Spuds McGuffin Vanishes

Saturday, August 3,2013

Doug and I attended another "Absurd Theater" production at the Old Mill in Ruidoso, New Mexico titled "Spuds McGuffin Vanishes" written and directed by Blake Martin of Alto, New Mexico. McGuffin can be explained in several different ways. It's kind of something that has no purpose and so doesn't exist, yet drives the plot forward. The production is a concert by the band "Spatula" in conjunction with a surreal romantic comedy of pseudo-couples. The audience is called on at various times to do their part in this absurd theater and it is unadulterated fun for everyone.

Spatula band members are: Pete Davis on drums, Rich Chorné on guitar/flute/harmonica, Tim McCasland on dobro/banjo, and Deanna and Blake Martin play percussion and bass. Their music is a mix of reggae, rhythm and blues and rock and roll.

The cast of characters is a fusion of styles as follows: The Great Oompah (Tim McCasland), the Fabulous Bambee (Taylor Appel), Penelope Coco (Cheyenne Lagomarsino), Yum-Yum Coco (Makenzie Martin), NambiPooboo (Blake Martin), MorindaBombinda (Jeanne Kistinger), Tikitoki Buzz Buzz (Laurel Appel), Graceful Bird of Paradise (Calah Appel), Spuds McGuffin (Malachi Martin), and Blue Bottle Fly (McGuffin).

This event takes place in the Village of Sawtooth Mountain where Penelope Coco has been sentenced to be executed for high treason. MorindaBombinda has devised a scheme to save Yum-Yum's sister from certain demise. Meanwhile, despite the efforts of the Fabulous Bambee, true love does prevail in the face of all adversity. In the grand finale, the Fabulous Bambee is torn apart for the Great Dance of ceremonial Posh and Circumstance. This, in true Sawtooth Mountain tradition, is in anticipation of the Weddings at Dawn. Hopefully the pictures will help the reader understand the story.

The Old Mill Playhouse, Ruidoso, New Mexico

A bouquet of sunflowers for the ticket desk, perhaps

Carla just arriving for the play

Carla and Doug

MorindaBombinda (Jeanne Kistinger)

Tikitoki Buzz Buzz (Laurel Appel)

L to R: MorindaBombinda, Tikitoki Buzz Buzz and Yum Yum Coco (Makenzie Martin)

MorindaBombinda, Fabulous Bambee (Taylor Appel), Tikitoki Buzz Buzz and Yum Yum Coco

L to R: Delana Phillips Clements (Old Mill owner) and Blake Martin (musician/playwright/actor) conferring with unidentified woman

L to R: Calah Appel, Taylor Appel, Laurel Appel, Cheyenne Lagomarsino, Makenzie Martin and Jeanne Kistinger

L to R: Fabulous Bambee, audience member and Graceful Bird of Paradise

Blake Martin with Delana

NambiPooboo introduces Blue Bottle Fly (McGuffin)

Spatula L to R: Blake and Deanna Martin, Pete Davis, Rich Chorné and Tim McCasland

Blake on bass guitar and Deanna/percussionist

L to R: Pete Davis on drums, Rich Chorné on flute and Tim McCasland on the dobro

Yum Yum Coco (Makenzie Martin) pining for her true love

Spuds McGuffin (Malachi Martin)

Tikitoki Buzz Buzz

Graceful Bird of Paradise

L to R: Penelope Coco and NambiPooboo upholding the LAW

The LAW is going down!

There she goes!

Penelope Coco discovers the Blue Bottle Fly is missing as Yum Yum Coco laments

Perhaps the Graceful Bird of Paradise ate the Blue Bottle Fly opines MorindaBombinda

Looks like guilt to me

Penelope Coco brings the Great Oompah to Yum Yum Coco

But wait! There's a glitch of sorts

Could it be that NambiPooboo is also in love with Yum Yum Coco?

He is devastated by rejection

The Great Dance of Ceremonial Posh and Circumstance

People in the audience visiting from Wisconsin. The women are all sisters and the couple on the right are residents of Las Cruces and Ruidoso and are friends with Tim McCasland on the right.

Rich Chorné (plays guitar/flute/harmonica) and Carla

The Spatula Band played more music and here we have Pete Davis on drums and Rich Chorné on guitar

Tim McCasland tuning his banjo

Blake and Deanna rockin' it

Information on Blake Martin's productions are almost always in Vamanos on Fridays in the Alamogordo Daily News so be on the lookout for the next one which could be the first weekend in September. Fabulous entertainment and well worth the drive to Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Thanks Doug for taking such great pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.