Satyr and Nymph Phoebe
Satyr is a mythic reveler! In Greek mythology Satyrs were half man and half goat and instinctively randy. Pan was related to Satyr. Often a companion of Dionysus, Satyrs were known for chasing through the forests and glens after virgin nymphs, for their high libidos, for their hearty consumption of wine, and for their tireless dancing.
Satyr could be considered Geppetto’s hedonistic alter ego, foregoing modern societal conventions of political correctness. However, since artistic license only goes so far, the behavior of the Mortal Beasts & Deities’ Satyr puppet maintains a PG rating in all appearances. Satyr puppeteers are instructed to flirtatiously chase, but not to actually catch the nymphs or any other beauties around.
The Satyr and Nymph Phoebe puppet duo was inspired by William Bouguereau’s enormous 1873 salon painting Nymphs and Satyr, at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The story depicted in this action packed painting is of a gaggle of nymphs shoving Satyr into a pond. Legend has it that one smart nymph named Phoebe figured out that Satyr can’t swim. Phoebe realized that Satyr’s proverbial Achilles heel could be utilized to end his ceaseless chasing, annoying advances and unwanted copulations. Phoebe’s nymph girlfriends were also tired of Satyr hitting on them, so they loved her plan. Together they lured Satyr to the pond’s edge and turning the tables, tossed him in. One of the earliest women’s lib stories!
The Mortal Beasts & Deities has performed the Satyr and Nymph Phoebe puppet play with Nymph Ruth and Nymph Laka, at the Project Troubador music festival in Lakeville Connecticut, the New York Village Halloween Parade, and at Bread and Puppet in Glover Vermont.
Side note with full disclosure:
When Satyr and Nymph Phoebe arrived to perform at Bread and Puppet, Satyr’s mythological and oblivious chauvinism needed to be toned down. While some might say Geppetto has had ample relationship experience with women, Geppetto is in no position to claim expertise or understanding. So not wanting to offend the puppeteers at New England’s premier puppetry Mecca, and also being very anxious to learn whatever lessons available to learn there, Geppetto’s arm was twisted to join in a collaborative effort to adapt the Satyr play into a slightly different and easier to digest form. They removed Satyr’s obsession with sex, and converted it into an obsession with a lost dog. In the new B&P version, it was an ‘Ask Jeeves’ internet search that clued Phoebe in on the fact that Satyr couldn’t swim. The sanitized version was performed to resounding applause in the studio loft for Bread and Puppet’s staff and friends. Certainly great fun, but I honestly missed the hedonistic sexiness through out and the empowerment of women at the end of the original play. One detail that is fun to recall from that Bread and Puppet performance, was that the young puppeteer playing Satyr wore fat silver Gothic style rings in both of his pierced nipples. I find that contrast of conventions almost as amusing as having to edit down a mythological character’s instinctual antics at Bread and Puppet.
Satyr and Nymph Phoebe and Nymph Ruth and Nymph Laka all have papier mache heads, like all Mortal Beasts & Deities puppets.
Satyr sports a virile masculine ‘package,’ hoofs, tall horns and a beard. His lower body is fleece and fur, with a wagging tail and backwards goat knees to finish off the half man half beast illusion.
In the art imagery of ancient mythology, including the Bouguereau painting that inspired these puppets, nymphs are most often portrayed in the nude. Some might say this feature is what has made them popular with artists for so many centuries. But for obvious reasons puppets performed by the Mortal Beasts & Deities troupe require clothing. Originally Nymph Phoebe wore a gown of gauzy thin veils, but this proved to be much too revealing for most of MB&D’s family oriented shows, so virginal looking gowns of more chaste white fabric were made. Later, sequined golden renaissance style gowns and colorful batik dresses were added to their wardrobes.
When not performing the Satyr and Nymph Phoebe play, puppet Satyr has on many occasions appeared as a solo walk-about improvised character of enchantment. He has been featured dancing, flirting and frolicking at numerous Donna the Buffalo band concerts. Satyr has also been spotted whooping it up with rowdy frolicking and dancing with puppet Dionysus at several Mardi-Gras celebrations, and has enlivening many summer solstice parties.
When Satyr isn’t around, Nymph Phoebe, Nymph Laka and Nymph Ruth have also appeared as improvised walk-about flower girls, solo or in duos with other characters.
Contact us to add the enchantment of this group of special puppets to your future festival, celebration, parade, concert or summer fair.
