The cast of Ninja Puppet Shenaniganza in the piece “Clown Trials.” (All photos by Raymond Carr)
The Ninja Puppet Shenaniganza, a new puppet variety show at the Center for Puppetry Arts, is advertised as coming from “the deeply unhealthy mind of Raymond Carr.” Whether healthy or unhealthy, we can certainly surmise from the eccentric nature of the production that the mind in question is possessed of wild, idiosyncratic creativity.
Running through June 15, Shenaniganza is an unabashedly weird show — Carr says as much in the pre-recorded top-of-show speech. The production is made up of various segments drawn from different points in his career, with little connective tissue other than a couple of segments that are broken up and interspersed throughout the show.
Each skit showcases Carr’s offbeat imagination, often taking mundane situations or real political issues and blowing them up to absurdist proportions. It feels almost like a stream of consciousness, as if Carr and the rest of the cast are making these pieces up on the fly, going with whatever pops into their minds.
Of course, we know it was actually planned out, given the technical ingenuity on display. The production features an array of mixed media, from traditional puppet work to pre-recorded video to choreographed shadow puppetry. At one point, blacklight paint against a black background is used to simulate a decapitation. At times, the video quality is shabby or the puppetry obvious — but this, too, is part of Carr’s distinctive style.
Puppet and set designed by Raymond Carr for the piece Leaves.
Tonally, the performance plays out like a clown show that blends heartfelt whimsy with farcical comedy, each taking turns undercutting the other. There are some variations, such as “Too Long,” an unexpectedly somber piece that points to Carr’s versatility. However, for the most part, the show is simply laugh-out-loud funny. Many of the jokes betray a dark sense of humor, and, while that is mostly kept in balance with the lighthearted nature of the show, one or two moments flirt closely with the morose.
What is most remarkable about The Ninja Puppet Shenaniganza is the way it keeps the audience guessing. At the performance attended for review, technical difficulties during the third piece forced the cast to temporarily halt the show, with a stage manager descending from the booth to talk to the actors backstage while Carr vamped. This snafu could have ruined a different production, but the self-aware nature of Carr’s staging means it actually took several minutes for the audience to accept that this was not a planned, metatheatrical diversion. (To be clear, it would have felt right at home, and, in a way, it did.)
Sarah Beth “EssBee” Hester in the piece Baby Says Eat Me.
Carr’s creativity is supported by a superb cast. The writer himself performs in almost every piece, with additional puppetry by Raymond Tiltion and Sarah Beth “EssBee” Hester. Other pre-recorded performances include those by Amber Nash, Karen Cassady, Anna Jones, Jon Carr Sr., Debra Carr, Zoe Cooper, Russ Vick and Maya Ahuja.
Credit must also be paid to Carr’s production design. The puppets range in design from realistic to abstract, but all have a charming look to them. The show is further bolstered by Cricket Bradford’s lighting design and Ari Jerome’s sound, which help to create an irreverent yet engaging atmosphere.
Carr expresses concern at the beginning of the show that this production is difficult to market, and it’s easy to see why — his brand of absurd humor may not appeal to all audiences. But for those willing to embrace the unexpected or spot the clever satire that Carr weaves throughout, The Ninja Puppet Shenaniganza proves a worthwhile diversion.
Where & When
The Ninja Puppet Shenaniganza is at the Center for Puppetry Arts until June 15. Tickets, $24.50.
1404 Spring St. NW.
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Luke Evans is an Atlanta-based writer, critic and dramaturg. He covers theater for ArtsATL and Broadway World Atlanta and has worked with theaters such as the Alliance, Actor’s Express, Out Front Theatre and Woodstock Arts. He’s a graduate of Oglethorpe University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and the University of Houston, where he earned his master’s.
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