Summer Sellout

Everyone is selling out. Even puppets.

That’s the essence of Angry Young Men Ltd’s Full Frontal Püppetry: Summer Sellout,” which runs opened June 8 and runs through July 20 at the Soulstice Theatre.

A cast of nine pokes sticks barbed with satire and absurdity in the eye of popular culture and politics. Nothing is sacred to this bunch. They use live theater, video, song and dance, most of it in Japanese Bunraku style. The puppeteers dress to blend in to the background and ‘shadow’ their puppets, ninja-like. A made-up corporation “sponsors” each segment. Among the characters: Murray Gauntman, Lumpy the Golem Boy, Joon the Ogre, the inventor Blondie, and musical masochist Sweepea.

Live action bits are interspersed with pre-recorded Channel Blah News updates, conveyed by reporter puppets who take their responsibility to relate current events seriously. The live portion includes one live human actor (Alice Wilson of local silent film performance troupe the M.U.T.E.S. – Marvelous Unspeaking Troupe of Entertaining Scoundrels).

Political incorrectness prevailed throughout the evening. A question and answer session with five third-party presidential candidates included Sid the Fetus of the Preemie Party, Spazzbot 2000 from the Robot party, Harry Cooper of the teabaggers, Jane Q. Public of the Undecided Voters of America, and a houseplant representing the Green Party (who, by the way, didn’t say much). Almighty Buck, protector of corporate personhood frightens the daylights out of a group of protestor puppets. Spazzbot shows off his funky fresh dance moves.

The puppeteer cast comprises the local actors, largely the same crew that brought you Night of the Living Dead – The Puppet Show. They include Billy Ray Olsen, originator of the group; Josh Perkins, co-artistic director, and nine zombiteers.

The show opened June 8. Remaining dates are July 13-14 and 20-21. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. at Soulstice Theatre, 3770 South Pennsylvania, in St. Francis. Admission is $10 at the door.