Review-Planet Egg-Hong Kong Arts Festival
16-3-15
What happens when a tiny robot lands on a planet of eggs whose inhabitants are walking talking vegetables and fungi? The creative minds behind PuppetCinema set out to explore just that premise.
But, why would you want to explore such a notion? It just seems a bit absurd. Director, puppeteer and creator Zvi Sahar says that it came to him in a moment of inspiration while having a family dinner of eggs. His father was simultaneously tinkering with a radio and the initial epiphany was had.
The style of presentation is based upon the idea of melding multiple performance mediums – live action, interactive theatre, cinema, live music and sound design. But, all of this was cemented in the oldest of performing arts – the art of storytelling.
Using a live camera focused on a manually rotating cylinder which creates movement, tiny puppets made out of various parts of a radio and car speakers make their way across this egg planet. There they encounter broccoli, ginger and bok choy forests. A garden of carrots and brussel sprouts is tended by a lone scallion who lives in a red pepper. And a friendly clan of mushrooms lives nearby. It is here where the conflicts arise. The different ‘races’ collide, some use their limited communication skills to learn about one another and overcome their differences, while others are unable to do so.
It is fascinating to watch as we, the audience, get to watch how it is all done. It’s like watching a Claymation movie created before your eyes and in real time. Zvi Sahar (co-director) with puppeteer, Michal Vaknin, and sound artist Kobe Shmuely work synergistically, creating a full experience for the audience. Mostly through sound, a few barely intelligible words (spoken in English and Cantonese) and carefully crafted puppetry, a complete story is told.
Keep an eye out for PuppetCinema. Their innovation just goes to show you don’t need big expensive sets, flashy costumes and giant cinematic budgets to present an entertaining story that children and adults of all ages will delight in. First-rate live-theatre only requires imagination, creativity, a touch of childishness and skilled performers – “Planet Egg” by PuppetCinema has all these things scrambled up together.
Planet Egg has now closed. For more information, click here.
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