Ventriloquism

[Dreamer]

+I love puppets and learned years ago how to do ventriloquism. I think it's a unique way to teach about God's love and scriptures. I have a dog named "Dizzy", who I give a low, grovelly voice, and a girl with brown skin and black ponytails named, "Ruthie". Many years ago when christian clowning was popular, I was really into that, too. God used clowning to help me come out of shyness. My clown character, "Patches", was a white-faced clown, and she was child-like and friendly. I sorta had my 'second childhood' there for awhile, being Patches at birthday parties and backyard bible clubs.

I'm not going to clown anymore (it's not popular anymore), and besides, my clown outfit was taken (long story.) But I would like to get back into using the puppets for teaching again.

Yesterday I was watching childrens shows on TBN, the christian network. One show stuck out as being really special to me. She was a lady named Marallee and she had lots of puppets she used. She was really good, and the children in the audience---you could tell they were listening to every word.
After a few minutes of watching, a little envy caterpillar started to grow inside me, and I thought, "Why not me? Why can't I work with groups of children like that?" In the past I used to write the skits for me, other clowns, puppets, all of it. I loved it. So all the sudden I was jealous of this Maralee lady on t.v.

I heard God speaking to me in a split second. He said, "You're not dead yet, are you?"

I smiled. I'm going to get Dizzy and Ruthie out this afternoon, after I finish the housework, and start practicing.

 

[Chad]

Sounds interesting sister. I like that kind of stuff, very entertaining.

In case readers do not know what ventriloquism means, here's the definition:

the art of projecting your voice so that it seems to come from another source (as from a ventriloquist's dummy)

Although your description pretty much made that clear anyway

Maybe you can post a video clip on youtube and show us one day!

 

[Dreamer]

it's not really that hard. It's a matter of using sounds and your nasal passage so that you don't have to move your mouth to talk. It's fun! Once you learn it, you never forget it.

 

[MAJ52653]

I used to be part of a Christian Drama, music and puppetry group that traveled around California and all of its neighboring states. I was most of the puppet group, chief actor and wrote most of the scripts.
Yet I always wanted to be in the music group. I helped them rehearse once, filling in for the drummer. After, they all agreed. I had 100 voices, and all of them sang off key. The agreed that I was a good drummer. But if I ever tried singing again, they would hang me by my tongue.
By the way, I did have an MC character, Diddy D. Duck. His voice was high pitched, not gravelly. Never did learn ventriliquism though.
Never brough anyone to Christ through my plays and things, but hundreds of Christians did tell me that they learned so much or had other insights and improvements in their lives.
Actually it was a sort of hobby of mine to find out just what I was teaching. So many people told me they learned this, that or the other from my plays. I had thought I was writing about something else entirely.

 

[stephen]

Get going Dreamer. I am positive that you will be a blessing. As you say such ministry seems to have gone. So we need a resurrection.

I can see a ministry opening up for you!

 

[calluna]

During the summer I went to a VBS to help out. And the teenagers put on a puppet show for the younger children. They absolutely loved it, and us adults too. We are visual beings, so stories told with puppets, imagry, animation, has an impact on the viewer. It sounds like you have a desire and a gift for this, so get out Dizzy and Ruthie and put on a show! I am sure they'll be happy for being brought back to life :wink:

:shade: Calluna

 

[Dreamer]

You people are making me so happy None of you realize how your words have touched me. I needed your encouragement. And, MJ, you need to get back with the puppets too:boy_hug: :girl_hug:

God is....working in my life. Showing me things that I not only can do, but should do....by just sitting back....I am not obeying God. Thanks again.

Love,
Dreamer

 

[MAJ52653]

Dreamer. Tch. Getting senile in my old age. I meant to type that it was a co-incidence that you used a puppet Dog named Dizzy while my Duck was Dizzy D. Duck. I misstyped it as Diddy. Sorry, I prefer to cause confusion purposely, not accidentally. Confusion via mistake has too many unforseen results. For example, Dizzy D. was made for me by my drama director's wife. When she handed it to me, I said "Oh, what a lovely duck." She shrieked in rage that it was supposed to be a human. She refused to ever have anything to do with the puppet troupe again, and never spoke to me again. What really rubbed it in I think was the fact that I made Dizzy D. my master of ceremonies and had him in nearly every show. That every audience member agreed the it was a lovely duck puppet never made her feel better, only worse.

 

[Dreamer]

Well.....it sure sounds like the puppet looked like a duck....so I'd call him a duck! Silly lady, she needs to get over it! God really used her duck...I mean, human puppet, lol. Do you know why God used that puppet? Because it was in your hand, MAJ, and because you put your heart into his words. God bless you, friend. And you are never too old to write and do skits and allow God use you to touch hearts and make laughter and joy.

I am not young myself. And I need to get going too. I have formed all kinds of excuses in my mind these past weeks, ever since I started this thread. I don't know, I guess I'm afraid, MAJ. Will people laugh at me instead of with me? Like, "Oh, no, what's that old lady doing with puppets again? I thought she was through with that years ago!"

The children always loved the puppets. Some adults seemed skeptical, even jealous! Can you imagine? Jealous? Did they not get to play with their dolls enough when they were little or something? Honestly, some people need to lighten up in churches. They're so stiff and sullen. God is alive!

Puppets help make God's Word come alive to children, and people with a childlike spirit and a sense of humor. Go, MAJ Go, MAJ Go MAJ
I tell you, it's not too late, brother!

 

[MAJ52653]

Sorry, but this is one instance where I have to differ. I now have a lung disorder, which makes it too hard to do that sort of thing without a lot of coughing. Lost most of my voices too. That is why I switched to writing. When my typing fouls up my writing, I just erase the fouled up parts of the page and write it over. Ahh, I'll just wait for the resurrection and bug Jesus in person with my puppet shows.