Art is what allows us, as humans, to share what's in our hearts and express our deepest feelings, whether it's pain, love, grief, or joy. Our craft allows us to be vulnerable, have the difficult conversations, and ultimately lead us to catharsis. For brothers Chuck & Gary, that art is puppetry.

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There was The Muppet Show.

There were Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock.

And then there was Gunch & Ruben.

 

In the late 80s, Gunch & Ruben was a beloved children's television program. Hosted by puppeteer brothers Gary and Chuck Benowitz, the short-lived but popular show told the story of a curious alien named Gunch who is dropped off on Earth and adopted by the family of Ruben. Gary, the elder sibling, performed the straitlaced Earthling Ruben, while Chuck, the younger brother, puppeted the broccoli-loving purple extra-terrestrial Gunch. After teaching and entertaining kids over a handful of seasons, the series ran its course and, like most shows, was eventually cancelled.

 

And now, Gary and Chuck haven't spoken for more than twenty years...

 

Until today.

 

A special anniversary performance called "Gunch & Ruben's Galactic Reunion" brings the estranged brothers together for the first time in decades to perform before an audience of kids and grown up fans. But their dusty, old puppets are not the only things they bring to the stage; they carry decades of baggage, in the form of unprocessed trauma, which they unpack in front of a live audience, who thinks it's all just a part of the show. Meanwhile, Chuck and Gary are crammed uncomfortably together beneath the stage, face to face for the first time in 20 years. It’s in these close quarters that the men are finally forced to confront their past—and their performance becomes their therapy session.

 

Much to the exasperation of stressed-out emcee, Zoey, whose only goal is to keep the show running smoothly and according to plan!

 

This is a story about the power of art. Whether it's pain, love, grief, or joy, art is the thing that allows us to express these emotions and share what's in our hearts and minds. For some, that art might be music. For others, painting or poetry. For me personally, it's filmmaking. But for Chuck and Gary Benowitz, that art is puppetry. Our craft is our voice, allowing us be vulnerable, have the difficult conversations, and process the things that weigh heavy on our souls.