How do you pursue desire under patriarchy? University of Connecticut puppet arts MFA student Mel Carter explored this question in her show “Bitch Eat Dog,” presented at the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry for the last two weekends. Alongside performers Gail Bennet and Camille Charlier, Carter delivered a puppet show with sketches that dove into the gendered ethics of pursuit.
The show itself is hilarious while also shocking, raw and vulnerable. I think audiences will come out feeling that at least one part of the show is relatable to them.
The show was born out of Carter processing her trauma from being sexually assaulted multiple times, along with the realization that she’d never had an orgasm. She said, “I realized there was a lack of value for my own desire.” And after talking with more women about this issue, she learned this wasn’t just her experience.
The show features a gender-swapped version of “Moby Dick” that explores “girlboss feminism” (a type of feminism where women are cutthroat and pursue their goals no matter what, which has been criticized as women simply reenacting the already-existing patriarchal structure), a “tradwife” that sings about raw milk and keeping it “all natural,” a questionable IUD insertion and much more. The show is hosted by a white man who means well and is trying his best, and two oysters who are making it their mission to terrorize him. It’s a lot, and I mean that in the best possible way.
The different sketches in the show are connected by a through line of desire. Every single character wants something, and in their pursuit of it, they have to come to terms with the price of that desire.
Camille Charlier, cast member and performer of all the music for the show, said that the parts of the show that really resonated with her were the IUD sketch and the hotdog sketch, which blatantly references sexual assault, because both pieces show very personal, but universal experiences for women.
When asked what she learned about herself during this experience, Carter talked about how she’d never written a show before, so she learned that she can. She also directed and performed in the show, which was hard, and she wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. Carter said the biggest thing, though, was the community and support she had around her while putting the show together.
This show is important and timely, and if you’re the kind of person who questions the patriarchy, it’ll be perfect for you. It allows for conversations regarding the different sides of feminism and how women specifically grapple with existing between the extremes, like being feminist girlbosses and tradwives.
“Bitch Eat Dog” has two more upcoming performances next weekend on April 10 and 11, so reserve your seat. This is one you don’t want to miss.