. Zaloom was the star of the 90s show ‘Beekman’s World’ that presented science to kids in a gloriously goofy way.. The workshop I attended today was called ‘The Theater of Trash’.. and it was about puppeteering using everyday objects as props. I actually joined the workshop by accident.. I had hoped to attend a workshop Paul did for teachers on fun ways t teach since. That workshop was on Jan 2nd… and I completely forgot about it. I was bummed..
Our buddy Gina at the Flynn had suggested that I drop into the Puppeteering workshop that Paul was teaching today to see if I could get the notes from the workshop I missed. It turned out that I had the day free.. Max and Diane were ate a Reiki workshop, Gabe was up at Bolton.. so I decided at the last moment to sit in on the whole workshop today.. I’m so glad that I did..
It’s kinda hard to describe what we did today.. but it was such a hoot. The whole workshop was about improv theater using everyday objects.
Everyone had brought about a half dozen everyday objects to contribute to the prop collection. I brought a hunk of suet, an egg wisk, some wicked strong magnets, a red bull can, a battery and a SamStone.. Other obejects included cloth, sticks, chicken shaped egg timers, coat racks, salad tonges, beer cans, coffee theromoses.. and every other sort of junque imaginable
One by one we had to get up and do an unplanned story using the objects as the actors.. What came out was amazing.. we had comedy, drama, physics.. etc.. After each act we all discussed what was goign on..
Paul was amazing at pointing out the beauty of each piece.. and making cool suggestions as to how to improve the puppety-ness of the piece.. It was very cool to see his thougthful/serious side after only seeing his playful/goofy side on the Beekman show. He really has given the idea of spontaneous improv a bunch of thought. I would love to think as freely as he does.. or as many of the folks at the workshop .. did. I think there were about 9 of us in total . Most of the folks there were artists and/or performers.. but not all. Mnay of the folks in the room new about Sam.. Paul nee the story from goign to Talent ! He just bought a cool watch there !
Afterwards I had a great short conversation with Paul. Turns out that he’s still doing Beekamn’s World science stage shows and is doing a complete new rev right now. We talked about the possibility of me helpign with soem of the sciennce content.. now that
would be cool !.. Who knows..
I’m still absorbing all that I heard and saw today. .. but I was inspired enough to buy the SRO ticket to his show tonight. I understand it’s pretty wild.. ‘adult’ entertainment.. .. He has a very cool mind.. I can’t wait to see what he does
Ooops.. I gotta run to nake the show.. more later (maybe) .
TTYL folks.. TTYL Sam
-me
