Players in black roll long brown paper into a human shape. Imagine a better-articulated Pack and Save ad. Simple details bring it to life, tightened masking tape creates knee-caps, which I can’t stop staring at. Three performers combine to animate the character and greet the crowd.

From there the director guides from the side, calling for scenes. The performers usher on a smaller, identical stick figure puppet, first as the child of big puppet, then as a ruthless mafia boss intimidating a mob member. This demonstrates how actors’ attitudes towards puppets can subvert the initial expectations. Amy Moule (Melbourne), makes a good effort to vary these scenes throughout the evening choosing interesting relationships to counterpoint the previous scenes.

The pace of this show confused the drunk, frustratingly talkative group of young people who had never experienced the concept of improv outside of the Whose Line is it Anyway? paradigm, which I can’t really blame them for as these kinds of shows are rare in New Zealand.

But lo and behold it does exist and given patience provides a hypnotic performance of unconventional giggles and story. 

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