Also this issue:

Fit To Print
The self-publishers converging on Zine Fest resist the rise of the machines.
-Patrick Rapa

Chinese Ceramics Today Hide Sadohara: New Work
Chinese ceramicists reflect the country’s changing cultural climate. A local artist complements their vision.
-Susan Hagen

Swoosh
-Lori Hill

E. Lynn Harris
-A.D. Amorosi

Nrityagram Dance Ensemble
-Deni Kasrel

Bridging the Gap
-Dana Procaccino

1776
-Steve Cohen

Mao in the Boardroom: Marketing Genius From The Mind Of The Master Guerrilla
-Andrew Parks

July 10-16, 2003

theater

Puppetry of the Penis

by Deni Kasrel

I recently took a random survey of guy pals of mine, asking if they ever played with their, um, male member to see what shapes they might make of it. The consensus was, yes, all young boys do this sort of thing, but "you grow out of it." Well, apparently not all guys grow out of it. Certainly not Lincoln Davies and Daniel Lewry, who appear in Puppetry of the Penis, now playing at the Wilma Theater.

The show is basically these two gents standing on stage, butt naked, demonstrating "the ancient Australian art of genital origami" in a series of so-called "installations" where they adjust their family jewels into different formations. A videographer is on hand to capture the dick tricks, which are simultaneously projected onto a large screen, ensuring that no one misses out on the action. There's a name for every installation -- the hamburger, the turtle, the snail, to name a few -- and believe it or not, these titles are surprisingly apt. The duo's dingle dangles really do look like a hamburger or a turtle. At least there's enough of a passing resemblance to elicit hearty guffaws when we're told what an installation is intended to represent.

Each trick gets a buildup, with Davies and Lewry's banter keeping the ball rolling in giddy fashion. Much of their verbal volleying is corny, and some jokes fall limp; however, these guys are so darn earnest, you gotta laugh. The supersize view afforded by the video screen adds to the absurdity of this spectacle. Face it, a penis is funny-looking to begin with and seeing it magnified and fashioned into wacky shapes only makes it more so.

The performance is off-the-wall goofy, yet there's real ingenuity going on. Who knew a penis could have so much personality? Then, too, watching these two definitely makes you wonder, how did they come up with this stuff? The only reasonable answer would seem to be that these men have way too much time on their hands. They're not the only ones. This is the road-show cast; two other Aussie gents, David Friend and Simon Morley, created the original schtick that grew into Puppetry of the Penis. Their playful concept has spawned an international hit, complete with how-to book and DVD. Proving if you put your head to it, you can do anything.

Puppetry of the PenisThrough July 27, Wilma Theater, Broad and Spruce sts., 215-546-7824.