Episode # 175 - The Puppetmaster of Lodz
This episode features a fascinating discussion with director Bruce Levitt and actor Robert Zukerman regarding their upcoming production of Gilles Segal’s play, The Puppetmaster of Lodz. This play, written about 25 years ago, is about a Polish Jew who escaped from a concentration camp in 1944 and has been hiding out in an apartment in Berlin. The play takes place in 1950, and the man — who is a puppetmaker — refuses to believe that the war has ended.
Bruce and Robert offer tantalizing clues about this intriguing play, as well as lots of interesting behind-the-scenes details about how this production is coming together. One of their key collaborators on this production is puppetmaker Ralph Lee, and Robert talks extensively about Ralph’s work and the challenges in learning to work with the puppets that are part of the show.
There’s also some chat about how Bruce and Robert are working this project into their very full schedules. (Bruce is commuting to NYC from his “day job,” as a professor of theatre at Cornell University.)
The Puppetmaster of Lodz will play at the Arclight Theatre through late December, where it’s being presented by Blue Heron Theatre.
Episode Links:
- Info about The Puppetmaster of Lodz on nytheatre.com
- Blue Heron website — includes some photos of the puppets!
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