Shockheaded Peter

"Sometimes one must be cruel to be kind... and sometimes one must be cruel for purely recreational purposes."

One of my favorite lines from this revived work of genius featuring the music of the Tiger Lillies and created by them (Martyn Jacques, Adrian Huge and Adrian Stout) along with Julian Bleach, Anthony Cairns, Julian Crouch, Graeme Gilmour, Tamzin Griffin, Jo Pocock, Pehlim McDermott and Michael Morris. I saw the New York production with the New York cast (the Tiger Lillies & Co. had moved on to Prague). That took not one wit away. The cast was brilliant and through them shone the macabre wit of this blend of the Tiger Lillies and Dr. Hoffmann's "Struwwelpeter".

It's a stunning production that's like being trapped in a nightmare within mouldering Victorian musicbox replete with mechanical wonders and degenerate characters. A lampblack-besmirched, footlighted sideshow in the East End. Some have compared it with Gorey and Burton, but I believe it taps to the deeper core that spawned them both. Written long after Edward Gorey set pen to bristol board, it comes creaking and screaming out of the horrors that preceeded him. It taps into that primal dream of Victorian childhood terrors. (Nonetheless, it should be no surprise the Tiger Lillies produced a CD that's a tip of ermine topper to Gorey: The Gorey End ).

Hoffmann's strange tales of the woes of misbehaving children is a lark unto itself, especially his own introduction. But in the hands of the Shockheaded Peter cast, they breathe a raspy life of Victorian wonder and legerdemain. They've warmed to these themes-- or perhaps I should say served with the expert chill of a deadly vichyssoise.

The set is a wonder: an arch replete with windows and doors along its facade and the interior, painted in false perspective and doing the perfect job of setting a scene for interiors, segueways and sunny lawns. During one number nearly all the top windows and doors are in use ("The Story of the Wild Huntsman") along with the eerie puppets that give the overall effect of a great cuckoo clock or a sort of Victorian triptych. There are constant set changes, many involving puppets and cut-outs in extraordinarily evocative ways.

The MC presiding over the unfolding of these tales is the adequately spooky and hammy Paul Kandel. His Richard the III is terrible (as intended) but his general presence is terrifying. His first moments on stage with the audience with many an amusing false starts and querulous looks have a counterpoint in his glittering eyes. The make-up of course gives him an imposing and cadaverous mein, but I doubt he'd need it if he fixed you with his gaze.

Luther Creek creeps in with accordion and falsetto to give the Tiger Lillies's songs their full range. His oddly kabuki-esque make-up made a wonderful partner with his sometimes sad, sometimes injured demeanor. Sad, spooky, comedic-- quite amazing. His voice was strong despite the falsetto, and he showed real beauty with "Flyaway Robert."

The rest of the cast performed all in a superb manner as well, whether as characters or puppeteers. Overall it was a seamless interaction that evoked a trip back in time and deep down into the Id.

Gabbertoons gives "Shockheaded Peter" 6 of 5. It's that good.

Check the website often (below) as there is as yet no announcement for further dates in other parts of the US. If it comes your way, sell your neighbors' children for parts and go see it.

New York Cast:
(in order of the appearance on May8th, 2005)

Paul Kandel
Luther Creek
Mark H. Dold
Candy Buckley
Manoel Felciano
Josie Whittlesey
Fred Berman
Ritt Henn

Production Website: www.shockheadedpeter.com
NYC Production Website: www.shockheadedpeternyc.com
The Tiger Lillies: www.tigerlillies.com

Music from the show on CD: Shockheaded Peter: A Junk Opera

Dr. Hoffmann's Book (Dover): Struwwelpeter - In English Translation