The chief difficulty presented to beginner ventriloquists using a puppet is caused by the necessity of keeping the muscles of the lips and face immovable.
While carrying on a dialogue with his "dummies," the ventriloquist usually addresses his questions to them in the ordinary voice; but when the figures seem to answer there is no movement discernible of the face and lips, the mouth remaining nearly, but not quite, closed and the lips parted in the natural manner of an interested listener.
The acquirement of this ability to speak without moving the lips is the first thing to be accomplished, and although it may seem impossible at first, if the student is faithful in his practice it will not prove to be so difficult a matter after all.
Now to begin.
Standing before a mirror, close the lips until they are from one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch apart, and while keeping the jaws rigid try to say the letters "A E I O U".
You will do this without difficulty.
When you attempt "B" however, you will meet with difficulty; the same will be the case with "P.
" Words in which these two letters occur must therefore be used as little as possible.
When it is impossible to avoid such words, substitute some sound closely approximating that required.
For instance, "Vhee," which can be pronounced without movement of the lips after a little practice, may be used in place of "B"; and "Fee" for "P.
" "A big piano" would be spoken "A vig fiano.
" Being combined with other letters in words occurring in sentences the meaning of which is perfectly clear, such substitutions are hardly perceptible to the listeners, and the ventriloquist arranges his dialogue in such manner that where there is danger of being misunderstood or not understood at all, the same words may be immediately repeated in the questions which he asks his figures.
This accounts for much of the unnecessary repetition noticeable in dialogues intended for ventriloquism use, and it also accounts for the fact that low comedy characters are nearly always represented by the figures.
Fine enunciation and perfect pronunciation are not expected from ventriloquists, and on hearing the doubtful words repeated the auditor at once jumps to the conclusion that they were rightly pronounced in the first place.
Considerable latitude is also allowed the performer in his use of grammar, as the figures do not represent people who are supposed to be educated.
In his own questions his grammar should, of course, be faultless, but he may use ungrammatical expressions in the speeches of his figures with impunity, as such expressions are not at all "out of character," and are indeed necessary to make the dialogue realistic.
Some of the letters which appear hard at first may be very closely imitated with immovable lips by assiduous practice.
Examples are "H" and "N.
" "M," on the contrary, can never be given perfectly without moving the upper lip, and "Eng" or its modifications can be substituted.
For instance, the word "amusing" would be pronounced ventriloquy as if spelled "ang-yuzing.
" The "n" being reinforced by the "y" gives a sound very close to the right one.
"C" and "D" are easy, as are most words containing these letters, provided they are not in combination's which are themselves difficult to pronounce.
"F" makes a sound of the breath striking the teeth, but if slightly prolonged the difference is hardly noticeable.
"G," "I," "K " and "L" offer no difficulty, and "Q," "R," "S" and "T" give little trouble.
"V" should be slightly prolonged as in the case of "F," and be well practiced.
"W" is pronounced as "duggle-you," while "X," " Y " and " Z " can be readily spoken.
This exercise should be gone through with over and over again before a mirror, until every letter can be pronounced, in accordance with these instructions, without movement of the lips.
Watch yourself carefully, and should you detect any movement at any time while pronouncing, stop at once and give extra attention to the letter until the movement is no longer perceptible.
Good luck to all beginning ventriloquists and keep practicing!