GM Fringe: The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre
Posted on July 27, 2013
The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre are no strangers to the fringe scene. Their mix of bickering sock puppets, uncooperative props, songs and violence is back with their new show: Socks in Space! So, it wasn’t surprising that their show in Manchester was a packed sell-out. With new and old followers in evidence (including the marvellous home made homages to the socks from the ladies on the front row) for the final preview before Edinburgh.
This time the socks are preparing to jet off into space via a mix of film references, groan worthy puns and anarchic humour that results in a hilarious hour’s worth of entertainment. From invitations to the audience to do their favourite sci-fi live (One audience member shouts to see Return of the Jedi – quick as a flash one of the socks quips “Hello, I’m back”) through to a wizened David Bowie forgetting the lyrics to Starman it’s all here in a wonderfully irreverent show that takes in everything from Star Wars to The Avengers.
You’d have to be devoid of humour not to enjoy the Socks. Not every joke is a winner, but the quick fire nature of the set allows for a high ratio of uncontrollable laughter. A breathless song taking in nearly every comic book hero in existence is a highlight as is the Socks’ interpretation of Alien (along with impression of John Hurt).
Accessible to non sci-fi fans too, there is some classic socks material thrown in for good measure. And even mistakes happen, puppet maestro Kev Sutherland is quick enough to turn things around to his advantage with some fantastic ad-libbing. One such incident saw a figure of Captain America nosedive into an audience members drink resulted in a brilliant quip that Captain America could not appear anyone as he was now drunk! Beautifully timed and with an appreciative audience, it made for a brilliant night of entertainment.
I never thought that the humble sock could have so many ‘facial’ expressions, but they carry it off in such an consistently entertaining way that proves why they’re their in such demand. You denier wanna miss it this summer!
The Fiction Stroker gives The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre four strokes out of five:
The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre In Space, 10.15pm July 31st - Aug 25th at The Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh Fringe 2013.
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