Swamp Juice

little review moment from last saturday...

Swamp Juice is on at 2:30 on the weekends and Jeff-Canadian-Jeff (as we so often say after someone asks 'Jeff who?') bumps in as we are bumping out Kapow.

I saw his show Sticks Stones Broken Bones a few years ago and I have a single vivid happy memory of a shadow horse running on shadow grass. Me laughing as it galloped.

Mr Bunk (Jeff) shows you everything he’s doing, holds up the puppet to demonstrate before he turns it into a shadow. Silly voice, gruff sound effects into his lapel mike. Such an appealing, ridiculous character of a man pointing things out, proud and amused by what he’s done, and occasionally cranky when the audience doesn’t do their job right.

Each image is lovely. The curious snail taking great mouthfuls of a tuft of grass – the shadow of Jeff’s balding head. The tiny rodenty creature with delicate paws and a dot of a nose that snuffles the air.

But (SPOILER ALERT) nothing is as fabulous as the end. Jeff hands out a bunch of cardboard boxes – “Take one, take one, pass on, take one” When the box arrives on my lap I realize that we are being given 3D glasses.

There is a long shuffling moment of pause while the audience each deal with their specs. I am one of the last and I miss the opening moment of 3D – instead a blur of red and blue on the screen. Then I have it.

Jeff has made 3D shadows.

A bird flies out towards our faces and all the children reach up to grab on it’s intangible way past.

A tiny man in a gorgeous flying machine: a skeleton frame with propeller and square wings zooms over our heads. I can’t help saying, “Ooooh” out loud.

Each shadow has become an object – only in black, but clear edged and perfect. Such a stunning combination of ancient and new technology.

My insides are sweet with how clever it is.

Jeff's website...