Batting her thick, black eyelashes and sporting her signature red buttons, Lamb Chop was born to be a star. Created by entertainer and ventriloquist Shari Lewis, the fleecy, feisty sock puppet debuted in 1957 and has delighted children and adults ever since.
Lamb Chop and Lewis toured the globe, performed on their Emmy-Award winning television series and even socialized with famous friends such as Big Bird.
Lewis passed away from cancer in 1998 and her daughter and longtime professional collaborator, Mallory Lewis, inherited Lamb Chop’s legacy. After a short hiatus, Lamb Chop returned to the stage with Mallory at her side. The duo entertains internationally for audiences that often include multiple generations who love Lamb Chop.
Despite a half-century career, Lamb Chop remains a youthful six years old with plenty of wisecracks and kisses to share. She and Lewis will visit the Kirkland Performance Center for two special Mother’s Day performances on Sunday, May 12.
Lewis and Lamb Chop share with Seattle’s Child what it’s like to be a superstar “sister” act.
Lamb Chop has been with you since birth. What’s life like with Lamb Chop?
Lamb Chop is older than I am although she would deny it! I don’t have any memories that don’t include Lamb Chop. My whole life has been spent with her. She went from being my big sister to being my twin and now she’s my little sister. It’s my pleasure to keep her alive. People are always happy to see Lamb Chop and we’re greeted by smiles wherever we go. I’m the luckiest person in the world.
What are your first memories of Lamb Chop?
I remember when I was little, I could tell Lamb Chop things and she’d never tell my mom. She never tattled! It sounds silly, but it’s true. Mom put Lamb Chop in my crib when I was a baby and I put her in my son’s crib when he was born. He loves Lamb Chop, too. She’s a member of our family.
Multiple generations love Lamb Chop. Even in the current era of iPhones, video games and computers, Lamb Chop charms people. Why is her appeal so enduring?
People frequently ask me, “How does the new generation react to Lamb Chop?” The same as the old ones – they love her! Inherently, there is no difference in kids today than kids 100 years ago. Kids like silly and honest. Lamb Chop is both. Also, puppets are fuzzy and they talk to you. They’re like tiny, little creatures that kids interact with. You can’t do that with a cartoon. The world can be a scary place. We’re now so addicted to being informed, and that’s not bad, but sometimes kids are exposed to scary things before they need to be. It’s important to have some silliness and fun, too.
What can families expect at the Mother’s Day show at the Kirkland Performance Center?
My show is really a tribute to my mom. There is video footage of Mom, and I talk about her a lot. It’s child-friendly with singing and dancing and audience participation. Lamb Chop talks and jokes a lot about how she’s better than I am. That’s one of her big things. She’s also into politics. That lends itself to sequester jokes or whatever else is currently happening in the world. The humor isn’t always aimed at little children, but kids think it’s funny without even knowing why. Mom (Shari Lewis) always made sure grownups had their share of fun and I do, too. There are sometimes four generations that were fans of Mom’s and they come in multi-generational packs – grandparents with their kids and the grandkids.
You and Lamb Chop have performed around the world. Do you always travel together?
We’ve been to Vietnam, Hanoi, Japan, Germany and, of course, all over the U.S. We do probably 100 shows a year. I travel with her at all times. It makes people happy. If I’m at a restaurant, she’s in my purse. When someone comes over the table, I pull her out and she ends up going around to all the tables because people are excited when they see her. It reminds them of a time in life when everything was okay.
You also do a lot of charity work, especially with the military. Are there any particularly memorable moments?
The coolest thing I’ll probably do in my life was a tailhook landing (landing a plane on an aircraft carrier) on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson. Taking off was like being shot from a catapult! We spent the night on the carrier, performed for the troops and ate with them, including the officers and the admiral. The men and women of our military are so admirable. They really are about truth, justice and the American way. It’s really inspirational to me.
Even battle-hardened troops adore Lamb Chop?
A lot of the troops grew up with Lamb Chop in the 90s. They grin and laugh and take pictures with her. It’s really cute. Even the admiral made sure he got a photo. He said he needed a picture to take home to his family.
This is a particularly special performance since it’s on Mother’s Day. What’s it like carrying on the Lamb Chop legacy your mother started?
Every day I do Lamb Chop, I’m touching my mother. I do it in her memory. I do it to honor her. The fact that I’m doing this on Mother’s Day makes me really happy. I still really miss my mother, but performing with Lamb Chop is as close as possible to still being with her.
Why do you think Lamb Chop is the perfect Mother’s Day event for families?
Live theater is a chance for children and parents to do something together. Moms like to get dressed up, go to lunch and a show, so it’s a perfect Mother’s Day tradition. It’s a few hours when everyone experiences the same thing at the same time. Lamb Chop connects generations. Everyone puts down the iPads, Blackberries and cellphones. You’re interacting and creating happy memories. The act of sharing anything you love with a child is always a good thing.
