For theatre geeks, the prospect of seeing a modern day Punch and Judy show â┚¬â€œ on American soil, no less â┚¬â€œ is an orgasmic one, second only to getting a handjob from Cheyenne Jackson. Apologies for the crude humor, but consider it your litmus test: if you can't handle that innocent joke, then you're going to have a hard time with gross-out humor that is the hallmark of The Grand Guignol Puppet Theatre's Punch and Judy Presents. Urine, blood, flatulence, and violence abound in John DiDonna's script that can be as messy as it is delicious.
For those not familiar with Mr. Punch, his wife Judy and their mutually abuse relationship, these puppet shows date back to 16th century Italy (although an internet search reveals some scholars argue it may date back to the Romans and Greeks, but that's more geek digression, sorry). Though there are several traditional characters, only the two title characters are necessary to make it a Punch and Judy show. Marital dysfunction provides a framework for other stories to be told, usually skewering politics and popular figures of the day.
Pointing out that this is a theatre aficionado's wet dream is not to say that there isn't something for every Fringe-goer, far from it, in fact. Guigonol's puppet show hilariously takes aim at public figures and trends with all the equity of a South Park episode; in other words, no one, not even our beloved Johnny Depp, is safe from lampooning. Oddly, celebrities are cast as characters of Greek mythology; a concept that is both amusing and confusing, requiring you to simultaneously use your brain while forgetting you have one. Obama plays Theseus to a Lady Gaga Minotaur, for instance, providing a fate for the pop star that will horrify many gays, while delighting many others (including yours truly).
Speaking of gay, Guignol sates the Sapphic palate with some goddess-puppet-on-goddess-puppet action and a sexy hostess (Cameron Gagne) who takes off articles of clothing as the show progresses. (At the risk of overstating Gagne's beauty, she'll have some confirmed gay men questioning â┚¬â€œ albeit momentarily â┚¬â€œ their proclivity, guaranteed.)
In the end, it's all great fun and DiDonna's script only truly falters when he employs the tiresome â┚¬Å”we're at Fringeâ┚¬Â device, using Orlando Fringe personalities like producer Beth Marshall â┚¬â€œ the ever-horny Punch: â┚¬Å”Woman of my dreams!â┚¬Â Ã¢â”šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ as the catalyst for Punch and Judy's adventures. Fringe vets will eat up the insider humor, but newbies may feel left out.
Show: Punch and Judy Presents
Theatre Group: The Grand Guignol Puppet Theatre â┚¬â€œ Winter Park, FL
Venue: Brown
Remaining Performances:
5/21 Sat. 5:55 PM
5/22 Sun. 6:50 PM
5/23 Mon. 11:00 PM
5/27 Fri. 8:45 PM
5/28 Sat. 6:10 PM
5/29 Sun. 12:40 PM
