BWW Reviews: MANOS – THE HANDS OF FELT from Puppet This and Eclectic Theater Company

Puppet This and Eclectic Theater Company have taken on one of the worst movies ever created and presented it with their puppet friends in "Manos - The Hands of Felt".  And although they suffer from a few lags in the action, the production manages to put a fun twist on one of the worst stories ever told.

The production is based on the abysmal 1966 film, "Manos - The Hands of Fate", which follows a lost vacationing family as they stumble upon a lodge in the Texas desert run by a polygamous pagan cult (yes, that old story).  Producer, Director, Writer and star of the original film Harold P. Warren, was a fertilizer salesman in El Paso, TX who made the movie on a bet.  The movie fell into obscurity until it gained cult status when it was satirized by "Mystery Science Theater 3000".  But the folks at Puppet This and Eclectic have an interesting take on telling this ridiculous story as their Puppets portray Warren and his fellow "actors" who are trying to make their movie and stumble upon the lodge run by a polygamous pagan cult.  And rather than looking gift freaks in the mouth, Warren attempts to incorporate them into his movie with dire circumstances.  And by dire circumstances I mean they actually make the movie.  Oh, and some people die too.

The performers, who each take on multiple puppets, take giddy delight in making the movie within the play as bad as possible.  Jenny Schmidt is deliciously deadpan as actress Diane who couldn't act her way out of a wet perforated paper bag.  Michael Robles takes on the talentless and single minded Warren and makes even this jerk fun and likable.  Rachel Jackson is insipidly hilarious as the child actor Debbie who just wants her bicycle.  And Elizabeth Westermann makes her version of the Master as creepily pompous as the original ever was.  But I have to say my favorites of the evening were Sann Hall and Paul Velasquez.  Hall turned in several stunners whether she was an actor dressed as a dog, a zombified wife or a couple who just wanted to make out, she took them all on with glee and hilarity.  And Velasquez had me in stitches with his quivering demented Torgo complete with his puppet limp.

A truly talented group putting on a truly awful story.  And at 70 minutes, this was just about as much of this story as one person could take.  But these performers managed to keep it interesting and fun although they could have benefited from a few back stage folks to help with those transitions.  Overall, a really great night with some wonderfully naughty puppets and puppeteers.  You heard me, naughty.  This ain't "Sesame Street" so leave the kiddies at home.

"Manos - The Hands of Felt" performs at Odd Duck Studio through April 16^th.  For tickets or information contact the box office at 206-679-3271 or visit them online at www.puppetthis.com.

Photo credit: Bob Koerner

 

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