Here’s a behind-the-scenes peek at today’s Peripatetic photo shoot!
Guy and Thumper setting up the scrolling backdrop
Musical interlude
Guy is solving a problem
Meekins at work on a likeness of his idol and mentor, Samuel Peaches
Princess Gwen!
The dashing Mr Peaches
Mr Meekins
Ready to tackle SHAKESPEARE!!
Shakespeare vs. Space Wars photobomb
Space Wars vs. Shakespeare photobomb
Costume pieces
Let me preface this by saying that having a mom who sews and crafts is amazing.
Let me also preface this by saying that having a mom who is creative is amazing … and dangerous.
Now, let’s blog!
Every year for a Peripatetic Players show, I like to help make our costumes. In O Best Beloved, I made Elly the Elephant’s Tutu, and in Aesop Amuck! I made the Fox hat and tail. This year, I am undertaking the task to make a costume that reflect not only Juliet, but also a certain space princess. Here are two pieces of art that are inspiring me:
Princess Leia drawing by Cryssycheung, via etsy.
Juliet costume sketch by Carlo Poggioli and Swavorski.
How would Princess Gwen wear a costume that says both of these characters at the same time? Well, this is where Mom comes in!
My mother is a great seamstress and makeup artist, and has a large stock of old costumes, fabrics, and other goodies. I remembered a box of fabric that I had set aside on a visit that I thought would be good for SPPP, and I asked my mom to send it to me. The box was finally delivered yesterday, and lo and behold… a confetti bomb!
She got me, and she got me good. Thanks, Mom!
Next up — picking out all of the confetti and starting to sew!
Howdy Partners!
Marlene is here for her first post of the 2016 season to give you a (hopefully) thrilling recap of our Particularly Obstinate Obstacle-A-Thon!
On Sunday, July 24th, the Peripatetic Players and some of their most ardent supports made their way to the grassy knolls of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California. Thumper found a lovely spot under some trees, and the rest of the gang began to help her set-up.
Here is our final list of obstacles:
Some of our participants warming up.
Following a flurry of last-minute slaloms for the TIEFighter Race, we were on our marks, and ready to go!
Our first batch of participants included Guy Hank, Percival Perkins, Tina Ballerina, and Julie D..
Here we see our contestants at Obstacle #2: (Flower) Power Crown. Terms of Success for this obstacle were to successfully create and wear your own unique (flower) power crown (obstacle designed by Princess Gwen).
Heat One: Obstacle Two!
Guy Hank is pictured here creating a 60-Second Birdhouse, complete with perch and feeding trough.
Photo by Tim Guydish.
Guy Hank and Tina Ballerina are successfully avoiding the asteroids in the TIEFighter Race.
Photo by Tim Guydish.
Percival Perkins has over taken the lead in the Slow-Mo Costume Race!
Photo by Tim Guydish.
But was quickly over taken as Guy Hank jumped through the Flaming Ring of Peaches!
Photo by Tim Guydish.
AND THAT WAS ONLY THE FIRST HEAT!
Our second heat saw Thumper finally running the course, Meekins, Princess Gwen, and Kristen M.
Look at the concentration while our participants attempt to make a 60 Second Birdhouse!
concentrate, grasshoppers…
We even had some amazing audience participation this heat:
gasp, yay, ooh/ahh, yay, boo!
Our personal favorite obstacle, Skarkline, is pictured here in all it’s glory:
Terms of Success: Successfully Skarkline.
And then, finally, the finale for heat two!
There must be at least one meta-moment in all SPPP things.
Hooray Obstaclers!! Yay Spectators!! Ooohhs and Aaahs for Pledgers!! The First Ever Particularly Obstinate Obstacle Course was a ton of fun. Thanks to all who came out to play or cheer, and to everyone who has pledged and/or donated to help make SHAKESPEARE OR SPACE WARS travel the Bay!
We cannot thank you enough!
Friends, it is that time of year when the Peripatetic Players dust off their ragamuffins and saddle up their slipperywidgets…
IT’S TIME TO PUT ON A SHOW!
This summer, the Players put their inimitable spin on two star-crossed tales of daring and destiny. Although Thumper and Samuel are still in heated negotiations over what constitutes canonical entertainment, be assured that SOMETHING will happen… but even we are not entirely sure how it will all turn out.
Will Samuel achieve his dream of becoming a renowned and respected tragedian?
Will Guy Hank be able to power this hunk of junk to hyperspace?
Will Princess Gwen be able to climb down from that balcony?
Will Meekins stare down the hilt of a rapier with both eyes open and a minimum of whimpering?
What is Thumper doing with that bucket?
We will endeavor to answer these enduring questions and more… BUT THAT’S NOT ALL…
For the first time ever, the Players invite YOU — yes, you! The one in front of the screen! — to partake in a Particularly Obstinate Obstacle Course! Run, hop, skip, jump, saunter, sashay, stroll or simply stumble your way through 20 outrageous obstacles delightfully designed to test your physical, mental and theatrical vim and vigor. This Thon to out-thon all Thons is like no Thon you’ve ever Thonned. Thonestly. Don your most eccentric costumes, pull out all your stops, and join us as we face our least known fears over and through obstacles both literal and metaphorical!
You can sign up to pledge a player or play the course here!
If you’d rather spectate, cheer on, and/or picnic — be sure to come out to Lake Merritt on July 24 for an afternoon of comradely challenge and comic competition. No reservations required!
The Peripatetic Players have debuted a new performance!
While Samuel Peaches was busy pining away, singing himself love-songs and composing eloquent missives to woo Blueberry Starshine (that he was unlikely to ever deliver), Mdme Directrix was charged with preparing the Players for their latest performance. The Bull Valley Roadhouse had requested a special one-night performance in honor of their 3rd anniversary party, and Mr. Peaches and company were happy to oblige. Rehearsals were undertaken in Samuel’s absence, and the Players arrived on the appointed night, November 8, 2015, eager to debut their latest production. 
But the Players had not correctly understood Samuel’s instructions. Expecting to perform Mdme D’s new Viking play, “Shakes Spear,” the Players were surprised but delighted to learn that Mr Peaches thought them ready to undertake the work of one of the greatest dramatists in the English language.
Mr Meekins warms up for what will be, unbeknownst to him, a stunning turn as the young lover Romeo
With aplomb, Samuel Peaches and the Peripatetic Players made their inimitable way through the tale of star-crossed lovers in about 30 minutes, playing to a standing-room-only crowd who cheered and threw money (literally!) at the bows.
We’ll have to ask Mr Peaches if his inspiration to tackle Shakespeare came from the Players’ improvised Hamlet that was offered on a whim at the Last Hurrah party for Main Street Theatre, the Players’ first rehearsal space, located in San Francisco’s Excelsior district.
Thumper isn’t sure of the plot, but succeeds in looking rather guilty as a winged Claudius.
Where will the Players appear next? We’re not sure, but we’ll be sure to let you know!
Stay tuned for a new, all-Peripatetic website, where all the Players’ antics can come together under one virtual roof.
In the meantime, please be sure to Like Us on Facebook!
An interview with Rebecca & Joan
Rebecca and Joan — who when not embodying Mdme. Directrix and Thumper, respectively, are the SPPP’s producing organization, Idiot String — sat down after one of the final Aesop Amuck rehearsals with none other than Sam Bertken (a.k.a. Meekins) to talk about their inspirations for both Aesop Amuck and the Peripatetic Players’ debut adventure, O Best Beloved.* Sam writes for S.F. Theater Pub,** a great blog about theatre and the independent theatre scene in the Bay Area that is run by producer, playwright & director Stuart Bousel.
We talked about influences like Mercer Mayer & Maurice Sendak, the Muppets, and Medieval & Renaissance theatre, as well as why performing on FluxWagon and breaking the fourth wall are so important to us. Read the interview here!
*Please note there are a couple words bleeped out with asterisks in this article that, if unbleeped, would be inappropriate for young audiences!
**Please also note that the content of S.F. Theatre Pub in general is aimed at adult audiences, and some topics elsewhere on the site may not be appropriate for kiddos.
Guess what else?
We have three more shows — including today’s 5pm performance in Pleasanton
There’s still time to donate to our Kickstarter Campaign — until late Monday night!
We have shows through August 23 — four more performances — but just a few days left to pledge your support for Aesop Amuck via Kickstarter.
As of this moment, we need just $555 to reach our goal, and we have until Monday night, August 17, to do it. Can you help?
Your support helps keep FluxWagon in her finery, transports her to each performance venue, ensures we’re insured at each location, provides pay for the Peripatetic Players — and keeps our performances *free* to the public.
We’re so grateful for your help and have some sweet surprises for our supporters. Please give if you can, and come on out to see a show!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to Flux Fest ’15 and to our Kickstarter campaign!
We’re now just over halfway to our Kickstarter goal of $2500, with 10 days to go. If you’ve been meaning to throw in your support, now’s the time! Click here to go to Kickstarter — if only to watch the video. If you’ve already given, THANK YOU! Here’s a list of our wonderful supporters!
Because of your generous support, we’ve been able to add some bells and whistles to FluxWagon, like her new trapdoor and Aesop-appropriate paint job.
Joan, designer of the FluxWagon, in her new trap door.
FluxWagon at our opening performance at DeFremery Park, Oakland
New this week: animal portraits by the excellent Megan Hillard! (Stay tuned for photos of those after this weekend’s shows in Hayward and San Francisco.)
Your support is also invaluable to less photogenic but essential endeavors, like making insurance payments, buying gas, and renting trucks to tow Fluxie.
You also help ensure the Peripatetic Players can get paid! They’re super photogenic, actually.
The Peripatetic Players in action: photo by Tim Guydish. Click through for a whole wonderful set of photos!
The Peripatetic Players opened Aesop Amuck this past weekend with shows at DeFremery Park in Oakland and the Noe Valley Town Square in San Francisco. Next stops: Hayward at 1pm on August 8 and Glen Park, SF at 2pm on August 9. Here’s our full schedule of performances… and you can help keep us going by donating to our Kickstarter campaign! And now — pics from the show!
The Peripatetic Players 