The Sawdust Festival is a real art festival in Laguna Beach. This is the setting for Sylvia Snyder¿s hilarious novel. Here are only a few of the artists in THE SAWDUST FESTIVAL. TERRENCE RUBEN, who has made himself an art studio in one of Laguna¿s numerous caves. He beachcombs and makes collages of driftabilia. He also makes ¿Shmuck¿ buttons and gives them out as a way of dealing with his angers. ED HINKLE, whose wife left him with five children. He is overwhelmed until he learns that the Laguna Ballet Company trains boys free. Ed makes chairs out of trees. NATHAN MALACARO, the high school philosophy teacher who is trying to pick up some extra cash by selling ceramic frogs. MARVIN KELLY, a handsome gay man who erects Ferris wheels, etc., out of metal rods. His partner is JEROME WICKET, who can never make up his mind about anything. Three teens are up to no good and steal from Terrence and Ed. They hide the artworks on their family's yacht and send a ransom note to the artists. In a funny scene all the characters go to catch the thieves. You will laugh all the way through.