Premiered in 2006 at HERE through its Dream Music Puppetry Program, this smartly-written, compact piece--about 50 minutes--recounts the tale of a fateful gathering of seven men who believe they might inherit money from a deceased millionaire, one Nathaniel Ax. Each of these men represent "a rogue's gallery of our city's finest lowlifes," says the narrating crocodile (wonderful urbane voice by Gavin Friday). As you might suspect, they're all in for the surprise of their lives.
Instead of a reading of the will, each of the attendees is subjected to a reading by a mysterious fortune teller who doesn't mince words. Each vignette offers a view into the life and character of one of the seven and a certain little forecast. A hunter, a miser, a snoop, a self-absorbed actor and more--all of these grotesque, creepy guys have it coming to them. Revenge is a dish best served by a persistent butterfly or a manic roasted chicken or...what? Okay, well, if you go, you'll see what I mean.
Instead of a reading of the will, each of the attendees is subjected to a reading by a mysterious fortune teller who doesn't mince words. Each vignette offers a view into the life and character of one of the seven and a certain little forecast. A hunter, a miser, a snoop, a self-absorbed actor and more--all of these grotesque, creepy guys have it coming to them. Revenge is a dish best served by a persistent butterfly or a manic roasted chicken or...what? Okay, well, if you go, you'll see what I mean.
Creator/directors Erik Sanko (who also designed the outstanding marionettes) and Jessica Grindstaff lead a crackerjack team including puppeteers Honey Goodenough, Anne Posluszny, Ian Sweetman and Sabrina D'Angelo who, in short order, make some of the weirdest, least-lovable puppets come alive in convincingly off-putting ways. Sanko also teamed up with famed film/television composer Danny Elfman for the score--a suitably over-the-top mix of florid oompah-pah and chiming tickytock. Kudos, in particular, to Andy Green for his chillingly rich sound design. It's dreadful--and I mean that in a good way!
Phantom Limb's The Fortune Teller, now at HERE through December 4
HERE Arts Center
145 Sixth Avenue, Manhattan
Entrance on Dominick Street (directions)
Schedule and ticketing
Phantom Limb's The Fortune Teller, now at HERE through December 4
HERE Arts Center
145 Sixth Avenue, Manhattan
Entrance on Dominick Street (directions)
Schedule and ticketing
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