Naturally, the attempt itself involved several other inside jokes. Starting out in the seats, and working more or less counter-clockwise, we have:

The Owl - Perhaps the least obscure reference, the traditional Mensa mascot. Here it appears as a "suit"-- one of the backers of this production.

The Flamingo - A former Mid-Hudson Mensa running gag, it began that role as the then-secret theme of one of our early Regional Gatherings-- "The Vanishing Species: Pink Plastic Lawn Flamingoes." Flamingoes still attend our RG every year, and occasionally show up at other events.

The Marmot - Somehow, this persistent rodent has managed to wangle the position of Director! No wonder the attempt to replace this pest eventually came to nothing.

Fig 1 - Waiting in the wings, this cartoon fig has just realized that it doesn't matter if the dinosaur waiting ahead of him is carnivorous or herbivorous-- as an animated vegetable-matter character, he's in (potentially) big trouble in either case. Fig 1 made his first appearance in the October 1995 Mid-Mensan, as an illustration accompanying an article on submitting artwork for the newsletter.

The Dinosaur - No obscure reference. Just something silly.

Ficus Plant, Wearing Groucho Glasses and Smoking a Cigar - Likewise, only more so.

El Llama - Dancing onstage is the candidate for which our Local Secretary (chapter president) was then lobbying. No one is sure exactly why.

Slimy, Multi-Ocular, Tentacled Being with Big Nasty Pointy Teeth and Bowler Hat - Slithering away in disgusted (and disgusting) defeat is a Halloween decoration constructed out of a five-globe lighting fixture at the October 1995 Creativity Corner.

The Piano Player - Our Newsletter Editor (at the time of this cover), Ron McMurdy. And yes, he does play the piano.