Sammy J in the Forest of Dreams
August 30, 2009
Underbelly
6-31 Aug, 10.15pm
Sammy J’s life is falling to bits and the films of his idol Walt Disney have nothing to offer by way of help or guidance. He expresses his sense of deep loss in an opening number entitled “Fuck you Disney”, which draws our attention to the fact that Walt was a Nazi; then he finds himself sucked through a portal to an enchanted forest where he, among other things, stages a coup, steals his best friend’s girl, and does some extremely questionable drawings of the King of the forest enjoying a squirrel.
This is as glorious as music theatre gets on the Fringe - dry as a bone, but with lashings of total silliness and a heart of gold beating strong beneath piles of filth. The huge cast of characters are portrayed by just one actor and one puppeteer, in a feat which somehow manages to feel like Avenue Q’s West End lavishness is being matched puppet for puppet and joke for joke. There’s a serious, grown-up message too, about the negative effects of ill-advised cultural intervention. But part of the show’s genius is that the point never feels preachy or laboured.
Simply, a filthy, fantastic, puppet-tastic joy.
- Sarah Chew
Comments
Got something to say?
EIF: 14 August-6 September
Advertisement
