ARE THEY EDIBLE? has been selected to be presented by La MaMa Theatre Puppet Series – a bi-annual puppet series presented by the reputable La MaMa Theatre.  It will preimere from November 7-10, 2013 at The Club.
Are They Edible? is a multi-sensory puppetry performance inspired by Homer’s epics: the Iliad and the Odyssey. It takes place in an interactive setting in which food consumption is used as a way to engage the audience in a tactile discourse on the relationship between war, heroes, and hunger (or the urge to consume).
Initiated by war then cursed by pride, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are tales of war, of the construction and destruction of heroes, of how hunger and thirst for violence are never satisfied, and of wearied soldiers’ journey – and ultimately one soldier’s journey home. While our memory mostly lingers around the heroic acts associated with these tales, I want to emphasize the image of only ONE soldier, Odysseus, succeeding in returning home and his son Telemachus, meanwhile, growing up to join him in slaughtering the suitors. Through this act, Telemachus becomes the next hero preparing for another Trojan War. This parallels how we encourage and celebrate the sacrifices from our generations of military service.
During the performance, audiences will be served food along with red wine. In addition, they will be led literally on their feet to journey through different puppetry stations as a way to put them inside the experiences similar to Odysseus’ and a given birds’-eye view of the scope of atrocities with the eerie sense that this is all constructed for their enjoyment and available for their consumption or manipulation.
The tone the piece sets out to create is of uneasy playfulness, where at times the audience is able to taste, enjoy, and comment on the action with one another, and at other times will be lulled into private contemplation through immersive visual, aural, and sense-of-taste experiences.
We are working hard towards making this premiere a great success but need a little extra financial help to support all the wonderful artists who are involved in the project, many of whom I’ve been collaborating with for years. This project is blessed by their talent and commitment so please join me in supporting them by making a donation today.
Because this is an “all or nothing” type campaign, I am setting the goal at $6,000 to cover the costs of supplies and puppet creation as well as ARTISTS and every dollar that exceeds this goal will continue towards supporting the artists involved with my new performance.
Artists involved in this production include:
- Torry Bend (Set and Puppet Designer – since 2011)
- Burke Brown (Lighting Designer – since 2011) * Andrew Butler (Performer – since 2012)
- Nikki Calonge (Performer – since 2011)
- Elizabeth Eggert (Technical Direction)
- Nicole Greene (Stage Manager – since 2011)
- Phillip Gulley (Video Designer – since 2012)
- Connie Hall (Culinary Designer – since 2011)
- Karl Hinze (Composer)
- Amy Jensen (Dramaturg – since 2011)
- Tom Lee (Puppet Designer & Builder)
- Maggie Robinson (Performer)
- Rachel Schapira (Props and Puppet Designer – since 2012)
- Margaret Schedel (Sound Designer) -Â Bobby McElver was the original designer but unfortunately his schedule won’t allow him to work on this.
- Julia Sirna-Frest (Performer – since 2011)
- Matthew Stephen Smith (Playwright)
- Marisa Lark Wallin (Performer – since 2011)
- Meghan Williams (Performer) and Puppet Designer – since 2011)