King’s Theatre, Edinburgh – until Saturday 1 Jun 2019
Reviewed by Manetta McIntosh
5*****
Not for the Easily Offended
Songs like Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist, characters such as Lucy the Slut and also a Parental Advisory stamp on the posters, should give you some indication of the content of this show. Never assume that all things cute and cuddly are also innocent. I saw this show in London several years ago and can honestly say that it was as funny today as it was then.
The cast are a mixture of real actors and puppets, think Sesame Street for adults and you kind of get the picture. The puppeteers are visible on stage but within minutes you almost forget they are there as you become focussed on the puppets themselves. The plot is your everyday love story between Princeton – a puppet recently graduated with a BA in English and looking for his purpose in life, and Kate Monster – a kindergarten teacher who wants to start a school for Monster children… monsters are different to puppets which are different to real people…I know, everyday problems!
They are supported by puppet characters such as Trekkie Monster, who spends all of his time searching for porn on the internet…yes, he even sings a song about it. Rod and Nicky who are like the Odd Couple, Rod is obviously a closeted homosexual and Nicky is trying to get him to admit it – I was a little offended that Nicky thought Rod was ‘a bit anal’ because he ironed his underpants…don’t we all? Also supported by ‘real’ people such as Christmas Eve and Brian, a young couple who live in the same apartment building and a caricature of Gary Coleman who works as the apartment supervisor.
For those not old enough to remember Gary Coleman – he was a cute kid on a US TV show who was famous for saying to his brother ‘what you talkin’ about Willis’. He then famously did not manage the transition to adult actor as many kids of that era and had many financial issues. I believe the intention of the original show was to have him playing himself initially, but that did not transpire. In keeping with the ‘political incorrectness’ of the show they have kept the character despite Gary Coleman apparently distancing himself from the production before his untimely death, it is one of those things where you almost feel awkward for finding his stage situation funny.
While we are on the subject of things that you know you shouldn’t laugh at but just can’t help it…There is a sex scene between Princeton and Kate Monster that will have you bellowing with laughter or hiding your eyes or both. For those of you that watch it and wonder how they get in to those positions…THEY ARE PUPPETS.
The acting and singing was incredible when you think that, at times, the same puppeteer was having to sing the voice of two puppets consecutively…as well as control the puppet. There were some current and local jokes added to the script which went down a storm with the audience. I did notice that 2 people in front of me did not return after the interval, so it is not to everyone’s taste. The set was cleverly simple, one backdrop that allowed a minor adjustment to project you elsewhere in the city. If you want a belly laugh practically from start to finish and you are not easily offended…unless you iron your underpants…then you will love this show.