When I moved to New York over a decade ago, the very first cultural excursion I made was to a show that was part of a week-long marionette performance. I’ve always had a thing for marionettes. But with the lack of marionette performances and the many distractions NYC provides, I haven’t seen a show since.
Years later, in the Fall of 2002, I wandered into an unassuming gallery in a then-quiet Greenpoint Brooklyn. It was there that I discovered the disturbingly beautiful artwork of Erik Sanko and Jessica Grindstaff in their exhibit Til Death Do Us Part: Marionettes & Musicboxes.
I recently dusted off the show’s postcard, which has been staring down at me from a shelf in my office ever since, and decided to look them up online.
I kicked myself for not looking them up sooner. I found that I missed The Fortune Teller, a marionette play that they jointly produced through their recently formed Phantom Limb Company. The show’s soundtrack was composed by Sanko and Danny Elfman. Turns out that Sanko is an accomplished musician as well, having played with The Lounge Lizards and John Cale.
I’m hoping that this Winter I can get my marionette fix. Phantom Limb Company will be doing performing their new puppet theater piece American Faust. Best mark the calendar now.