MY ROOMMATE DID HIS DISHES!

After a few days visit in the glorious nation of Paul Bunyan, the Land of 10’000 Lakes, the frigid, frozen, North Star State of Minnesota, I have returned to good ol’ Waukesha! I have brought back some flannel, my skin is a bit thicker, and I’m prepared for whatever feeble, puny, WEAK winter weather this state dares to throw at me.

Monkey Monday 2 #7, frolicking in…

Raf’s Puppet Parlor

Hello, my name is Rafaella! This is my first time writing for Monkey Monday and to say I am excited is an understatement. I wish to welcome you to the Puppet Parlor where you can learn about anything puppetry! Today will cover different kinds of puppets and how they function. 

We all hopefully know the story of The Lion King. However, did you know that it is a Broadway musical and is currently on tour? I was lucky enough to catch it in Chicago! The most important detail?: over 200 puppets are used during the performance. Onto our first puppet!

Zazu

First, is the king’s assistant Zazu! As per the diagram, his neck is comparable to a slinky which gives the puppeteer a wide range of motion. In the second picture (see below), you can see the puppeteer holding a trigger by Zazu’s feet that supports his head. This trigger controls Zazu’s mouth, blinking eyes, and wing motion. Due to the intricacies of the Zazu puppet, he is one of the hardest puppets to do in the show. In addition to controlling Zazu, the actor voices and contributes with their own expressions.   

The Circle of Life

Next, the Circle of Life scene! This song is how the show starts and is truly an epic number. I suggest just looking at the pictures and seeing the artistry. We have cheetahs, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and birds. The elephant involves one person in each leg and is 12 feet high. A giraffe is one person on stilts (hind legs) and then their arms are supported by the front legs. The birds are connected to the actor’s arms so when they move, the birds’ wings will mirror. The zebra puppet is like a backpack but a 25-pound backpack. The actors hold poles that control the rear legs.  

Pumba & Timon

Lastly, we have the lovable duo of Pumba and Timon. Timon’s legs and head are connected to the puppeteer to mirror them. Then, one of their hands is inside for mouth movement and the other control one of the arms (one stays static and is connected to the actor as well). Pumba’s capabilities are versatile whether that’s eye movement, eating a caterpillar, and of course singing. Pumba is 45 pounds and is worn like a backpack. 

This is only a very small glimpse into the puppetry of the show! However, I think this illustrates the variety and beauty puppets can create. I hope you enjoyed your time in the Puppet Parlor! 

-Rafaella

Pick of the Week

“Rifles crack,

their lonesome sound,

for twenty miles outside of town.

Tears fall on my muddy feet,

I quiver as the pulleys squeak,

as they lower you so slowly in the ground”

-”hannah, my ophelia” by Justin Vernon-

In 2006, prior to his first Bon Iver record, Justin Vernon released hazeltons. I’m a big fan of Justin’s work, but I didn’t even know this thing existed until early this year. And man, is it something.

A very short project, at only 7 songs, hazeltons is a stripped down, raw, intimate collection of songs by Justin. These songs are gentle and beautiful, but feel lonesome. These are some of the saddest songs in Justin’s catalog, featuring easy, song for a lover - of long ago, and hannah, my ophelia. This music is devastating, but bright, in a way that feels accepting and hopeful, rather than lost and desolate. Like a smile in the midst of streaming tears.

As the air gets colder while the sun still shines, this is a perfect little collection of songs to throw on as you make the chilly walk to class; or, if you’re sitting down at a cozy kitchen table, hearing deceptive whispers from the bright blue sky, saying, “hey, look at me, it’s so nice out!” while it’s 40 degrees. Regardless, give this a listen for real, it’s quite special.

-Nate

Is It Ripe?

Oh Jacob Collier, where do I begin? A genius, with a beautiful, limitless creative mind. Probably the most musically prodigious brain I’ve ever seen, and a wonderfully kind person. As a person, I really admire him, he’s such a cool, brilliant young man. But yet, his music to me, and many others, has always lacked taste.

Jacob’s creativity is endless. His ideas, his experimentation, his inspiration, are infinite. He pours his unending comprehension out in his music, but for many it’s too much. While I have nothing against maximalism, Much of Jacob’s music seems like a smooshing of all of his endless ideas, and feels more like him flexing the hungry creative monster in his head, rather than making something tasteful. Granted, by NO MEANS do I think that’s what his intention is, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for most of us peasants, this is how his music comes across. I have no doubt for Jacob, he is unleashing his creativity and having a blast in the process. All this is to set the stage for what comes next.

Well, with his custom, weirdly tuned 5 string guitar, he decides to strip everything away, write an album in just 4 days, focused entirely on guitar, and his voice. The Light For Days is what happens when he focuses his genius to a singular point instead of spreading it across a vast space. And I’m a huge fan of what came out of it.

The songs are very beautiful, the guitar work is very beautiful, the lyrics are sweet, and very beautiful. Shoutout Jacob Collier man, harnessing the reigns of his incredible gift, rather than letting it run wild.

Favorite Songs: Thom Thumb, Norwegian Wood, I Know (A Little), Where Did My Apple Fall?

-Nate

Ripeness: 8.5/10

Interview Time!

Ashley’s Animals

Parin’s Palette

Quan Quotes

Verse Of The Week