Review: BEARS IN SPACE at 59e59 is Madcap Fun at 59E59

Hilarity abounds at Bears in Space, the zany, captivating show currently at 59E59 Theaters. With fantastic direction by Dan Colley, this unique production comes to the New York City stage with its acclaimed original cast after sold-out runs in Dublin, Edinburgh, and London. This madcap theatrical event combines puppetry and storytelling techniques in perfect measure. Bears in Space is part of the 1st Irish Festival, produced by Collapsing Horse. Gather a group. The production is on a limited engagement now through October 2nd.

In Bears in Space, a father and his three sons enact the mission of two cosmonaut bears on a spaceship travelling to distant limits of the universe. The bears have plenty of issues to contend with during their intergalactic adventure. Their spaceship has a loss of power, their captain is cryogenically frozen and out of action, and a there's a dangerous encounter with a villainous leader. The four storytellers employ simple, but creative techniques like shadow imaging, music and clever characterizations. Part of the fun of Bears in Space is that you don't know what will happen next or how the absurdities will be portrayed.

The members of the multi-talented cast are also part of the fine Creative and Production Teams. The troupe includes Jack Gleeson Cast/Co-founder of Collapsing Horse; Aaron Heffernen as Cast/Puppet Design; Cameron Macaulay as Cast/ Composer/Sound Design and Eoghan Quinn as Cast/Writer. Other Members of the Production Team include Producers, Kate Ferris and Matt Smyth; Production Manager, Eoin Kilkenny; Stage Manager, Sofia Montgomery and lighting re-design by Abigail Hoke-Brady.

Find out what the buzz is all about and plan to see Bears in Space. It is a distinctive and completely entertaining show.

Bears in Space will be onstage at 59E59 Theaters through Sunday, October 2. The show runs for 80 minutes with no intermission. The theater is at 59 East 59th Street (between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Photo Credit: Idil Sukan