Lion and Lamb
Lion was the first Mortal Beasts & Deities puppet, born in 1995 when an art teacher got really carried away while creating an art teacher’s exemplar for a papier mache project. The resulting lessons in the art room went very well and were always popular, but the puppetry as theatrical-sculpture-in-motion spark was lit. After school a characterization and costume was developed for Lion and he was taken to some private parties. Soon, other puppets were built and characters created and The Mortal Beasts & Deities was born.
Lamb was born in 2005 to provide a mate, a contrasting foil, for Lion. Together they’re always lots of fun at a wide variety of events. Very kid friendly.
Lion is always a slap stick guy courting trouble with goofy yet endearing chivalry. In mime, he cruises festivals and parties dancing and flirting. He snitches pizza. He butts in to steal pretty dance partners. He tweaks baby’s cheeks and gleefully rolls around on the grass with children. He steals seats and cuts in line, seemingly unaware how annoying that is…yet in the end he selflessly offers the choice spots to those in need.
Lamb is much like a shy version of Lion. Lamb demurely avoids the difficult situations that come with Lion’s antics, but in the end always gets swept up in Lion’s playful games.
One time at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in NYC, Lion and Lamb were doing improvised walk-about in the Bishop’s garden at their St. Francis Fair, when suddenly the Bishop himself was heard on the PA system, “Look! The Lion lays with the Lamb!!” and the two puppeteers, unrehearsed, immediately hit the dirt and fell asleep snuggling together. A PG rated jewel, one of many memorably momentous moments the Mortal Beasts & Deities create where ever they go.
Lion and Lamb’s improvised walk-about is best with large groups, preferably with live music available. They’ve provided an enchanted atmosphere of silliness and glee at Project Troubador Music Festivals, Falcon Ridge Music Festivals, Winterhawk Music Festivals, Music Mountain Chamber music events, St Francis Day at Cathedral of St John the Divine, and numerous political rallies and private parties. They’re always well received and always ready for more. If invited, Lion and Lamb will gladly create an enchanted environment at the event you’re organizing!
