Furry Tales

"Furry Tales" is a one-act stage musical about the furry fandom written by Bill Medica and James C. Carter. It was inspired by Anthrocon 2006.cite news | last = Meinzer | first = Melissa | title = The furries are back -- just in time for a new musical about them, titled "Furry Tales". | language = English | publisher = Pittsburgh City Paper | date = 2007-06-28 | url = http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=32443 | accessdate = 2007-08-02]

ynopsis

"BlueWolf22" is a troll working for internet shock magazine "everythingawful.com" — a reference to comedy website Something Awful, which frequently mocks furry fandom.cite web | title = "Furry Tales" proves popular with furs; Anthrocon board still has reservations | publisher = WikiFur News | date = 2007-07-06 | url = http://en.wikifur.com/wiki/News:%22Furry_Tales%22_proves_popular_with_furs%3B_Anthrocon_board_still_has_reservations | accessdate = 2007-08-02] The site charges him to go undercover and expose the supposed sordid, sexual side of the fandom at a furry convention, ConFurence. However, BlueWolf22 meets up with some friends; "Gorillanator", a shy, parents'-basement-dwelling dork who got picked on in school, "HuggyBunny" the lonely poor little rich girl, and "MisoKitty" the rabble-rousing idealist. When BlueWolf22 meets them, he learns the truth of the fandom.

Preview and reception

A staged reading of the musical — in which preview scripts were used and partial costumes were worn — was performed at the CLO Caberet in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (a few blocks away from Anthrocon 2007), on July 5 2007.cite web | title = Furry Tales | publisher = WikiFur | url = http://en.wikifur.com/wiki/Furry_Tales | accessdate = 2007-08-02] While the show was, in general, well received, some were critical of the stereotypical characters portrayed. Carter defended this by saying it necessary for a work intended to be presented to a non-furry crowd. One review read;

"As for the night's mostly furry audience, reception was broadly positive, other than a few puns that fell flat and some segments - such as a hotel receptionist's confusion over attempts to check in under furry names - that didn't appear to have a firm basis in real life. Most songs received more than polite applause, and the finale received a standing ovation."

Some criticism was prompted by the fact that the creators had not attended Anthrocon, or any other furry convention, instead developing their material from online furry communities and newspaper articles.

Anthrocon chairman Dr. Samuel Conway described the plot on the "Funday PawPet Show" as, "a story of four pathetic losers who can't get laid. And at the end of it, they are still pathetic losers, but two of them managed to get laid… They did have good intentions - they were trying very hard to portray us in a sensitive fashion, but - not really knowing us, they portrayed us in as sensitive a fashion as you could if all you knew about furries you had got from "CSI"." [cite episode | title = #339 | series = Funday PawPet Show | serieslink = Funday PawPet Show | airdate = 2007-07-15] He invited the musical's creators to attend Anthrocon 2007 and refine their work.

Musical numbers

Wikinewshas|related news|*
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*"Galapagos Metropolis" — The cast introduces their world, a MUCK
*"Comfortable Shoes" — MisoKitty2 reflects on the problems of stereotypes
*"Everything Awful, Something Great (Pt. 1)" — BlueWolf22 reveals his plans to become a famous writer
*"Gorillanator's Lament" — Gorillanator revisits his childhood experiences and choice of furry persona
*"Please Don't Let it Suck" — Everyone expresses their hopes for the upcoming convention
*"Gets the Squirrel" — Gorillanator and BlueWolf22 complain about the guys who always get the girls, and resolve to join that group
*"Plushy Lullaby" — Huggy_Bunny expresses her platonic love of stuffed animals
*"Everything Awful, Something Great (Pt. 2)" — BlueWolf22 has second thoughts
*"Furry on the Inside" — The lead characters realize that it's possible to find love outside of the MUCK
*"Choose a Tail" — The cast explains that choosing a fursona is about getting closer to your ideals and expressing yourself

People

Cast

*MisoKitty2 — Emily Lynne Miller ["Furry Tales" programme]
*BlueWolf22 — Tim Winski
*Huggy_Bunny — Alivia Vereb-Owen
*Gorillanator — Damon Spencer
*Man #1 — Vince Ventura
*Woman #1 — Katie Kerr
*Woman #2 — Sara Vize
*Man #2 — Mike Greer

Band

*Drums — Bill Majetic
*Guitar — Jay Weaver
*Bass — Justin Bendel

Others

*Director — Lora Oxenreiter
*Lyrics — Bill Medica
*Music — J.C. Carter
*Book — Ty DeMartino
*Music Director — Melissa Yanchak

References

External links

* [http://www.furrytalesthemusical.com/ Furry Tales] — official website
* [http://www.pgharts.org/events/eventDetails.aspx?id=9562 Pittsburgh Cultural Trust event listing]