Until the 16th century, ventriloquism (called gastromancy by the ancient Greeks) was closely associated with necromancy: the art of "throwing" one's voice so that it appeared to be coming from another location was often used to make people believe they were communicating with the dead. With the spread of spiritualism (a religion and philosophy centered around the belief that the dead can be contacted through a medium), ventriloquism became known largely as performance art. While there have been a few famous ventriloquists and dummies—Shari Lewis and Lambchop, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Se?or Wences and Johnny—until recently the art had not quite made it into the mainstream entertainment industry.
Texas native Jeff Dunham (pictured) got his first dummy when he was seven and has been wowing crowds with both his comedy and ventriloquism ever since. After his first DVD, Jeff Dunham: Arguing with Myself, was released in 2006, Dunham's popularity has soared, effectively putting his craft and his many dummies in the limelight. Dunham is currently touring with his newest show, Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity, which features the "Suitcase Posse": dummies Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Walter, Peanut, and Jose Jalape?o.
Sept. 18, 8 p.m. $41.50, Mass Mutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield, (413) 787-6610, www.massmutualcenter.com.
