“Eddie Unchained” was the most elaborate appearance I ever devised for my dummy, Eddie Gray. He was the star of this musical, supported by me, my other dummy Lloyd, the fine actress Ivy Austin (replacing Alice Playten on short notice), and a fine string quartet (Robert Zubrycki, Cenovia Cummins, Carol Benner, and Benjamin Whittenburg). I wrote it, composed the music, and drew the slides, which provided cartoon stage sets. It was produced at Dance Theater Workshop in NYC, in October 1993.  It was a lot of work.

Doug and Eddie work in the small town of Skinner Center, Indianois, making a poor living performing traffic safety skits in schools. Through a series of unexpected events, Eddie becomes mayor of the town; whereupon he builds an ivory tower for himself, which, much to his dismay, becomes a crowded tourist attraction. His public outburst leads to his downfall, and a humiliating return to his former job. Along the way, Doug and Lloyd plan Eddie’s birthday party; the local business, a Biblically-inspired soft drink called Vita-Fizz, proves to be a health hazard; and Eddie’s brain cells act as a Greek chorus. Here are a few of the drawings.