Mostly photos

Day eleven. Today I'm going to give you photos. These were taken yesterday, our last day at Player's Loft. Since we were the last show of the festival in that particular venue, we helped the festival folks with load out. So here's the construction of our set, some new friends, and the deconstruction of the theater.

1. All hands on deck to set up the set. From left to right that's Joe Bowen, Jeff Swearingen, Ben Johnston, Paula Gilbert and Steve Barney. Those tubs in front contain the puppets.

2. Puppets finding their places.

3. Ready ... set...

4. Showtime!

5-7. Two new pals and one old one. Left to right -- Anna Halkiatis (light board operator); Maria Johnston (venue director); former Austinite Geoff Brown (sound board operator).

8. Load out. Small Appliance Puppet Theater helped FringeNYC clear the theater. Many hands make labor light.

9. All done and waiting for the truck.

The puppets and the puppeteers are on their way back to Texas. Rumsfeld finds this whole notion of ground transporation tremendously insulting, of course, and has been grousing about it ever since getting packed back into his tub for the long truck ride home. This was not lost on the puppeteers who are enjoying the extra leg room, TVs and satellite radio available on Jet Blue.

I'm staying a few days longer to unwind a little, think about things, catch up on my sleep, take a zillion photographs, hang out with my new pal Maria and my other new pal Nancy, maybe finally have a chance to get caught up with Geoff. I've got an interview with Newyorkcool.com tentatively scheduled later in the week which should be fun, assuming it actually happens.

Then it's back to Austin and preparation for the 2nd weekend in September when Puppet Gov does Dallas!