The rich, surreal works of Spanish poet and writer Federico Garcia Lorca don't automatically spring to mind when you think of puppets but Blair Thomas and Co. aim to change that. The touring repertory company's multi-faceted production, "Cabaret of Desire," explores Lorca's scripts for puppet theater as well as letters, short plays and poems. The Cabaret delivers an intriguing and unconventional glimpse of the centuries-old puppetry art form.
Organized around the theme of desire, the production draws from 10 of Lorca's pieces and adorns them with quirky live music and an array of puppets, mannequins and backdrops. Although the American concept of puppets usually involves children and fairytales, "Cabaret of Desire" uses puppetry from a level of sophistication and metaphor that relies on adult sensibilities. In the darkly comical "The Maiden, the Sailor & the Student," paper-doll-like figures are manipulated inside of picture frames. The maiden announces that she embroiders her clothes with all the monograms of the alphabet so that her suitors may call her any name that they like. She's accused of being a slut by an old woman and a sailor throws off his clothes so that she'll invite him in. It's a bawdy and fast-paced vignette that leaves little, including anatomically correct puppets, to the imagination.
Another piece, "Buster Keaton’s Stroll," features puppets that resemble the legendary silent film star and his children. A tuba blows emphatically as he kills them all with a knife and then meanders along his way, picking up various women. It's not clear if this scene was supposed to be based upon anything besides an admiration of Keaton's talent but it's also filled with sexual innuendo and really dark physical humor. Most of the Lorca work selected was written in the 1920s and the puppeteer/performers wear clothing that could be early 20th century as well as hipster 21st century. There's a subtle sense of the old mixed with a modern edge that makes the production even more interesting. "Cabaret of Desire" offers a solid hour of bizarre puppetry, poetry and live music that adds up to a thoroughly entertaining performance.
Reviewed by Centerstage!
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