Staged by the company Mochinosha/Book of Shadowz, Book of Shadows is a puppet show for grown-ups. While the intricate shadow puppets (hundreds of them) certainly serve to inspire awe among the audience, the narrative leaves much to be desired, and is perhaps more suited for children.
In terms of technical display, the show is undeniably impressive. The two voice actors (Daniel Wishes and Seri Yanai) not only play the voices of a dozen characters, but simultaneously control every puppet and keep the story flowing. At times, I forgot I was watching a puppet show and felt like I was watching an animated film instead.
It tells the story of a girl who hallucinates, her skeptical father, and an old woman who serves both as her magical mentor and guardian. Book of Shadows does conclude with a triumphant message of self-discovery, but that probably makes it more suitable for a younger audience instead.
However, the overall narrative leaves much to be desired and even impedes on the impressive puppetering. The plot is definitely a little amateurish, but its attempts at humour make the show feel awkward at times. For example, one of the main characters is—without any real reason—an old Ukrainian woman, which is odd only because it takes an adult Canadian man putting on an exaggerated and stereotypical accent to depict that character.
For fans of the more analogue style of puppet shows, it’s worth noting that Book of Shadows creates the shadows against a table, and the image of the table is then enlarged and projected onto the wall. They also cut between different scenes using digital transitions. While that creates a seamless narrative experience, it can risk feeling a little more modern.
The show is an enjoyable hour for anyone seeking to appreciate handmade puppets and crafts. Don’t go if you’re only looking for a good story, but I suspect that was never the main focus of this production.
Book of Shadows is running until 30 August at Big Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate. Buy tickets here.
Image provided by Book of Shadows Press Team.
