Animal Saints & Animal Sinners 2
The ancient oral tradition of storytelling, despite the invention of the printing-press, film, TV and social media, is still a vibrant relevant art form as practiced by three Seattle storytellers, Scot Auguston, Kelleen Conway Blanchard and Bret Fetzer, currently performing at 18th and Union.
Like the old tradition, when there were no laws, writing, literature, academic studies of human behavior, storytelling still exists to teach ethics, values and to interpret human experience, using narration but bending the rules of reality.
The three storytellers all told morality tales involving animals with human like characteristics and motivations, on a cold rainy night in Seattle. They were all terrific witty writers; masters of narrative and delivery.
Starting off was, Scot Auguston, who enthralled the audience with a hilarious tale of the dancing bears, who performed at a Chastity Ball where chastity was definitely not part of the program, and ended up in a Gothic romance, where chastity rules. His writing, including a long rhymed sophisticated poem was quite polished, and the surprise ending had some amusing irony.
Next was Kelleen Conway Blanchard whose polished performance and vocal ability was quite outstanding. Her tale was of sibling rivalry, greed, and vanity. Along the way one heard a certain disdain for our 21st fetish about animals.
Next up was veteran storyteller Bret Fetzer, who conforms more closely to the Southern tradition, where storytelling thrives. Dressed up in a tie and vest, with a graying beard and a Southern accent, he recounted a tale similar to Cain and Abel, with a strange twist at the end. The timing and writing were excellent.
The whole evening was enjoyable, entertaining and well worth a visit to 18th and Union on a rainy night. The bar in the lobby is well-stocked, and it is a friendly comfortable place to hang around.
Animals, Saints and Sinners 2. 18th and Union. 1406-18th Ave. Central District, Seattle 98122. Fri, Sat, Nov. 12, 13, 7:30 pm. In person or live stream Info: 18thandunion.org
Tickets: https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/18th-and-union/animal-saints-and-animal-sinners-83408/tickets
N.B. Vaccination certificates and masks mandatory.