Robin Goodrow
Manzanita Child Learning Center, Marin City
Robin Goodrow, a professional puppeteer who has been a Bread & Roses performer for many years, designed a
new workshop presentation for children to inspire and inform them that it is possible to attain their dream
occupation and to show how she did it.
Robin assembled her puppet stage and entertained the group of 15 six to nine year old children by performing
the first puppet show she did at age 9. She made a creature and a friend out of an old sock. The (sock) puppet
went from child to child in the audience remarking how the child had teeth, or ears, or eyes, all things the
puppet did not have. At one point, she asked a little girl, "Do you realize you are having a conversation with
a sock?" So the magic was out in the open and everyone participated in moving back and forth from enjoyment to
creation.
Robin moved backstage in her puppet theatre for the interactive show she is reknowed for presenting and
brought out Vanilla, the large monkey who wanted a banana but could not seem to find one. The banana appeared
whenever Vanilla was looking away and the children screamed, "There it is!" Somehow Vanilla always whirled
around too late.
Robin showed the group how she makes drawings for a new puppet or a series of drawings for a new story called
a ´storyboard´. Then she screened the cartoon videos that were a result of the planning. Robin asked the
children, "What do you like to do?" and listened seriously to the answers: swim, dive, draw, play football,
go to the ocean and play in the sand. Robin passed out hand puppets and as a closer the puppets sang a rousing
song in the children's voices complete with silly gestures.
Carole Robinson,
Program Coordinator
Bread & Roses
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