Puppets, it seems, are everywhere in Washington. If they’re not performing (see below), they’re holed up somewhere rehearsing for the next time they’ll pop up.
Tonight, they’ll be performing death defying feats in The 7 Person Chair Pyramid High Wire Act, the headliner for a cabaret in Mt. Pleasant presented by Puppet Underground. It’s actually the work of Der Vorführeffekt Theatre (“with some of the fabulous folks from the Missoula Oblongata”) and has a plot thick enough for three acts. But leave it to the puppets to get it done ‘handily.’
“In the wilds of Siberia, Charles Darwin goes off search of the Yeti. The Yeti (if she exists) enters a radio station’s dance contest, hoping to win an all-expenses-paid vacation to a place that doesn’t exist yet. Darwin’s research companion—a little brown bat—tries to win back the love of the radio station’s electromagnetic emissions—but how could that ever end happily? Meanwhile, Siberia’s caves are home to a secretive tribe of ropemakers—but their disintegrating family structure may cause their ancient craft to be lost forever. Through the lens of the real life allegory of the Flying Wallendas’ famous high-wire act, two performers on a tiny stage unfold Darwin’s laboratory, unfurl anatomic diagrams of the yeti, and try to tease out the difference between miracles and non-miracles.”
It’s tonight, March 20th, at La Casa Community of Christ, 3166 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC. 20010. Donations at the door ($5-$15 suggested).
In April, Wit’s End Puppets moves into the Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint for The Amazing & Marvelous Cabinets of Kismet, one puppet’s journey through fear and the unknown. The show runs April 26 – May 19 at Flashpoint Gallery, 916 G Street NW, Washington , DC. Tickets: $15.
And, for the wee ones, The Puppet Co has weekend shows nearly year round.
