Chester Missing insults politicians. He asks questions that will make other interviewers blush. Yet he is one of the most popular political commentators in South Africa. And during Stellenbosch University's Diversity Week he will be right here on campus. Stephanie Nieuwoudt asked Conrad Koch, creator and manipulator of this pesky puppet, some questions.
How did the character Chester Missing originate?
Chester is a work in progress over the years. He started out as a coloured guy that spoke on politics, but as my own politics progressed he became more of a reflexive device for my whiteness, and a politically conscious analysis of South African society. Much of this involves the satirical portrayal of SA society and power relations through Chester, and my relationship with him being a puppet and me being the white liberal puppeteer – you can't see him on his own. Obviously the question of "blackface" is a dynamic within this, as I speak back to my own whiteness as well as power generally.
What does a ventriloquist character like Chester have in common with traditional puppets?
Puppets are inherently canvasses onto which we project ourselves. He acts as a mirror for society, and a playful way to see ourselves imaginatively. Non-humans can say things humans can't. Chester is different from other puppets in that he lives in a world of humans. Also, his existence is intrinsically involved in the identity of his creator, me, which most other puppets are not. Chester is not a caricature of an identity, which is kind of what Spitting Image puppets (in the UK) are. He is more of a theatrical character, with an emotional life and many shades of grey. I like to imagine him as being more like the South African created Handspring puppet in that regard.
To what extent does Chester get away with things that real-life interviewers will not?
I believe puppets get away with doing outrageous things for two reasons. First, the situation itself is ridiculous. The moment you are asked something serious by a puppet, it immediately is not serious. Second, puppets are non-people, and as such invite the interviewer to bring more of their own playfulness to the situation than a normal interview would. In a sense the situation is more neutral.
Do interviewees get angry at Chester?
The interviewees never really get angry with him, partly because he is pretty well liked across the political spectrum. I am also very conscious of the micro-politics of interviews. In other words, Chester will never mock someone's culture or identity, unless, particularly in the case of white interviewees, their culture/race/gender is part of the power dynamics being examined. People tend to be calmer if you play fair. When Chester doesn't play fair it's normally with enough humour to make it permissible.
Why did you want to create Chester? And to what extent have you, Conrad Koch, become Chester in your daily life?
I wanted to create Chester because I need a way, as a ventriloquist, to discuss and satirise the politics of SA. A white guy (hopefully reflexively) unpacking these issues with a 'black' puppet just seemed to work. I don't really take on Chester's identity in my daily life, outside of the problem that my life becomes overly political. I am planning on putting my other characters out there more to resolve this. Bear in mind that Chester as a character was created as a canvass for what already lies within me. However, he is a clear, consciously drawn character.
Do you work with a script, or are the questions and Chester's reactions all off the cuff?
On stage our shows are fairly specifically scripted because I try hard to get the nuance of political neutrality right, and to give more of a narrative to the satire. Chester in his Late Night News interviews is a product of a research team, where I arrive with what we see as the main questions, and then we play around with what happens in the moment. His responses to their responses are largely off the cuff, though.
Why does South Africa need Chester?
I can't answer whether South Africa needs Chester Missing. I do know that the support I get from ordinary South Africans, the politicians themselves and from the media is quite amazing. I also know that people seem to enjoy the chance to talk about issues in a safe, playful way.
