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Pupperotica: Come Again?

Purple prose delivered with panache by perky puppets.
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  Pupperotica: Come Again? Image via Fringe World.

 

The iconic chords from Space Odyssey 2001 and a spotlight allow MC Brad to strike a series of poses, proudly revealing his hairy balls and long puppet penis rising to attention, ready for the bow tie to be fastened to it. The hilarity of the mop haired puppet delivering warm up patter is just the beginning of precisely timed, well-delivered puppet entertainment… for adults.

Puppeteers Keren Schlink and Josh Walker perform the readings via their various characters. From prehistoric clinches on a tiger corpse to futuristic zero-gravity hologram fantasies, Pupperotica: Come Again? is a text heavy, puppet-rich hilariously disturbed romp.

Granny, wearing a creative black leather outfit, reads an extract from her latest novel, 50 Shades of Mauve. Featuring a 23 year old toy boy, ropes, panting, a fresh mauve rinse hairdo and judicious application of a riding crop, the twist at the end has audience members cringing as much as laughing. Reverend Yusuf, a fluffy orange monster, pounds the pulpit and declaims readings from The Book of Smut, in vigorous fashion, exhorting men to pleasure their wives and bring forth children in creative ways. Brad and Granny join forces with a bemused audience member to present a cooking show, featuring a banana surprise and a frenzied loss of puppet restraint.

Further entertainment is provided by the fine singing voice of Layla, a fuzzy green monster who leads us in a singalong tribute to ‘the average-sized penis’, the lyrics simple and many male audience members looking a little less confident. Layla also delivers a celebratory ditty in praise of her vagina, and cooperates with a sheepish audience participant in delivering a slightly off-kilter script.

The return of Yusuf to the pulpit, donning a moustache and Russian accent to become “Ivan”, and sharing the passionately grizzled love story of Ivan and Constantin, is a gift that kept on giving. Combining the worst excesses of gloomy Russian literature and homoerotic bonding descriptions, the text is further enhanced by Ivan gyrating so strongly over the lectern that he loses his moustache.

Walker presents his puppet characters with echoing facial expressions and a range of vocal pitches and accents in delivery. His puppet work is strong, but could deliver more with the puppet by setting his own performance aside a little. Schlink is also the writer of the twisted erotica as well as puppeteering, and has more success in directing audience members to focus on her puppet control, despite also providing Layla’s sweet singing voice.

A light-hearted piece of entertainment, complete with perfectly timed pitch for their companion children’s show, Pupperotica: Come Again? brings dirty talk and loud laughter to FringeWorld.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Pupperotica: Come Again?

Presented by Rubber Chicken Productions and Umbrella Works Inc
Directed by Jessica Messenger
Performed by Keren Schlink and Josh Walker
The Shambles, Perth Cultural Centre
Part of Fringe World Festival Perth 2017 

Content Warnings Ages 18+ Only:
StrongCoarse Language
MildNudity Content
MildDepictions Of Violence Content
StrongSexual References Content
Full Frontal Puppet Nudity! (Graphic… sort of)

Nerida Dickinson
About the Author
Nerida Dickinson is a writer with an interest in the arts. Previously based in Melbourne and Manchester, she is observing the growth of Perth's arts sector with interest.