UPDATE: For all you Google searchers, this is a review of a PLAY, NOT A BOOK. If you’re interested in Paul Mesner’s puppetry, read on… if not, this probably isn’t for you.

For the sake of my fingers, I’ll use a nickname for this show… let’s say: A. Wolf’s Story. Adapted from a book by Jon Scieszka, this play is a retelling of the Three Little Pigs from the wolf’s point of view. We are introduced to the original story, and then shown the ‘true’ events of what happened; in reality, the wolf went to borrow some sugar (to bake a cake in memory of his dead grandmother), and accidentally kills the pigs by sneezing.

The show is performed by Paul Mesner, another award-winning company. It was shown in the Ferst Centre, and the set design consisted of a puppet booth (a curtained-off area, with a backdrop rising above it from behind) and a painted backdrop in green and brown colours; the backdrop had hills and a sky painted on as well. Pretty much everything was done using rod puppets from below, except for a wolf costume puppet that Mesner wore in certain scenes, and various props. The design and execution of the puppets were exceptional, and even though much of the puppetry is small, it’s all very easy to follow… Mesner’s vocalisations of onomatopeia brings the whole performance to life, from pigs falling over to a bunny rabbit trying not to be eaten, everything is punctuated without being overwhelming to the audience.

Lighting and sound were both complementary to the show, with a general warm wash for the lighting (and a great use of a chase when the wolf sneezes), and 

Mesner’s performance is like Shrek was to adults; whilst directed at a children’s audience, there’s a lot there for adults to enjoy. I’m not sure what A. Wolf’s Story is like for normal children’s audiences, or if this was a specially adult event. (When I mean adult, I don’t mean lewd, I just mean jokes that go over kids’ heads… like stuff about Madoff, current politics, and in jokes amongst puppeteers). In fact, the show is so witty and full of current affairs jokes that it was laughs most of the time. Besides that, the script is well put together, with lines and visual jokes timed superbly.

It is a pity then, that Mesner had a range of oopsies throughout the performance. Though mild, they were very noticeable, particularly to the audience he was performing for. An important sound cue - a police siren when the wolf is arrested - didn’t occur; Mesner got caught up in his tab curtain at stage right of his backdrop whilst bringing on a prop; one of his objects fell unexpectedly to the floor after being placed carefully where it was needed. But Mesner is a superb showman, and went with the punches. His improvisations about the accidents were as funny as the show itself, and made this particular performance all the more richer. Lesser puppeteers - indeed lesser actors and improvisers - would not have handled so many things going wrong in such an easy stride. 

Along with today’s Nana Project performances, this is probably going to end up one of the more memorable performances of the festival. I’m going to rate it four, but would probably give it a 4.5 if I could be bothered making the image to post on the site. Ah heck, I’ll give it: