Meanwhile, off Broadway...

With the Tony nominations today, it's been all about Broadway, but many of my favorite shows of the season have been off-Broadway--Brief Encounter, Yank!, Clybourne Park, etc. This weekend, I saw Stuffed and Unstrung, an improv puppet show for adults now playing at the Union Square Theater, which is unlike anything on Broadway (it's not just another Avenue Q either).

There are two shows going on simultaneously. You can watch the puppets on one of two screens, or you can see the actors in front of you to get an inside look on how the magic is performed (I recommend the latter). Most of the skits are improvised from audience suggestions. The cast of puppeteers, led by Brian Henson (Jim Henson's son), are brilliant at what they do, and Patrick Bristow is an endearing host. In general, I just didn't find the skits that funny, though most people around me were doubled over in laughter (Charles Isherwood, I know how you feel). I preferred the recreations of two of Jim Henson's skits, which were a lovely homage to the man without whom this show wouldn't exist. Another highlight included a recreation of the first date of a couple chosen from the audience (you had to be there). As a lifelong fan of Sesame Street and Jim Henson, it was a treat to see the puppeteers hard at work and having a blast, even if the results were mixed.

Photo credit: Carol Rosegg