LORCA SIMONS as Venus shares a scene with Frieda, manipulated and acted by CINDY GRIFFIN. Notice how the larger-than-life poster of Hans ( the topic of their conversation) looms between them from the set behind. As Frieda breaks down and cries, LORCA gently lifts her up and away from CINDY'S control although as an actress CINDY'S performance still dominates the scene. This is puppetry combined with live actors taken to the next level.
DENA BRINKLEY as Cleopatra, Queen of the Air and the object of Hans infatuation which drives the plot of FREAKS. Acting alongside puppets is not an easy thing to do convincingly and for this show it had to be convincing. DENA was such an acomplished performer she made it look easy and set the tone for the rest of the company of actors. In the first still she flirts with Hans as he helps her on with her cloak. Since my black gloved hands were directly controlling the puppet's hands he could appear to handle the real costume cloak as he placed it around her shoulders. A small movement, but one that cemented in the audiences' minds that Hans was a real character and not just an inanimate object.
In the second still DENA as Cleopatra and ADRIAN MARTINEZ as Hercules the Strongman make fun of Hans as he stands pitifully just "outside" her wagon door. Again the setting is merely suggested, the manipulation of scale creating a tableau of simple power to put over the complicated scene.
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