“Caravaggio meets Pixar” is the clearest way I can describe Jeff Achtem, the genius shadow-puppeteer from Montreal. A monochrome master of light and dark, his whimsical narratives carry the audience on a surging wave of surprised laughter as he presents a series of interlinked wordless vignettes, each one better than the last. The spectacular climax to his show practically stretches the bounds of credibility as he drags shadows off the screen into the third dimension; his 3D jellyfish projection had the audience screaming in delighted fear as tentacles flicked towards them. A high-speed chase through the sky is both gripping and technically marvellous, resulting in absorbing fun. ‘Swamp Juice’ is magical and brilliantly idiosyncratic, a definite must-see.
Underbelly, 4 – 28 Aug (not 15), 2.00pm (3.00pm), £10.00 – £11.00, fpp301.
tw rating 5/5
[sj]
Sections: by Samuel Johnston - ED2011 Theatre Reviews - tw rating 5/5 | Tags: Bunk Puppets, Scamp Theatre, Underbelly
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