PuppetCinema returns to BAM with Suddenly, a magical adaptation of Etgar Keret's short stories, running December 6-9 at BAM Fisher.
From a miniature cityscape constructed of debris (including an old rusted truck) rises PuppetCinema's latest theater wonder, produced by Cameri Theatre of Tel-Aviv. Based on acclaimed Israeli writer Etgar Keret's short story collection Suddenly, A Knock on the Door, director Zvi Sahar and co-adapter Oded Littman weave several stories together and create a modern puppet show around one storyteller. Determined to create "something out of something" instead of letting imagination run amok, the storyteller slumps into a creative quicksand, until several mysterious figures appear at his door. The ensuing story is told through DIY-style puppetry with film adding an extra dimension.
Using a cinematographic aesthetic, a documentarian's eye, and the tropes of cinema verité, PuppetCinema (Salt of the Earth, 2014 Next Wave) productions shape the audience's focus with a strong and steady hand. Reality and fantasy are blurred and a sort of double vision occurs. What began as a creative experiment in Israel in 2009 has evolved into a mission to explore conversations between puppetry, object theater, film, foley, and live feed. PuppetCinema was born out of a desire to build an artistic synergy between these complementary mediums, where they can happily co-exist and thrive.
Zvi Sahar is an actor, director, puppeteer, and founder of PuppetCinema. As an actor, Sahar has worked with several prominent theater groups in Israel including Itim Ensemble (with director Rina Yerushalmi) and the Be'er Sheva Theater company. With his colleague, Oded Littman, Sahar co-directed and starred in the critically-acclaimed Richard III at Tmu-na Theater and Oedipus Rex at Hasimta Theater.
IF YOU GO:
SUDDENLY
The Cameri Theatre of Tel-Aviv
Based on stories by Etgar Keret
Directed by Zvi Sahar, PuppetCinema
Adaptated by Zvi Sahar and Oded Littman
Dramaturgy by Oded Littman
Set and costume design by Aya Zaiger
Music by Gai Sherf
Lighting design by Ofer Laufer
In Hebrew with English titles
BAM Fisher (Fishman Space), 321 Ashland Pl
Dec 6-9 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $25
Photo Credit: PuppetCinema
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