Know Theatre’s evaluation of Famous Puppet Death Scenes at EdFringe 2022
Review of EdFringe 2022’s Famous Puppet Death Scenes
Roxy’s Assembly – Central There won’t be another show like this one, for sure! A truly remarkable presentation about death, Famous Puppet Death Scenes is excitingly alive with innovation. It consists of a succession of weird, frequently comical events in which a variety of odd persons perish. Each mini-story is painstakingly produced, using a wide range of puppet forms in addition to human actors, but they all share the common topic of death, some of which are more horrifying than others. The production has a beautiful, grotesquely distorted style that is both seductive and perplexing. A stage was set.
A weird, perplexing comedy wonder that masterfully utilises the odd transition between animation and life. You’ll both gasp and laugh aloud. You won’t forget it until the day you pass away.
There won’t be another show like this one, for sure! A truly remarkable presentation about death, Famous Puppet Death Scenes is excitingly alive with innovation. It consists of a succession of weird, frequently comical events in which a variety of odd persons perish. Each mini-story is painstakingly produced, using a wide range of puppet forms in addition to human actors, but they all share the common topic of death, some of which are more horrifying than others.
The production has a beautiful, grotesquely distorted style that is both seductive and perplexing. The stage is set up like a classic puppet theatre, with theatrical red and white striped curtains and an overhead circular screen that resembles a “all-seeing eye” that shows captions. Each graphic scenario is set against a succession of infinitely creative and frequently breathtakingly gorgeous sets.
The amazing trio of Louisa Ashton, Aya Nakamura, and Teele Uustani delivers the story with poised, professional precision. They not only expertly characterise and manage puppets but also use exquisite timing in their delivery, creating a genuinely electrifying tension and explosive laughter. The audience is kept on the edge of their seats by the agonising anticipation of what could happen next, which is only soothed by another death. The stories can be piercingly simple, simulating a final breath yet placing it centre stage, but they are sometimes outrageously silly or ridiculous, making me laugh so hard I was really weeping at moments.
Clearly defined and moody lighting highlights specific areas of the set or draws the viewer’s attention to particular parts of the performance. High-end opera to fart sounds are all included in a compelling, unique, and diversified soundtrack. This makes language use virtually unnecessary, so when it does occur, it usually has a humorous impact.
The programme is an intriguing investigation of the manipulation of human emotions. The art of puppetry itself necessitates close creative interaction between the audience, the puppet, and its performer, requiring them to willfully suspend disbelief and give up control. Here, we sympathise with the charmingly characterised puppets, but we also laugh as they are brutally destroyed in front of us, relishing their anguish and eliciting a peculiar kind of schadenfreude from us.
The captions also discreetly guide the audience. Sometimes they show merely single words, maybe implying that the audience is cheering or screaming, while other times they reveal scene titles. It almost seems as though they are directives as well as commentary, influencing the audience’s reaction in a different way. All of this raises the question, “Who are the puppets here?,” which is emphasised at the show’s conclusion.
Famous Puppet Death Scenes is the only performance at the Edinburgh Fringe that will actually and genuinely make you feel alive. It’s an incredibly wonderful and enjoyable production. There is vitality even in death!
Peter Balkwill, Pityu Kenderes, and Judd Palmer are the directors.
By Jen Gareau, costumes
Amelia Newbert oversees the technical direction and lighting.
By Mike Rinaldi, the music
R. Miljan/Tech Art Custom Creations
The show Famous Puppet Death Scenes is running through August 28 at EdFringe 2022. You can make reservations and get more information here.