Frankenstein: A Trouble Puppet Show - $15.00

If I know anything, I know women. So when I read the Austin Chronicle's review for a local puppet troupe's production of Frankenstein: A Trouble Puppet Show, I knew what the little lady and I would be doing Friday night.

Founded in 2004, Trouble Puppet Theater Company has defied conventional wisdom and common sense by maintaining a consistent presence as a purveyor of fine, mainly adult-geared puppet shows. Things like that simply do not happen in most places. Possibly for good reason, but that's neither here nor there.

Not sure exactly what to expect, the gf and I were charmed by the wonderful production values, the talented puppeteers and the engaging story line.

Writer-director-designer Connor Hopkins reshaped the Frankenstein story to fit his needs and to breathe new life into what is, frankly, a bit of a boring book. While perhaps not true to Shelly's text, the severed head with dangling spinal column kept alive mainly to pester Dr. Frankenstein, while clearly swiped from Robocop 2, was ingenious. Likewise, an unexpected dream sequence showcased weird and wonderful bits of surrealism. Finally, the Frankenstein monster was a terrific and terrifying (for a puppet) creation.

On the downside, several of the performances were uneven and dragged down an otherwise solid ensemble cast.

Overall, this was a unique theatrical experience that managed to be impressive while remaining intimate and entertaining. Stuff well bought.

Frankenstein: A Trouble Puppet Show ends its run at the City Theatre on Sunday.

Speed-the-Plow by David Mamet - $1.99

I am generally not too concerned about the results of this month's experiment to tally my receipts. Overall, I believe I will have little difficulty living within a clearly defined budget. There is one lurking, looming obstacle to this goal: used books. They are my hillbilly heroin. I fully expect 75% of my posts to be about used books.

For today, I made a day trip to several of my favorite hot spots in search of a particular used book. As is often the case, I was unable to find what I originally wanted, but was able to compensate by purchasing numerous books I will likely never have time to read.

Among the haul, I picked up David Mamet's 1988 play "Speed-the-Plow," a tale of Hollywood intrigue. Essentially, a lower level associate brings a potential blockbuster deal to his boss only to see their potential success disrupted by the arrival of a temporary secretary (originally played by Madonna!) who sees more value in an unfilmmable literary work about the end of the world.

According to the reviews, this is "a brilliant black comedy."

According to me, it was okay.

I am fairly certain I missed out on a lot by not hearing the play actually performed. Much of the dialogue involves the two main characters saying something, repeating it, being cut off by the other, then repeating their previous line again. Here, enjoy some of Mamet at his "deftest and funniest":

G: The, what's the story? Tell me the...
F: I can tell it. No, you're right. You tell it.
G: Gimme the broad outl...
F: Yes, yes.
G. Just sketch me the broad...
F: Yes, yes, the thing, of course is...
G: Douggie, Brown, of course, the thing...
F: "A Douggie Brown picture"...
G: A Douggie Brown picture...
F: Eh? A buddy...
G: A Buddy Picture.

Are you laughing yet? Perhaps "deftest" is a nice way of saying Mamet drops fewer F-bombs in this one.

Maybe Clive Barnes is correct and these are actually "brilliant lines like a plum pudding with fruit." I'm just not sure.

Much to my surprise, there is apparently a revival currently running on Broadway starring Jeremy Piven, what looks like Craig Fergusen, and I already got bored before I found out who was playing the girl part. Though I have only seen one or two episodes of Entourage (not part of Stuff I Watch), I can see what the producers were thinking with the selection of Piven. They were thinking "What would be the most over-the-top obvious, least interesting choice we could come up with?" Bravo, gentlemen.

I will note the Old Grey Lady disagrees with my churlish assessment.

All in all, while it was only $1.99, I suspect the money would have been better used to help fund a trip to see the play performed live.