A behind-the-curtain look at the artists, the company and the art form of this production. COMMON CORE STANDARDS Speaking and Listening: 1; 3; 6 Language: 1 NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS Arts: 1; 4 English Language Arts: 1; 4 BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTS Theater: Developing Theater Literacy; Making Connections Visual Arts: Art Making; Making Connections This section is part of a full New Victory School Tool TM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about the New Victory Education Department check out: NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOLS 4
Stunning Marionettes + The Timeless Talent and Tradition of A Family of Puppeteers + A Grimm Fairy Tale = THE PIED PIPER WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE PIED PIPER FROM? X NORTH AMERICA ASIA When the prosperous town of Hamelin is suddenly overrun with rodents, can a mysterious stranger lure the pests away with only a simple song? From the twitch of a rat's tail to the grandiose proclamations of a greedy mayor, this retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale features the intricate craftsmanship of over 120 exquisite marionettes (and 300 puppet rats!). From Milan's famed Carlo Colla & Sons Marionette Company (Sleeping Beauty, New Vic 2013), 19th century artistry takes center stage in this visually-stunning production. ATLANTIC AFRICA INDIAN PACIFIC AUSTRALIA CLOSER LOOK AT THE PIED PIPER X MILAN ITALY Carlo Colla & Sons is a family marionette company with a lengthy history. In the late 1700s, Giovanbattista Colla used marionettes to entertain and educate his children in comedy, drama and the classic arts; five generations later, Carlo Colla & Sons is still practicing the art form. In 1911, Carlo Colla & Sons took on permanent residence at Milan s Theatre Gerolamo, where they also manage the theater. The puppets in THE PIED PIPER convey satire, nostalgia, sadness and poetry. This play performed in miniature evokes big ideas about societal rules, the importance of the arts and fairness for adults and children alike. Italy is considered to be the birthplace of marionette puppetry. They were originally used in plays to demonstrate behavior that would be considered lewd or inappropriate if performed by a human actor. Marionettes were also used to convey death and dying. The Colla family has been in the marionette business since the 19th century, spending their first 100 years touring northern Italy. They later settled in Milan, becoming the second permanent theater company in the city, alongside the opera at La Scala. 5
INSIDE BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER INSIDE THE ART FORM WHAT DO YOUR STUDENTS KNOW NOW? Prior to exploring THE PIED PIPER with your students, find out how much they already know about Marionettes, Storytelling and Fairy Tales. What is a marionette? Where have you seen a puppet before? What did it look like? Was it different or the same as a marionette and in what ways? Do you have any family traditions or stories that have been passed down over several generations? Which fairy tales do you know? MARIONETTES A marionette is a puppet controlled from above by wires or strings, depending on regional variations. Marionettes are one of the oldest known art forms. Ancient clay and ivory dolls were found in children's tombs dating back to 500 BCE. These dolls had articulated arms and legs, some of which had an iron rod extending up from the tops of their heads. This rod was used to manipulate the doll from above. A marionette's puppeteer is called a manipulator and is often hidden from the audience. Have you ever heard of the story of The Pied Piper? In your opinion, how valuable are promises? Under what circumstances can they be broken? In the Carlo Colla & Sons Marionette Company s productions, there is usually only one manipulator per main character and as many as ten manipulators working on background characters. The puppeteers stand above the stage, hidden by a proscenium arch and curtain. Each puppet is handmade and it takes the company up to a year to design each production! THE NEW VICTORY THEATER / NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOL 6
HAND-OUT THE STORY OF... ACT I In the town of Hamelin, lives Hans, a young poet and storyteller who loves animals and has become a friend to the children in town. The mayor worries that Hans behavior will dissuade young people from working, so he forbids all children from seeing him and orders all animals to be caged and sent away. Lise, the mayor s young daughter, attempts to stop her father, but he insults Hans and banishes him from the city. The Pied Piper emerges from the woods and begins to play a haunting tune on his pipe. Suddenly, a horde of hungry rats invades the town, devouring everything in sight. The mayor proclaims that he will reward anyone who can save the town from this disaster. The Pied Piper overhears this and promises to save the city, but only if he is paid one thousand gold coins. He begins to play a sweet melody on his pipe. All of the rats in the city, attracted by the sound, come out in droves and jump into the river, disappearing forever. ACT II The Pied Piper waits in the town square to receive his reward of one thousand gold coins. The mayor hoping to avoid having to pay promises instead to build a monument in honor of him and the noble act he performed for the town of Hamelin. The Pied Piper refuses the monument. Feeling betrayed, he swears vengeance on the town and begins to play a sweet melody on his pipe, which lures all of the children of Hamelin out of their homes. They follow the magical sound into the woods, leaving their fathers and mothers in despair. The citizens of Hamelin are in a state of panic. The mayor and the councilors are powerless to ease the parents pain. Frida, an elder townsperson, recalls memories of a simpler, more peaceful town, free of ambition and greed. Inspired by her words, the mayor agrees to pay the Pied Piper what he promised. At that moment, the Pied Piper re-appears and announces that the children of Hamelin are playing in the woods with Hans, just like they used to. Hans, Lise, the children and all of the animals make a joyous return to the city. It is announced that Hans has been called upon by the Emperor to fill the role of court poet. The people of Hamelin celebrate by dancing and singing as night falls on the mysterious city of Hamelin.
UNIT PLAN BRAINSTORM Check out these ideas for how to incorporate THE PIED PIPER into a unit plan! Then, use specific activities from this guide that we recommend for each topic. EXPLORING TRADITION (ELA, SOCIAL STUDIES) Carlo Colla & Sons is a company rooted in the tradition of marionette making and storytelling. Explore the concept of tradition with your students. What s something in their family that has been passed down from generation to generation? Is there an object? A skill? A meal? A song or story? Have your students present their traditions to the class. To explore the tradition of Carlo Colla & Sons, be sure to review the Inside section of this School Tool with your students and try out the A Marionette for Carlo Colla! Activity in the En Route section. MAKING MARIONETTES (VISUAL ART) Use this School Tool to support a unit on marionette-making! First, do the Before activity and Creativity Page, Stringing Me Along and Mini-Marionettes, as well as the En Route Creativity Page, A Marionette for Carlo Colla! to get your class warmed up to the idea of making marionettes. Then, explore how everyday objects can become marionettes! Tie strings to beloved stuffed animals or even classroom items and bring them to life! PERSPECTIVE (ELA, VISUAL ART, MATH/SCIENCE) Use the experience of seeing THE PIED PIPER for an all-encompassing unit on perspective. In relation to the story, explore the various character s perspectives on the tragic events of the town by writing a journal entry on the story of THE PIED PIPER from their point of view. For math/science, explore with students how perspective changes the way we see things and the science behind objects looking bigger and smaller. Finally, for a visual art exercise, challenge your students to create a scenic drawing (a landscape) that uses the concept of perspective. How can they make their 2D art appear 3D? 8