These three entries in my home viewing series could not be more different despite the fact that each contain puppetry. Seclusion Smörgåsbord IV bundles a drag act, children’s theater and an extraordinary production I originally saw in 2015.
Arias With a Twist (HERE Arts Center)
Drag artist Joey Arias and puppeteer Basil Twist created Arias With a Twist in 2006. Arias was already a Vegas headliner having starred in Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity. I caught a “deluxe” version of this show which was remounted at Abrons Arts Center in 2011. The bigger show had a bigger stage and, from memory, was a tighter, more focused entertainment.
The original version of Arias With a Twist takes a very, very long time to get moving and, pun intended, drags on. You can see more than 20% of the audience dropping off with the declining eyeball count. Still, this spacey acid trip does have its pleasures including the improbable singing of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” during an alien abduction scene. The NYC skyline invasion near the end of the show is a high point, literally. For extremely patient fans of stylized drag only. The puppets are terrific, notably the band.
HERE Arts Center will be streaming works from its archives including Wednesday evening watch parties of full length productions.
The Missing Matzo (La Mama Kids Online)
WonderSpark Puppets performed this week’s entry of La Mama Kids online programming. In The Missing Matzo, children were called upon to assist Detective Mystery Max find out what happened. Crying Nancy is upset because her Passover Seder matzo is gone. A series of characters appear including the brilliantly named ginger Red Herring and Dr. Laserus, a Matz Scientist.
The puppets were cute and the show began strongly. In the age of coronavirus, the sneezing slapstick was especially funny. The “eat cake” section went on too long and my interest waned. Admittedly, I did not watch with any children present. This company is performing a new puppet show every Friday on their Facebook page. The performance quality of the hand puppets and vocals make this a troupe worth checking out. For this production, La Mama Kids had an activity guide to use before and after the show.
Frequent online programming is available from La Mama. Next week’s puppet show for kids looks promising. It’s called Fritz’s Flea Circus and will be shown on April 23, 2020.
Ada/Ava (The Tank)
The Tank co-produced Ada/Ava in 2015 with 3LD Art & Technology Center. After seeing that production, I began following Manual Cinema, the performance collective which combines handmade shadow puppetry and cinematic techniques with innovative sound and music. They create films live in front of an audience using vintage overhead projectors, multiple screens, actors, musicians and much more. Watching the behind the scenes activity is as interesting as the cinema unfolding on the screen.
This story is about two elderly sisters who live in their childhood home and tend the nearby lighthouse. The atmosphere is moody. Shadow and lighting effects bring the story to life. The video does an excellent job of focusing on the completed work while also showing a glimpse of the artists at work. This art is completely unique which is why this company travels the world with its repertoire. I’ll not say more than to treat yourself to this creatively stimulating, breathtakingly original and wholly satisfying entertainment. Oh, and the cinematic storytelling is simply astounding.
Ada/Ava can be seen on The Tank’s home page through April 19, 2020.