Doctor HANS VASHING
Yes, it's a terrible pun !
A German doctor called DOCTOR HANDS WASHING.
Just what the show needs after covid to remind the kids to keep washing their hands.
Old leftover bits of hardened pulp were hot glued together to make the foundation of this puppet . Totally random, but it did end up making a nice shaped head.
As he was intended to pop up on the show many times with different puppets, this figure was not tailored to a left or right hand, but rather made loose and ambidextrous fitting.
Thats why he has a stubby stick instead of a regular neck for my fingers.
The stick can be grabbed fast for very sudden appearances of this character ... no need to even put my fingers into his arms, just a quick 'pop-up' and vanish.
A useful trick !
When his hands are fixed on there are a few bits of body padding to stitch on before his costume can be added. The shirt is made in several separate parts.
There isn't going to be just one puppet: there is going to be a "Stunt Double" duplicate with a much longer body.
A duplicate puppet means everything need building twice...
Sometimes I can cut puppet clothes freehand. But some garments really need a pattern making first.
Waistcoats always need a pattern making first, especially when the fabric has stripes that need to align neatly.
The "Stunt Double" will be whizzing round and round like a Catherine wheel ( Mr Punch will be spinning him round outside the proscenium).
Padding newspaper round the wooden core for the stunt head, while enjoying a 'socially distanced' cuppa at my neighbours.
Because of the movement, this second puppet will really only be a blur to the audience. So there is no pressure to get it looking like an identical twin.
Nevertheless it's nice to get quite close with the likeness.
DONE ! ... ready to keep popping up all through the show to remind the audience to keep washing their hands and avoid touching their face, to stay safe from Covid.
