(Thanks to Toyoda over at Archive.org for the music remix.)
I saw John Krasinski (Jim from The Office) doing an interview on Conan O’brien, and in his interview he talked about the jokes they play on set in between takes. One of his jokes was he would act out different scenarios as if he were a marionette. I thought that was hilarious and started doing my own marionette impressions. It quickly became one of my staple dance moves and it was a crowd pleaser. The human marionette idea made its way to Street Smart Comedy and it was a hit. I now brush my teeth as a marionette every morning.
We nailed some 2×4′s together and tied ropes on them and draped them over the 2nd floor railing at Yogurtland on Sawtelle. Then one of us (on the street) tied the ropes to our hands and ankles and were controlled by the puppetmaster up top. We got a few people to come play puppetmaster. I learned that, as the marionette, I can’t put too much weight on the ropes or it will pull the rig out of the puppetmaster’s hands. We’re always learning here at Street Smart Comedy.
The best part about this was being the puppet and watching the smiles on the faces of people driving into the parking lot. Mission accomplished, good work team!
The Red Cape is put to good use again! Fantastic! Did the music play while you were being a puppet? That looked like fun! Well Done, Streetcomedy.
Music playing is a good idea. Something rhythmic probably would have given the volunteer puppeteers some ideas for how to control the puppet. Next time, we’ll try that out!
Sooo many people were smiling!
One woman walking to her car told us that she had almost hit a pedestrian on the way into the parking lot because she was so busy watching us be puppets. We asked her if she would give the puppet a hug (and the puppeteer raised the puppets arms right on cue!) but she politely declined. Come on, lady! Puppets gotta hug.
I was lucky to be the one to break free at the end, and as I rounded the corner there was a previous onlooker who had left and was getting into her car. She shouted from her car, “You’re free!!” and I smiled a mile wide with the wind at my face and sidewalk speeding along under my feet.
Then my trailing ropes and crossbar got caught on a jealous street post and it nearly yanked me onto my back, a staggering reminder of the many inanimate objects that Disney has neglected to personify over the years.