Random Muppet #23: Mavis the Magic Mirror

On the Muppet Wiki, there is a "Random Muppet" button which sends you to the page of one of the thousands of Muppets in existence. I will press the button and discuss the importance of the Muppet that comes up, no matter how obscure. No skips. No redos. This is the Random Muppet Challenge.

Random Muppet #23: Mavis the Magic Mirror

A reflective friend.

Performer:  Sandra Shamas

Muppet Universe of Origin:  Fraggle Rock

Most Significant Appearance:  Fraggle Rock, January 5, 1987, "Episode 501: Mirror, Mirror"

Despite the episode's title, this story does not involve the Fraggles traveling to a parallel universe where opposite Fraggles exist (as they did in "Fraggle Wars").  Instead, Red discovers a magic talking mirror who promises to fulfill her desires of having a memorable birthday party.  See, Red has been bothering everyone by throwing herself numerous birthday parties every week.  When the 29th consecutive party sounds less than thrilling to her friends, Red storms off deep into the caves.

She finds Mavis who can see into the future and promises her a memorable birthday party.  She leads Red to the kitchen of Ma Gorg, who is celebrating her own birthday alone since her family members left her (for legitimate reasons).  Mavis attempts to get the two to have a joint party, but the Gorg and the Fraggle will have none of it.  However, the charming mirror promises to fulfill their wishes and Ma Gorg comes around to the idea.

Ain't no party like a Gorg party.

But when Red decides to "save" Mavis from the Gorg, she drops and shatters her in the process.  Fortunately, Cotterpin Doozer has been mixing glue all day (since she too decided to abandon Red's party) and is able to help restore Mavis.  Briefly, a Fraggle, Gorg, and Doozer come together to celebrate in peace.

Why Is She the Most Important Muppet?

For a "magic mirror," Mavis only has two special abilities.  One is that she can talk, and the other is that she can see into the future.  Note that her reflective glass doesn't possess any supernatural qualities.  It doesn't act as a window to other places or times as other magic mirrors usually do.  And even though she can see into the future, she doesn't tell other people what's going to happen.  She only gives vague hints and warnings, saying things like, "That glue will come in handy later."

Yet, even though future-sight is a tremendous power, she manages to win everybody over with her first ability: talking.  She promises to grant many wishes, but she has already fulfilled the greatest wishes of both Red and Ma Gorg.  All they wanted was someone to give them attention, and Mavis does just that.

A mirror does nothing but reflect what is already there.  Red and Ma Gorg each needed a friend but due to their narrow viewpoints, they only saw each other as enemies.  Mavis was able to show them that they could have been there for each other all along.  And she had to allow herself to be sacrificed in the process.

Since she can see into the future, Mavis accepts fate with optimism and gusto.  From the beginning of the episode, she knows that Red is going to shatter her into a million pieces, leaving her temporarily dead.  But it is a sacrifice she has to endure in order to fulfill the wishes of those she cares about.

A true friend is like a magic mirror.  They know you well enough to see you for who you truly are and thus can make accurate predictions about your future.  You turn to them for advice because they know what's best for you.  They see all.  They know all.  You just have to trust them.

And Mavis is not alone.  There are others just like her all over the world.  And some time, when you least suspect it, your magic mirror can turn up anywhere.

 Oh, a new gift!

War, What Is It Good For?

Fraggles live a good life.  Their society, for all it's flaws, is quite utopian.  Their problems can always be easily fixed and while their simple minds may take them a long moment to figure out proper solutions, they always live to see another day of fun and laughter.  They are a peaceful, non-violent society, and nothing could ever change that, right?

Well, it's time to look at "Episode 217: Fraggle Wars."

Red and Mokey go camping as far away from Fraggle Rock as possible (because Gobo also went camping far away, and Red has to beat him).  Mokey muses that despite their differences, all Fraggles are the same, deep down.  Her explanation of the episode's moral is cut short however, when they discover that they have wandered on to the land of another group of Fraggles.  These Fraggles of "Fraggle Cave" are the exact opposite of the Fraggles we know an love.  Orderly and humorless, the Cave Fraggles are not keen on excitement of any kind.

"We are happy here."

Recognizing Mokey and Red as enemy Fraggles, the Cave Fraggles capture Mokey and lock her in a cage.  Red manages to elude them and returns to Fraggle Rock to warn the others.  The World's Oldest Fraggle steps in and reveals that the Cave Fraggles are the sworn enemies of the Rock Fraggles and since they have captured Mokey, there is no choice but to go to war.

Listen to him! He has a beard!

The peaceful Fraggles are hesitant and confused about going to war, but Red exaggerates about Mokey's predicament, claiming all sorts of torture that the Cave Fraggles are putting her through.

I feel like there might be a metaphor in all of this.

Back at Fraggle Cave, Mokey tries to reason with her captor, Beige Fraggle, who sympathizes with her, yet feels that rules are rules and Mokey should be punished.  The Cave's own Oldest Fraggle also decides that a war is in order, and Beige blindly follows along.  Mokey tries to get Beige to experience the joys of laughter and song, and it is revealed that Cave Fraggles have their own form of humor: telling jokes without punchlines or wit and then laughing in rhythmic unison.

No video here, but I assure you, it's creepy.

Mokey tries to convince the Cave Fraggles to listen to their inner voices rather than their oppressive rules.  But the Cave Fraggles don't understand her and instead leave her as they head off to war.  Mokey sings a wistful tune as the two sides prepare to kill each other, reflecting on the beauty of life that is about to be demolished.

I know why the caged Fraggle sings.

But alas, all of Mokey's efforts are futile.  The Cave Fraggles ready their weapons.

And the Rock Fraggles brandish the first weapon they've ever used in decades.

 This is serious.

Red, who only wants to save Mokey, asks the World's Oldest Fraggle why the two groups hate each other so much and it is revealed that because of their different senses of humor.  The Rock Fraggles believed only their jokes were funny while the Cave Fraggles believed only their jokes were funny.  Realizing that Fraggles could die over this inane reasoning, Red teams up with Beige, and together, they pie their respective leaders in the face.

Just like the alternate ending to Dr. Strangelove!

Both groups of Fraggles start laughing and the war is averted, now that each side finds something that they have in common with the other: pie-to-the-face comedy gold.

This anti-war episode of Fraggle Rock deals with the atrocities of war as best as a children's show can. There are euphemisms for everything, including the reasoning behind barbaric practices.  Mokey's torture, the Cave Fraggles blindly following orders, the "wise" elders leading the charge based on tradition, the doomsday weapons.  Each of these are treated with simplicity, yet speak to larger issues.  But the fact that even the peaceful Fraggles can be brought to a state of war is alarming.  That the cause of war is over a source of joy makes the absurdity all the stronger.  The episode serves to remind us that no matter our beliefs or affiliations, we are all sharing the same Rock.

Red Fraggle: I Want to Be the Very Best

It takes a special kind of person to work with the Muppets.  They must not only be one with their puppets, but one with their own emotions as well.  When actors portray characters, they are often tapping into an element of themselves that is true.  The puppeteers must pass this internalization of a character onto an inanimate object and make it just as believable as if they were performing the part by themselves.  Rarely does the audience decide who someone's signature Muppet is.  The connection between the special Muppet and the puppeteer is born from within, and once the connection is made, it is impossible to see anyone else in that role.

Karen Prell's signature Muppet is Red Fraggle and this pairing was not a coincidence.

Karen Prell and Red Fraggle

In 1979, Karen was a huge fan of the Muppets, and she had begun crafting her own puppets in a similar vein.  She boldly reached out to Jim Henson directly, vying for a spot on his team, and showcasing the puppets she created which were clearly based on his own, one even being a modified Grover puppet.

We should all try writing letters like this.

Henson liked her style and soon she was doing bit parts on The Muppet Show and Sesame Street, and she assisted in his Creature Shop movies as well.  When Fraggle Rock was being developed, Karen knew that she wanted to be the artsy, thoughtful Mokey Fraggle, but after her audition, Henson cast her as Red Fraggle instead.  The athletic, competitive, energetic Fraggle was not who Karen had in mind as her best character, and was disappointed, struggling to connect.  But she was later quoted as saying that Henson could see through to the real her, and knew she would be perfect for the role.

On the set of "A Muppet Family Christmas."   Karen and Red are part of the family.

Karen herself didn't make the connection until the episode "I Want to Be You."  During this episode, Red grows jealous of Mokey when Gobo implies that he'd rather hang out with her, since she is quiet and not always asking him to do dangerous stunts like Red does.  Red laments that she wishes she could just be Mokey, instead of herself.  So, she decides to give herself a complete makeover, let her hair down, and act just like Mokey.

She's all that.

This was Karen's chance to basically perform Mokey for a day, changing her voice and performing style.  Unfortunately, Red fails at performing Mokey's talents and just ends up confusing her friends.  Ultimately, she finds herself in a situation in which her friends are about to be captured by the Gorg, and, using her assertive, boldness, she manages to distract the Gorg long enough for her friends to escape.  Mokey's meekness would have failed in this situation, and it was then that both Red and Karen understood who they were.

Red evolved to be the Fraggliest Fraggle of them all.  Her boundless energy made her a force to be reckoned with, and her competitive spirit became her signature quality.  This often put her at direct odds with Gobo, the genial leader of the group.  Gobo always remained level-headed, Wembley always followed along with whatever anyone said, Mokey was too introspective, and Boober was too worried all the time to be in control.  Red, however, always wanted to be in charge, and she gets her wish (sort of) in "Red's Club."

Pictured: All the members of Red's Club.

In her attempt to be the leader for once, she forms a club that has many rules for exclusion from the group.  Basically, anything Gobo wants to do is forbidden (especially reading postcards from Uncle Traveling Matt, which Red found to be the most boring part of each episode).  Since Gobo was nicer and less demanding, all the Fraggles end up staying in his club, leaving Red all alone (save for a Doozer, who eventually quits).  Red learns a lesson innot always having to be the center of attention, and that cooperating with others is beneficial to all involved.

There is one more episode that is important to understanding Red's character: "Playing Till It Hurts."  This episode was based on a story idea pitched by Karen Prell herself, when a Wembley episode fell through at the last minute.  By now, Karen understood her character so well that she knew the perfect conflict for Red to encounter: her own determination.

As mentioned before, Red was the athlete of the group.  Her favorite sport was the game "Rock Hockey," which seemed like a cross-between hockey, rocks, and Quidditch.

It makes perfect sense.

Her idol Rock Hockey Hannah had heard of Red's prowess on the field and was planning a visit to watch her play.  Red, unfortunately, injures her leg during practice and is placed on bed rest during the big game.  Despite doctor's orders, she sneaks into the game posing as the goalie (which isn't even her position) and, combined with her crippling injury, performs very badly.  Eventually, Red reveals herself, claiming that she just wanted to impress Rock Hockey Hannah, and her idol informs her that a true athlete knows when to quit.

This is just a terrible day.

When we look at these three episodes side by side, we can see a pattern of staying true to yourself, but not going overboard.  Red is an independent spirit, which defines her.  But in each case, she takes her good qualities to such an extreme that it ends up working against her favor.  Red's sole purpose in these series seems to be to inform children to be comfortable with who they are.

Even if they are loud and rambunctious.

Karen eventually left the Muppets to work with Pixar where she continued to do great work.  However, in recent years, she has returned to the Muppets, appearing at many events in character as Red.  

Seen here at Comic Con.

Usually she appears alone, which indicates that this is truly a labor of love.  These aren't just big Muppet gatherings.  She is looking for any chance to keep Red alive.  And that is exactly the kind of Fraggle Red is.  She won't stay down.  She will remain the center of attention as long as she has to, because she is full of self-worth.  This all coming from the woman who thought Red wasn't a right fit for her.

Paris Hilton and Red Fraggle.  This sight made possible by Ms. Prell.

With upcoming Fraggle Rock projects in the works, you can be certain that Karen Prell is the most excited out of all of us.  Red will have the chance to reach a new generation of kids, and we will all be the better for it.

Because you can take the Fraggle out of the Rock, but you can't take the Rock out of the Fraggle.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Happy birthday?  Why bother?

In Episode 117 of Fraggle Rock "Marooned," bubbly, fearless and optimistic Red Fraggle is assigned the duties of distracting the negative, melancholy Boober Fraggle on his birthday so that his friends can throw him a surprise party.  She is upset that she has to spend time with the pessimistic Fraggle, working hard so as not to spoil the surprise for a person who would not appreciate it anyway.  She takes the nervous worrywart to the Spiral Caverns and soon they both find themselves trapped in a cave-in.

Surprisingly, while faced with the sudden realization that this could be their last moments in Fraggle Roack, Boober becomes calm and level-headed while Red panics.  No one places any blame on the other, and no animosity is shared.  The two friends are in this together.  When all hope seems lost and they can no longer hear their companions trying to free them, they comfort themselves with "The Friendship Song."

Try a little longer for your friends.  Try a little stronger for your friends.

After the song, the air starts getting noticeably thinner. This prompts Red to ask the hardest question she has ever faced.  "What do you think it's like...to die?"  Boober does not have the answer, but instead he describes a beautiful soap bubble he once saw.  Perfectly round and full of amazing colors.  And in an instant, it was gone.

Fraggle Philosopy 101: Mortality

Life is harsh and mysterious because it is so fragile.  We can not fully understand it, but with a friend by our side, we can cope and make it meaningful. We can discuss and exchange our thoughts.  We can learn from each other, about each other, and in a way, improve each other.

The bonds of friendship remain a constant theme in Henson's universe.  The connections we make with other creatures were, to him, the purpose of life.  The strength of friendship is so great that it even brought one mythical animal into existence!

In the early years of Sesame Street, Big Bird met a bizarre looking beast known as Mr. Snuffleupagus.  This wooly-mammoth-esque thing would only appear to Big Bird, and whenever Big Bird attempted to tell the adults on Sesame Street about him, he would conveniently disappear, making Big Bird look like a liar and a fool.  They cited Big Bird's large imagination to the creation of such an animal.  For fourteen years, this stunt lasted.  Bird and Snuffy grew closer and closer.  No one else had a chance to interact with Snuffy, and many assumed he did not exist.

Eventually, the writers of the show realized that 1) they could no longer come up with scenarios to keep Snuffy comically hidden from the adults and 2) this was not a safe concept to be teaching children.  From a child's perspective, they were learning not to inform adults about strange occurrences and people in their life for it would only annoy them and they would not believe you.  It was decided that it was time to introduce Snuffy to the world.

With Elmo's help, Big Bird succeeds in getting the Snuffleupagus to stay put.  The adults finally meet him and most importantly, they apologize for doubting Big Bird.  This friend was an important aspect of his life and no one was willing to acknowledge that.  This frustration caused a lot of tension for the young bird.  But, nothing was more nerve-racking than when he finally revealed his best friend to his Sesame Street family.

As you can see in the clip, he goes back and forth on deciding whether this is what he really wants.  Yes, he wants to be respected, but part of him enjoyed being the only one who got to experience Snuffy.  It made their relationship all the more special.  Only he and Snuffy shared secrets and adventures that no one else was allowed to be a part of.  In his mind, Snuffy was the greatest friend he had ever met.  What if no one else sees him that way?  What if no one else understands him?  What if no one else gets along with him?  Or worse...what if they do?

What if he likes someone else more than Big Bird?  What if he realizes he has more in common with Bob?  Or Linda?  Or Susan?  Or Gordon?  What if, by letting him free, Snuffy decides he is better off not being friends with Big Bird?

No.  Big Bird made the right decision.  It would be selfish to keep such a great person all to himself.

Although no one would blame him for trying.

Back under Fraggle Rock, Boober and Red have also discovered that friends can appear right when you least expected it, in the bleakest of situations.  When the weight of the world is looming down on you and you've lost all hope, that's when you must rely on your friends.  You may have given up, but they have not.  They see the greatest potential in you.  They will continue to encourage you when no one else will.  They ask for nothing but the assurance that you trust them.  They will love you, no matter what happens.

On a Fraggle's birthday, they are instructed to learn a great wisdom to reflect their new maturity.  Boober learned a valuable lesson while trapped under the boulder.

Believe in your friends.  Whether they are far away or right by your side, they are always there for you.

Happy Birthday!