Alexander Mantia’s Zucchini Club

Alexander Mantia Puppetry—Théâtre Cercle Molière

If you’ve ever wished your favourite after-school puppet program had grown up with you, Alexander Mantia’s Zucchini Club will make that dream a reality. Mantia populates the stage with a delightfully oversized cast of beautifully crafted characters, each bursting with personality despite being hand-puppets, including silly but varied voices for each from the sole performer and puppeteer.

The show is grown-up but not ‘adult’ in that sense; all ages will appreciate the Rodney Dangerfield-esque squirrel puppet, although the adults in the crowd will have an added layer to giggle about. If the kids are old enough for a ‘son of a bitch’ joke dropped by an avant-garde dog, you can probably bring them along.

Nostalgic Gens XYZ will probably get the most mileage from the show as they get transported back to the magic of childhood television, only funnier. That said, anyone with an appreciation for wit and whimsy will get a kick out of this top-notch act.

Ashley Frantik