PUZZLE
Q Theatre Loft, 305 Queen St, Auckland
17/02/2015 - 21/02/2015
Production Details
LIFE IS A PUZZLE AND THE TRICK IS TO DISCOVER HOW ALL THE PIECES FIT TOGETHER
The People Who Play With Theatre have woven puppetry and storytelling into a entrancing and visually stunning theatre work – PUZZLE from 17-21 February as part of Auckland Fringe. PUZZLE looks at the importance of community and a challenge to the notion that humans are intrinsically self-serving.
When a disillusioned puzzle piece believes he no longer fits into the puzzle, he decides to run away to find out where he truly belongs – only to discover that being part of something is better than being alone.
His creator, the puzzle maker, discovering the loss of his puzzle piece, goes on his own journey to find it. His mission is to prove to the puzzle piece that he is an intrinsic part of the whole picture. In doing this, the puzzle maker must learn his own life lessons about the big picture.
Beautiful, funny and bittersweet, this is a story which speaks to the heart of all of us – a puzzle when seen as a whole makes perfect sense.
PUZZLE plays
Dates: 17-21 February, 8.30pm
Venue: Loft @ Q Theatre, 305 Queen St, Auckland
Tickets: $12 – $22
Bookings: iticket.co.nz // 0508 iTICKET (484-253) or qtheatre.co.nz // 09 309-9771
Theatre , Puppetry ,
For Ages 8 to 80
Review by Andrew Parker 19th Feb 2015
Everyone wants to belong. But, of course, “belonging” often means that you have to belong to something or someone, which doesn’t sound so desirable. This unfortunate paradox is the central thread of Ben Anderson’s Puzzle (directed by him and Seamus Ford), a play which looks at the question of whether it is better to be part of the bigger picture… or to focus on your own development at the risk of leaving a hole where you once were.
Anderson’s story revolves around a disaffected puzzle piece (a bit of blue sky from a puzzle featuring a lot of blue sky, the very definition of anonymous) played by Chye-Ling Huang and performed by a trio of puppeteers, who decides to depart for pastures new. [More]
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
Less would be more
Review by Heidi North 18th Feb 2015
Puzzle is about finding your place, literally and figuratively, in the world. Puzzle piece Blue (Chye-Ling Huang) just wants to belong. Not content with being just another piece of sky in a puzzle full of the same – there’s plenty more, what does it matter if that one piece goes missing – she embarks on a journey to find out where she belongs, much to the annoyance of the puzzle maker (Caleb Wright). He goes after her, initially to stop angry puzzle doers from complaining about the missing piece in the box.
Further into his search however, with the prompting of his wacky wife (lovingly portrayed by Courtney Abbot), he realises he needs to assure Blue that he understands her; he hasn’t belonged before either. After assuring her she’s special, with a little musical number and dancing puzzle pieces, she comes home.
It’s a heartfelt message and the ensemble cast deliver a tight performance. However, much of the pace gets muddled in heavy-handed explanation.
That’s not to say there’s not fun here, and some great lines too. But in the writer and co-directors desire to make sure the audience understands their message, there’s too much telling and not enough showing. If this was trimmed and tightened, with the themes left to grow out of the narrative rather than be explained, it would be richer.
A committed cast, dancing puzzle pieces, and corny jokes exposing the oddness of the English language are all recipes for a great theatrical experience. However, Puzzle doesn’t quite pull it off.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
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