Puppeteer asking Des Plaines to help him out

Ralph Kipniss, a puppeteer carrying on the craft his family first adopted in 19th century Russia, wishes he could pull some strings to keep his theater going.

A marionette puppeteer forced to leave Chicago for the suburbs, he hasn't found the same success in Des Plaines -- where he's struggling to pay his rent.

Two years ago, his Puppet Parlor partner died after 37 years in business together. In the same year, an electrical fire ruined the group's longtime theater space in Chicago. At the invitation of a Des Plaines theater group, Kipniss made the move to reopen his Puppet Parlor out of the old Masonic Temple in the city's downtown.

"I've had a string of bad luck," Kipniss said.

Kipniss, of Chicago, is pleading with Des Plaines officials for money to keep the theater going. He said he needs at least $10,000 to keep the Puppet Parlor in business.

Shows produced for the city's New Year's Eve celebration, including "Hansel and Gretel," did well over the past few years, but he just hasn't found the same customer base he enjoyed at the theater in Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood. Until the fire in 2005, the Puppet Parlor had spent 17 years there. Shows also included "Pinocchio."

Since the old Masonic Temple building changed hands, he has had to move the theater space within the building a few times, affecting productions, Kipniss said.

He traveled much of the year to do shows around the Midwest, only to return to the Des Plaines theater to find mounting bills. Now, he can't pay the $1,000 monthly rent.

Des Plaines officials on Tuesday had no immediate response to the request. Tim Angell, deputy director of community and economic development, said the city will contact Kipniss to see if there can be any assistance.

Kipniss said he feels no competition with the Opera in Focus group in Rolling Meadows, a successful rod puppet troupe with regular productions. Instead, he blames a lack of community support in Des Plaines.

"We had no help from the city. We had no help from the people who live there," Kipniss said. His troupe is one of only a handful in the Chicago area.

Puppet theaters can fall into a trap of not being taken seriously since puppets are thought of as child's play, said Wayne Krefting, a Minneapolis resident who heads the 70-year-old Puppeteers of America, which promotes puppeteering.

"Puppeteering is generally seen by the public as a kids' diversion, kids' entertainment," Krefting said.

While one might think young people are more drawn to video games or TV than puppets these days, Krefting said the U.S. puppeteer community as a whole is thriving. A new puppet theater recently opened in the Twin Cities.

But there are theaters, such as the Puppet Parlor, facing hard times, Krefting added.

"It's a real struggle. It sort of depends on what you've got, and what you present," he said.