Monsters in America -- Part 1

Two years ago a puppet show made a huge splash at the Fringe Festival. Its title: Death Penalty Puppetry. The company: Chameleon Theatre Circle. It was a show that combined muppet-esque puppets and their humor with the very serious topic of the death penalty. Last year the group had hoped to return to the Fringe and attain similar success with a show called Monsters in America. The should would have involved the puppetry/topical theme motif again. However, like many past favorites in the Lottery Era of the Fringe, they didn't get into the festival last year. This year the company did get in, though, and the show will go on.

According to director G.J. Clayburn, this has become a two year process, and the year off has led to the show gaining a sub-title: Puppets of Mass Distraction. "Last year we were focusing on what Americans fear and how, once we identify it, we water it down and sell it to kids," said Clayburn. Now that the ideas have had an extra year to percolate, the concept still includes some sketches of that ilk, but now "the overall theme is how, as Americans, we allow ourselves to be distracted by smaller issues while largers issues loom over us," according to Clayburn.

In what seems like a bit of a theme for Fringe shows this year, the group is putting the show together through a workshop process. This year's voyage started in May with some meetings, June is the time for writing, and next month will see the rehearsal process in full swing.

OVer the next few weeks I'm hoping to get a bit of a preview of what is to come from this group. G.J. and I talked at length about this project, and many other things, back when I was working on a show at TRP that he directed. I'm very excited to see where it all goes. Unfortunately due to the random nature of my method of picking shows to attend, I did not get to see Chameleon's last puppet offering, and so I'm eager to learn more about this time around.

The Show: Monsters in America: Puppets of Mass Destruction

The Company: Chameleon THeatre Circle

The Venue: UofM Rarig Center Proscenium

Very Brief randomness...:

Boo!

I'm tired.

Today's bit of trivia from Hooked On Facts: "The Bible is the most-shoplifted book in the world." -- How very Christian!

I've spent most of the day today working at the table outside an audition room for a theatre from Miami, Florida. I like doing the audition monitor gig. It gives me time to catch up with folks like the wonderful Natalie Wass, who, incidentally is running the Karaoke out at The Park at MOA on Friday nights at the Stadium Club... you should go see her there.