Presidential Puppets? That's Up for Debate
Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama squared off on the steps of MCC this week, complete with boxing gloves and cheering sections. Unlike the one most folks watched on the national news recently, though, the MCC version featured 10 foot tall paper-mache puppets of the two candidates, knockout punches and all.
The brainstorm of Professor Jean Trounstine and her improv theatre group, Matter of Fact, the debate on the college's front steps gave the improv members a chance to show off their talents and rally some support, but more importantly, it was used to help make sure MCC students are registered to vote. While the two candidates traded jabs to the cheers of many, 86 MCC students signed up to vote thanks to the efforts of MassPIRG at a registration table inside MCC lobby!
The debate is a collaboration between MCC Student Activities, the theatre group, and MassPIRG. Matter of Fact consists of more than two dozen members, including current and past students, as well as MCC staffers and community volunteers. Some of its performers have been members for 15 years! The puppets came courtesy of Soklim Hean and MCC alum Greg Naun of Blackbird Design.
"Matter of Fact does performances based on social issues all around the Commonwealth, primarily to help raise awareness about issues that have social significance, it's a different way for us to use theatre," said Trounstine.
The fight/debate was split up into eight rounds, each round focusing on a specific national topic, such as education or health care. Students and participants then used the candidates exact quotes on the topics to make their case, and the crowd in attendance then voted a winner of each round.
For the record, Obama won the 10 round fight, taking eight of the ten rounds.