This last weekend Eliza had the opportunity to see her very first circus, “The Man = Carrot Circus”, though it was no Ringley Brothers affair… the only animals performing were made of paper mache and powered by humans. “Cheap Art and Political Theater in Vermont” is the tagline of Bread and Puppet, a four decade old East Coast progressive art and activist institution. As a child, Micaela performed with the group one season in Boston.
The show was really fantastic. Imagine a children’s show that has Fellini spectacle with Shel Silverstein wit, and giant puppets that put “The Lion King” and “War Horse” to shame in their cost effective approach to magnificent realization, with a soundtrack provided by a live chaotic drum and brass band playing music ranging from dixieland to dirge. Hard to imagine probably – it really has to be seen in person – but trust me, you won’t stop smiling and dancing, and neither did Eliza.
She was even was asked to join for a special guest role in a comedy bit making fun of the “Race to the Top” education policy. Eliza and another toddler were placed center stage, and told to start “racing”, and predictably they stood still, stunned by the audience, lights and spectacle. It was her big debut in an acting role, and we think she has a bright future in activist art puppet theatre.
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