EASTHAMPTON — Part rock concert, part puppet show, and part ghost story, “Literary Monsters,” from performance troupe Shadow, Sound Spectacle, will grace the Easthampton Media Black Box Studio Theater stage on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. for a one-night multimedia event.
Drawing inspiration from the works of Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, Washington Irving, Emily Dickinson, Bram Stroker and others, Literary Monsters asks: what is a monster? Through original songs, handcrafted shadow puppets, projected imagery and live narration, the performance transforms familiar literary figures into an exploration of identity, belonging and the beauty of those who live outside society’s expectations, according to show organizers.
“In classic literature, the ‘monster’ is often someone who doesn’t fit the societal mold — someone misunderstood or cast out,” said Jess Martin, the show’s composer and performer.
“As a queer artist, I found a lot of beauty and strength in these figures. Together, we’ve created a performance that celebrates difference and invites audiences to reconsider who the real monsters are.”
Unlike a traditional theatre production, “Literary Monsters” unfolds through a handcrafted blend of live music, shadow puppetry, overhead projectors, moving panorama, sound effects and video projection. Every visual element is performed live, creating a theatrical experience that feels both intimate and cinematic, Martin said.
“I think we’re all storytellers in our way and so it answers this desire in each of us as artists to be in community,” said Martin of the performance troupe. “And then the exciting part is to see how the audiences are responding. I have a background in theater, and so I always love feeling the work breathe in the room with others and that excitement of what live performance can bring. We hold the audience experience central to our storytelling.”
Amy West, puppet designer and lead puppeteer, said shadow puppetry lives in the space between what is seen and what is hidden, allowing light and shadows to transform before the audience’s eyes and making for the perfect medium in exploring monsters, identity and imagination.
“Jess is, at her core, a storyteller. Her songwriting has a cinematic quality that, for me, easily evokes shadow puppetry,” said West. “We’ve built this show very thoughtfully, one piece and one monster at a time. We’re very fortunate to have the support of Easthampton Cultural Council and E-Media to make this show possible, and we’re grateful to Mass Cultural Council and all of the local cultural councils and venues who have sponsored us over the past couple of years.”
Videographer, musician and puppeteer Abby Hanna said that one of the joys of the show is seeing audiences discover that these familiar stories still have something meaningful to say about who we are today.
“Jess’ music has a certain flair that I think is pretty irreproducible by other artists. Like Amy said, [Jess] is a storyteller through and through,” said Hanna.
Hanna added that the troupe is grateful to live in an area which grants opportunities like this “to weird little groups like us.”
“If you asked me three years ago if I thought I’d be part of a musical puppet troupe, I’d tell you you’re being silly, but here we are,” Hanna said. “I really love Western Mass., and I am sad that the music scene in Northampton has decreased so much in the past decade or so. So, I am really happy to see Easthampton taking over some of that and opening these spaces for artists to perform.”
West added, “The audience response to ‘Literary Monsters’ has been very gratifying, and we’re excited to perform it in E-Media’s excellent black box production studio … I’ve been so impressed with Easthampton’s vibrant scene for art, music and theater.”
Following the performance, audiences are invited to remain for a behind-the-scenes conversation with the artists, where they can see the puppets up close, learn about the creative process and explore the enduring fascination with monsters in literature and popular culture.
Another addition to the night will be a special guest performance from Why’s It Gotta Be? Theater Group and their world premiere of “Dorian Gray is a Sodomite.” WIGB founder and President Devin Dumas said this performance was created especially to run alongside this new work from Shadow, Sound, Spectacle, as five performers will race to retell Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” each from a distinct perspective.
The piece explores the influences that shape — and sometimes suppress — the identities we allow ourselves to become, according to the group.
“We felt that this spot to collaborate with Shadow, Sound, Spectacle as an opening to their ‘Literary Monsters’ tour provided us with the right amount of creative freedom – not too little to feel constrained, but not too wide in scope,” said Dumas. “‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ has always been something I’ve wanted to explore in a more contemporary context. I’ve always seen glimmers of modern archetypes in these characters … within the scope of ‘Literary Monsters,’ I hope to convey the idea of ‘monstrousness’ in Dorian not necessarily being caused by ‘hedonism’ but rather by the different kinds of expectations of queer expression and repressions placed on everyone.”
Shadow, Sound, Spectacle has previously performed at the Providence Fringe Festival, Puppet Showplace Theater and libraries throughout the state, earning praise for its blend of music, puppetry and visual storytelling. Martin said that the opportunity to perform in an arts-based community is an exciting way to continue expanding the show.
Martin added that the troupe hopes audiences can connect with the show and its themes as it takes audiences.
“The monsters are fun, and we’re getting to ask, like, who gets called a monster and who gets to decide. And I think if people are coming in looking for something they’ve seen before, they’re probably not going to find it with us, but they’re going to see something unexpected,” said Martin. “They’re going to see a rock concert, a shadow puppet show, and a ghost story.”
Advance tickets are available for $20 at eventbrite.com/e/shadow-sound-spectacle-presents-literary-monsters-tickets-1996063309090. Pay-what-you-wish admission will also be available at the door.
