Oy to the world: "Baby Universe"

What if some remnant of human civilization were to survive way, way, way into the future only to face the imminent death of our solar system? That's the premise of theater troupe Wakka Wakka's Baby Universe (A Puppet Odyssey), running now at Baruch Performing Arts Center through January 9.

Not your standard holiday season fare, for sure, and not intended for very young kids. (A program note advises parents refrain from bringing children under 7.) With a tone that varies from sardonic to poignant, from apocalyptic to bittersweet, Baby Universe is the stuff of environmental nightmares. This mythic sci-fi tale is enacted by dozens of puppets (created by Wakka Wakka's Kirjan Waage) ranging from the very tiny to the larger-than-life and very scary.

With the lurching, dying Sun bearing down on its planets, we find Earth gravely ill, her inhabitants sheltering in bunkers, eating one another and mourning the loss of the natural world. Earth is in line to die along with her neighbors who passively resign themselves to their fate, even seem to welcome it. Closest to the Sun, poor Mercury--soon to come out of retrograde, btw, just as a note to you astrology fans--becomes crazed with heat. The Moon's desperate loyalty to the Sun nearly leads to disastrous ends.

Meanwhile, Earth's scientists experiment with developing numerous "baby universes," hoping to create one that will form a new solar system with an Earth-like planet to house Earth's refugees. Raised by spinsters--puppets clad in white habits with halo-like disks on their heads--these babes don't always make it. But one--#7001--ah! That's the one. Bug-eyed, mewling, jet black as deep space and speckled with tiny stars, he's a feisty brat. And a good thing, too. He's got the whole world riding on his shoulders.

Will 7001 make it? Will he survive and expand and create a new home for humankind?

Directed by Kirjan Waage and Gwendolyn Warnock
Written by Waage and Warnock with the Baby Universe Ensemble, which also includes Melissa Creighton, Andrew Manjuck and Peter Russo

Schedule of remaining performances
Ticket information online or 212-352-3101

Baruch Performing Arts Center
Baruch College
55 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan (map/directions)
(Enter on 25th Street, between 3rd and Lexington Avenues)