The Devil You Say

The puppetry in this piece is wonderful. Slower paced than some shows, but in a good way. I felt like I was under a spell as I watched. ... full review

It's a real treat to see such skillful puppetry. Lord Satan was so detailed and lovely with his bewitching sparkling eyes, truly mesmerizing. The Punch and Judy show had great comic timing. Lot's to digest, story-wise, and maybe a touch of sympathy for the devil! A philosophers treat, I only wish I had a little brandy to sip by that fire ...... full review

THE DEVIL YOU SAY (Gold Medal – chiefly for the puppeteering) This is a beautifully constructed show that begins with a classic Punch and Judy puppet show and ends with a philosophical diatribe by the devil. The puppets are magnificently fashioned, and the puppetry is of the first order. Yet for all its visual splendor of the instruments and the skill of the performers, the show is basically a lecture to the audience by the devil done with poetic elegance. For more of my reviews of the Hollywood Fringe go to: The TVolution.com ... full review

This show was beautifully done. Excellent writing, lovely performances by the voice of the Devil as well as both of the puppeteers and the violinist. (The music was so seamlessly played that I thought it was a track! I was so delighted when I realized it was live). I loved the staging of this piece and was mesmerized by the puppetry. The devil puppet was so incredibly-made and handled masterfully by Robyn Walsh. Although the dark nature of the premise may seem scary, it's totally family-friendly and takes you into a whimsical world reminiscent of Tim Burton meets Labyrinth. I recommend it! ... full review

The Devil. Satan. Lucifer. Whatever you want to call him, this show brings him to life in a most elegant and graceful production. Robin Walsh's construction, control, and mastery of her puppet is astounding. Throughout the course of the performance I found myself further and further entranced by the four-foot-tall puppet, watching as his face came to life in my mind, his disembodied voice seeming to emanate from somewhere inside my own mind. With the assistance of Adrian Rose Leonard, Walsh puts on display the power of Bunraku. Voiced by the suede stylings of Kila Packett, Satan comes to life with a subtle, though somewhat meandering presence. But what the performance lacked in pace, it made up for in precision. Walsh's movements combi... full review

Who hasn't ever felt that the Devil deserved his due? In THE DEVIL YOU SAY, Satan gets to take center stage, and he couldn't have had a better argument to sway me to his side. The writing, first and foremost, is articulate, deft and appropriately weighty. But then, when someone has had a millennia worth of people spouting off spurious facts and opinions about them, you'd have a lot to say as well. Satan seemed a little stiff and rigid on the stage. I don't mean his acting or stage presence, no no. Satan was born to take the stage. I just mean that in the best possible way, he seemed to be made of wood. It was as if he was channelling the masterful ability of some unseen force, like his movements were inspired and fluidly controlled by... full review

What a great leap of the imagination to take the Yvonne Mitchell script and create a one puppet-soliloquy. Bravo to Robin Walsh and her co-performers!... full review