As we tumble right into a way forward for who even is aware of what, you could be looking for an outlet to information you thru grief, spark some pleasure, and maybe distract you with a little bit magic. Fortunately, Seattle has a puppet scene that’s doing precisely that. Earlier than you even ask, no, puppets are usually not only for youngsters. You’re welcomed into this puppet group, which is filled with puppets in each form, dimension, and kind, with open arms! Cass Bray and Zane Precisely, co-producers of Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam, are two sensible leaders within the artwork kind and might be bringing Quantity 26: What’s the Worst That May Occur to the Theater Off Jackson this weekend, November 15 and 16.
The tag-team of puppet empowerment not solely produces the slam, however additionally they make their very own beautiful shadow puppets as co-artistic administrators of Shadow Women Cult. They work year-round creating platforms for rising puppeteers throughout the Pacific Northwest and construct group via the expanse of what puppetry could be. “We’re all only a bunch of puppet nerds who’re excited when any person else needs to nerd out about the identical factor we do, you understand?” says Zane. “The extra individuals we have now to speak about puppetry, the extra thrilling it’s. Like, if I actually may do nothing else however simply do puppet issues and speak about puppetry all day, I might be so pleased.”
Now, you would possibly suppose puppets are simply the fluffy creatures you used to observe on Sesame Road. After speaking to those two, I can confidently let you know it’s a lot greater than you’d anticipate. “Puppetry could be so many issues,” Cass notes. “It may be object manipulation, it may be manipulating a puppet, it may be utilizing props in a means that tells a narrative. You see Muppets, and also you see the Henson Basis, who create numerous puppetry, however you understand, we have additionally seen some superb acts from burlesque performers who’ve a puppet or drag performers who’re utilizing cardboard props. We’d like of us to comprehend that puppetry could be for adults, it may be attention-grabbing, it may be subversive, and that it is revolutionary.”
Zane provides, “At its base, it is taking an object and giving it life. That’s the most elementary definition of puppetry.” The duo additionally identified that puppetry is extra accessible to get entangled in than many individuals assume—you don’t want elaborate stitching expertise or years of expertise. “I’ve seen some unbelievable exhibits the place individuals have a pile of stuff from their kitchen, and it is probably the most compelling factor I’ve ever seen. For those who’re simply taking any type of object and you’re giving it life and giving it a personality, and it is dwelling inside a narrative, then it is a puppet.”
That’s a significant objective the pair have in the best way they produce Fussy Cloud as nicely, to showcase such a variety of kinds and approaches that viewers members go, “Oh, I did not suppose that may very well be puppetry.” As producers, a part of their function has been assembly with artists who may not even understand they’re using puppetry and saying, “Hey, you are doing puppets, simply so you understand, would you want a stage? You wish to come be part of our puppet group? We might love that.”
Whereas there’s an abundance of puppets in Seattle, it has confronted some setbacks over the past decade within the metropolis. Like a lot of the humanities group, shuttered venues, shrinking professionally paying jobs, the pandemic, and the rising price of dwelling have all contributed to fewer assets and alternatives. The altering tides have pushed seasoned artists out of the world and puppetry into the underground. It’s a significant purpose that the dynamic duo picked up the reins of Fussy Cloud.
Zane has been a long-time participant since Fussy Cloud’s second quantity in 2011. As its management shifted, a time got here for somebody to step as much as preserve it operating. Zane believed within the significance of maintaining the slam alive and took on the accountability. The next present Cass jumped in as co-producer, bringing the mixed drive of a puppet-loving, community-forward surprise crew. “We’re very dedicated to being leaders within the puppetry group right here as a result of any person has to, or it’s going to die out.” Cass underscores that “Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam is absolutely on the root of it as a result of it has been the longest-running puppetry cabaret in Seattle, to my data.”
Now, because the slam has constructed up increasingly of the group, they confront a unique problem in Quantity 26, with the theme What’s the Worst That May Occur? “We selected that theme figuring out that whatever the final result of this election that issues could be spicy and a shit present,” Cass explains. “We curated this with the election in thoughts and with the panorama that we knew individuals could be feeling and experiencing.”
On this specific quantity, viewers will expertise every thing from a ventriloquist piece a couple of collapsing ceiling to a bit in regards to the Roe v Wade reversal advised via the lens of a roach motel. There’s even a pigeon doing mime. Cass and Zane curated the variability to mix “numerous these particular person tales about these moments in time that issues disintegrate.” A few of the items might be humorous, some somber, and a few will reveal their tone as they transfer from the preliminary submission course of to the stage. “I believe it may be an ideal area for individuals to come back expertise horror that wraps up neatly in 5 to seven minutes and tells a narrative that is compelling, foolish, and absurd, and simply have a spot to chortle and grieve collectively.”
The slam responds to the present occasions not simply in content material but in addition in its construction. The administration crew is totally queer, together with their tech, and strives every slam to get extra numerous in every rendition by broadening kinds, increasing expertise ranges, and embracing completely different private views from the storytellers. Each producers additionally gave excessive reward for the present’s common host, Tootsie Spangles. “She has this fashion of holding the viewers in her palms so tenderly, making ready you completely for no matter you are about to see. She is simply an enormous a part of the core vibe of what Fussy Cloud Puppet slam is.”
For those who’re in search of a spot to be in these difficult occasions, head to the Fussy Cloud this weekend. The slam even maintains a pay-what-you-can possibility to verify it’s as accessible as attainable. For those who can’t make this version, Fussy Cloud occurs twice a yr and the subsequent present might be in Might. The crew hopes that with continued help and curiosity in puppetry, they’ll increase alternatives. Whereas the crew of producers doesn’t all the time carry out on the slams themselves, you can even catch any of their acclaimed productions as Shadow Women Cult, which, as a puppet lover, I extremely advocate.
Whether or not you simply wish to see extra puppets, are a budding puppeteer, or are in search of some puppet-fueled power to deal with the election information, know that these two have created a group that’s primed to uplift you. Zane emphasised that puppetry has all the time been a part of resistance, harkening again to the anti-nazi puppeteer Josef Skupa, who led an underground puppet motion of unlawful performances through the occupation of Czechoslovakia.
“Particularly whenever you’re grieving, storytelling is the oldest type of sharing these emotions and creating group,” says Cass. “I really feel so strongly that puppetry is a community-building occasion and exercise. So for these people who find themselves grieving, it is a area the place we will all grieve collectively. It is a area the place we’re all held in time for an hour and a half the place we will expertise magic collectively in a secure area.”
See Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam Quantity 26: What is the Worst That May Occur? at Theater Off Jackson Nov 15-16, $15-$30.
