Dionysus
Dionysus is the Greek deity of wine and sex. In Rome he adopted the alias “Bacchus”, but we’re not in Rome. Dionysus was a son of Zeus and either Persephone or Semele… There are conflicting stories about his true lineage and no DNA paternity tests were available at the time.
Dionysus puppet is different than all the other Mortal Beasts & Deities puppets, primarily because he’s not an original creation. Dionysus is a restored 1950′s vintage New Orleans Mardi-Gras puppet. He is made of newspaper based papier mache, which was an invaluable aid in researching his provenance. Geppetto’s parents rescued Dionysus’ head from an auction in 1996 and Geppetto is grateful for their creative insight. It is so fortunate that they saw the possibilities!
As his fate was being imagined, Dionysus lived in the garage while Lion puppet and other life events anxiously screamed for Geppetto’s attention.
Then a Greek tragedy of mythic proportions struck. Dionysus had drunkenly fallen off his perch and Geppetto’s wife ran him over with the car. He was severely damaged; half his face was flat as a pancake and tire tracks ran up one side of his head. Actually, there is a chance the tragedy was not an accident. Geppetto didn’t witness it and suspects the worst but he never pressed charges.
As one might expect of an immortal deity, Dionysus was brought back to life. Geppetto rushed him to the puppet bench for reconstructive surgery where he got bone grafts, new facial features and new makeup. Then his old hair and beard was re-implanted, a relief for Dionysus because he is always vain about his hair, which everyone else thinks resembles curly hemp stuffing from an ancient car seat.
Nowadays Dionysus dons his violet tunic and gold necklaces, grabs his crooked chalice, and goes out drinking and frolicking only on rare occasions. He goes solo sometimes, if he can’t get Satyr or the nymphs to join him.
He’s willing to go play anywhere there is a crowd of revelers and live danceable music, but his favorite events are Mardi Gras because it brings back fond memories and he likes to collect those colorful beads, and also Project Troubador Music Festival, because the music there is always so world-class great and he continually encounters old friends in the enchanted forest there.
