Tap dance

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Salley Mavor

PUN ALERT!: The Wee Folk Players have been tapped to perform a new episode in the American Drama Series. The troupe has listened in and answered the call, even though they’ve been busy working right down to the wire. This impromptu tableau stars two leading men, who’ve both been clamoring for a role that puts them in the center ring.

For the set, the crew reused old furniture and costumes that have been through the ringer more than a few times! For props, they dialed back to the cold-war era and spied a previously untapped resource – a vintage Barbie princess phone.

Backstage is looking a bit worn and disheveled these days, but spirits are high and creativity abounds! Now if only the wee folk would help out and move that tub and couch, so the show can go on!

The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) formed after the 2016 election and have performed a string of episodes in the American Drama Series. To keep up with new posts, subscribe to this blog (top right column on the home page). For a wide ranging look at new and old material from my studio, please follow along on Instagram and Facebook. And to find out about Salley Mavor’s post-election satire, please read her this interview.

Little Red, White and Blue

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Salley Mavor

The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) turn to the classics to tell an age-old cautionary tale about hidden danger and hoodwinking, which is as relevant today as it was in the time of the Grimm Brothers. In this latest installment of the American Drama Series, Little Red, White and Blue meets Big Bad Bannon.

The backstage crew scoured the storeroom for furniture and props to enhance the indoor set, including hints at Big Bad Bannon’s hidden persona. An article from his distinct wardrobe hanging on the bed post is an obvious clue, as is his instruction manual.

Also, you can tell a lot about someone by what they keep on their bedside table. Explosive rhetoric (c/o GI Joe) could come in handy when “blowing up the establishment”.

Pausing on a cliff hanger, this episode begs for a sequel. Will Little Red, White and Blue succeed in her quest for truth and survive being tested to the limit by Big Bad Bannon and his front man?

And now for a glimpse behind the scenes: Make Up and Costuming devised Big Bad’s convincing guise for the scene in Grandma’s house.

The part of Little Red, White and Blue is played by a child star who relished the idea of stepping out of her previous roles and into a more edgy drama.

Here’s an overhead view of the wooded snow scene in the studio.

The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) formed after the 2016 election and have performed a string of episodes in the American Drama Series. To find out about Salley Mavor’s post-election satire, please read this interview.

To keep up with new posts, please subscribe to this blog. Your contact info will not be sold or shared. If you’d like to see more frequent photos tracking the projects in my studio, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky.

Coffee break

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Salley Mavor

The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) are back with another installment in the American Drama Series. This week’s episode is set in a cozy mid-century style kitchen and stars the Leading Man and his Alt-Right Hand Man.

Opening Scene: The morning sun streams in the window, as two men have a heart-to-heart over percolated coffee. Waxing philosophical about the meaning of life, they discuss their favorite books and share hopes and dreams for the future:
Leading Man: “Is it all going according to plan?”
Alt-Right Hand Man: “Yes, the deconstruction of the administrative state is underway.” (quote by Stephen Bannon, Conservative Political Action Conference, 2017)

During the break, the actors complained about the stale white bread, remarking that they prefer a healthy diet of fresh multi-grain and pumpernickel slices.

The prop team scoured second hand stores for nostalgic items to dress the kitchen set, evoking an earlier, simpler time. To complete the scene, they also procured a copy of Alt-Right Hand Man’s instruction manual, The Art of War.

Here’s a reflective candid shot through the window…

and here’s one of the Leading Man’s understudy, during a pensive moment, while he waited in the wings (below).

To find out about my post-election satire, please read this interview .

Strategy session

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Salley Mavor

Trying their best to avoid being distracted by real life dramatics, the cast and crew of the Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) focused their nervous energy into producing this new skit.

Backstage, the mood was hectic, as all hands worked to stage a war room scene that looked like a “fine-tuned machine”. The prop manager located a portrait of Andrew Jackson, though the poor old fellow is in jeopardy of losing his standing as the worst president ever.

Despite rushed and competitive auditions, the newest actor was cast without incident. He/she wasted no time practicing lines and getting into character.

There was even an opportunity for product placement on the set.

Here’s a candid shot (below) of a rare lull in the action, as viewed from the wings. The troupe will take a very short break before starting rehearsals for the next episode in the American Drama Series. They must keep up their stamina because there’s sure to be a lot of exciting and compelling theater ahead!

Well suited

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Salley Mavor

The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) have recently added a new cast member who will play the part of councilor to the leading man. To stay in character, she keeps up a grueling maintenance schedule of peroxide touch-ups and has reserved every size 2 crimson costume available. And the hair and makeup takes forever!

The costume dept. made special pumps because the boss prefers his girls to look lady-like.

There’s always some drama happening on and off the set and she’s learned to avoid upstaging the Twitter Bird star, like in this bathroom scene below.

An experienced improvisational actress, she’s making use of her natural talent for telling tall tales. She explains her method this way, “It’s really very simple. In theater, we create the illusion of truth. If we do it well, the audience suspends belief and enters our alternate reality. You have to stick with fantasy over fact, or the spell is broken.”

The down-filled blue collar suit was first introduced in Fireside Chat and the leading man is so attached to it that he wears it all the time, way into the wee hours of the morning.

Civics lesson

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Salley Mavor

The Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three branches (Legislative, Executive, Judicial), to ensure a central government in which no individual or group gains too much control.

Behind the scenes at Wee Folk Players: Mirrors (but no smoke this time) were arranged to create a three way reflection on the minimalist set. Being a one man show, the scene didn’t require extra cast members.

Resident tech wizard Rob, promptly processed the documenting photo. The drama troupe is busy trying to keep up with script changes and a grueling rehearsal schedule. New cast members are being auditioned and needles are flying in the costume department. Stay tuned for more episodes in the American Drama Series!

The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) formed soon after the 2016 election and have performed a string of episodes in the American Drama Series. To find out about Salley Mavor’s post-election satire, please this interview.

Chaos Advisory

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Salley Mavor

The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) are back after a short winter break. Because of the rich backlog of material, the cast and crew quickly assembled, eager to put on a new production in their American Drama Series. This scene features our commander in chief and his alt-right handy man surveying their latest spoils.

Now for some behind the scenes photos ~ The kid’s building blocks came in handy for the set, which went up quickly.

And costumes and makeup were easy enough – the leading man’s outfit was previously made for his part in Flat Earth Society, but Dark Shadow Steve’s robe and staff required an anti-hero alteration. After instructing the cast to review Marvel Comics and study BBC Historical Dramas, the director advised the cast to ham it up, adding that they couldn’t possibly overdo the performance.

The Wee Folk Players are busy writing and directing new episodes in the American Drama Series. To keep up with new posts, subscribe to this blog (top right column on the home page). And for a wide ranging look at new and old material from my studio, please follow along on Instagram and Facebook. And to find out about my post-election satire, please read this interview .

A Fireside Tweet

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Salley Mavor

From his elevated perch, @realDonaldTrump scatters seeds of wisdom in 140 characters or less, emulating the Fireside Chat, which was how President Franklin D. Roosevelt comforted and reassured the country throughout the Depression and WWII.

The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) set designers decorated his nest in a comfortably rich style, evoking a shock and awe, yet homey atmosphere. The crew hauled in a cozy bookend fireplace and built a wool fleece fire to warm the White House hearth.

Props include precious family heirlooms and trophies for the mantelpiece…

as well as his Twitter feed to peck at.

Meanwhile, the costume department fashioned a down-filled blue collar uniform for the leading man. Humbled and honored to play the unifying role of President of the United States, he tweets, “@POTUS – the American people. SO THERE, all of you sad, dishonest, failed phonies, fakes and scumbags, I WON, I WON, I WON! Believe me.”

Fantasy Inauguration Ball

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Salley Mavor

With the spotlight on the upcoming inaugural spectacle in Washington DC and in the spirit of what they believe makes America GREAT, The Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) proudly present their alternative take in the Fantasy Inauguration Ball.

Key players in the American Drama Series were cast as leading men, while ordinary citizens auditioned for the unnamed bit parts.

Special dance shoes, some with spike heels, were custom made for the show by the costume department.

Jittery members of the All-American cast (see photos below) waited in the wings, bracing themselves for the coming drama, calling out, “Break a leg!”

The Wee Folk Players are busy writing and directing new episodes in the American Drama Series. To find out about my post-election satire, please read this interview .

Mr. Pence goes to Washington

Posted on January 8, 2017 by Salley Mavor

To commemorate the upcoming inauguration, the Wee Folk Players (They’re a Stitch) decided to film a production of Mr. Pence Goes to Washington. There’s nothing like a deadline to get you going and moving. And they did, albeit one millimeter at a time, with hundreds of camera clicks.

The stop-motion animation process demanded great patience on the part of the actors, as well as the director and photographer from Dubious Productions. Just like in Hollywood, it took a lot of standing around between scenes and discussions about the simplest actions. Everyone hung out together in the basement for several full days, determined to get through as many shots as it took to make a 1 minute video. The troupe came out unscathed, but there was a question as to whether the dog’s tail would stay attached, after wagging so hard!

The cast member playing Mr. Pence wasn’t so sure that his assigned costume would give the right impression, but once he tried on the gingham frock, he felt right at home in the role.

Makeup for the Mr. Pence character was a challenge, but white cropped hair and a permanent look of disapproval on his otherwise bland face helped bring him to life.