Review: Tiny Ninja Theater
TheaterMania, 4/9/03
"There's something irresistibly charming about seeing Shakespeare's works performed by miniature plastic figurines."
Article: Small Actors Make Big Splash
Dramatics, 4/03
"As Yoda says, ‘You do or you do not; there is no try.’"
Review: Theatre Pick for Week of March 4
FlavorPill.net, 3/4/03
"You think you've seen every twist on The Bard’s work humanly possible..."
Article: Fringe Hit Tiny Ninja Theater Returns to NYC
Playbill Online, 2/9/03
"Trevor Bigfoot as Mercutio — whose death scene has to be seen to be believed"
Article: Best of Charleston 2003
The Charleston City Paper, 1/03
"Readers Pick for Best Piccolo Spoleto Event"
Review: Shakespeare in a Shoebox
The Washington Post, 1/11/03
"Once you've seen its Romeo & Juliet, you'll want to come to back for figurine versions of Hamlet or Othello or whatever else." — Peter Marks
Review: Action Figure Genius
The Charleston City Paper, 10/02
"Quick, clever, and chock full of surprises, more than one audience member claimed that it even outperformed the hit interpretation of the Scottish play." — Colleen Reilly
Review: Freeze Frame
Creative Loafing Charlotte, 10/2/02
"I heartily recommend being among the lucky few when Weinstein & Co. return to Charlotte or Piccolo Spoleto." — Perry Tannenbaum
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Review: Tiny Version of Macbeth is Giant Entertainment
The Charlotte Observer, 9/22/02
"Fresh, funny, ingenious and original." — JoAnn Grose
Review: Tiny Ninja Theater
Hairline, 8/02
"Four Stars: Tiny Ninja Theater is a fantastic and unorthodox show which represents what many love about the Edinburgh Festival." — Simon Ferguson
Review: Bard Takes a Flyer
Sunday Herald, 8/25/02
"Four Stars: Shakespeare is as equally at home among the ridiculous, of course." — Tim Abrahams
Review: Tiny Ninja Theater presents Macbeth
The Scotsman, 8/19/02
"Must be seen to be believed. " — Paul Rhodes
Review: Macbeth
Three Weeks, 8/17/02
"If a definition of the Fringe is originality and artistic expression, then this 35 minute abbreviated version of Macbeth, with tiny plastic ninjas as a cast, must surely rank as an ultimate example." — Paul Cochrane
Review: Mr. Smiley Face Macbeth
The Guardian, 8/10/02
"Weinstein plays it dead straight and speaks the text rather better than some classically trained actors I have heard." — Lyn Gardner
Review: Mini-Cawdor Steals Hearts
The List, 8/8/02
"a marvel of theatrical innovation" — Catherine Bromley
Review: No Drams Required
Edinburgh Guide, 8/3/02
"This is the only one I’m recommending to all my friends and the only thing I think I’ll make a return trip to!" — Annabel Ingram
Article: Ninja-cized Bard
Charleston Post & Courier, 6/1/02
Article: Tiny Ninja Theater Returns to Charleston
The State, 5/31/02
Review: Action Figure Genius
The Charleston City Paper, 5/29/02
Review: Tiny Ninjas Take On Shakespeare's Giant Roles
Charleston Post & Courier, 5/29/02
Article: Oh Tiny Romeo
The Charleston City Paper, 5/02
Article: What's The Buzz
The Charleston City Paper, 5/02
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Article: Where to Celebrate Valentine's Day Solo
Time Out New York, 2/14/02
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Review: Massaker im Spielzeugland
Taz Bremen, 1/22/02
the babelfish translation
Article: Best of Charleston 2001
The Charleston City Paper, 1/02
"Best Use of Plastic Figurines in a Performance" jump to the good bits
Article: Shakespeare de Plástico
Revista 2K, 6/22/01
the babelfish translation
Article: Piccolo's Prices Too Steep for Local Festival
The State, 6/10/01
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Article: Spoleto Festival at 25
The New York Times, 6/5/01
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Review: Tiny Ninjas Put Twist on the Bard
Charleston Post & Courier, 6/2/01
Review: Tiny Ninjas Project Big Illusion
The Charleston City Paper, 5/29/01
Review: No Small Jokes, Just Small Actors
Charleston Post & Courier, 5/29/01
Article: Immediate Art
The Charleston City Paper, 5/01
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Article: Serious Shakespeare Takes But An Inch
The Charleston City Paper, 5/01
Review: Sightlines: Tom Waits in the Toilet
The Village Voice, 4/27/01
Article: All Is But Toys
Stage Directions, 3/01
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Article: The Bard's New Band of Merry Men Perform Macbeth
American Theater, 12/00
Article: Off-Off color: Toy Story
Time Out New York, 11/9/00
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Review: Street of Blood, Tiny Ninja Theater presents Macbeth
NEXT Magazine, 9/15/00
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Article: Is That a Ninja That I See Before Me?
Playbill Online, 8/30/00
Review: Oh, Forget the Money, Let's Dress Up and Play
The New York Times, 8/26/00
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Review: Fringe Binge
Time Out New York, 8/24/00
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Review: Fringe Benefits
The Village Voice, 8/23/00
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Review: As The Bard Himself Might Put it...
newyork.citysearch.com, 8/20/00
Review: Tiny Ninja Macbeth, Finally, Little Green Man
TheaterMania.com, 8/18/00
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Article: Off-Off and Running
Time Out New York, 8/10/00
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 9.15.00
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THEATER
by Robert Kent
Street of Blood
Tiny Ninja Theater presents MACBETH
Finally - a puppet show for mature audiences! Gay Canadian puppetmaster Ronnie Burkett brings to life 34 marionettes in Street of Blood, a spectacular play that wittily comments on everything from celebrity worship to AIDS.
Move over, Bert and Ernie! Gay Canadian puppetmaster Ronnie Burkett is here with a motley crew of characters ready to take center stage at New York Theater Workshop in Street of Blood. Part of the Henson International Festival of Puppet Theater 2000, Street of Blood is an extraordinary gothic epic filled with 34 magnificent marionettes created and brilliantly brought to life by Burkett. Posters and flyers for this captivating production warn "Street of Blood is not recommended for audiences under 12." Despite moments of camp and a few whimsically named personalities - Esme Massengill, Uta Haagen-Daz, Spanky Bishop, Fluffer, Cora Jean Pickles - Burkett's spectical is not to be mistaken for simply another cute puppet show set in a make-belive land of loveable creatures and plush, talking animals.
Street of Blood takes place in Tulip Corners, a small town where demons are scarier than the Cookie Monster and the situations more serious than play-ground scuffles. It tells the story of Edna Rural, a member of the Tulip Corners Ladies Orchestrale who describes herself as a "silly old biddy in a Sears housedress," and her adopted son Eden (a.k.a Purse Boy), a karaoke performer/serial bomber/HIV-positive gay activist. One day while quilting, Edna pricks her finger and bleeds on her sewing. The blood reveals the face of Jesus. Soon, Jesus (played by Burkett as an aging clubkid) makes a personal appearance. Then, He is joined by a devilish movie star and her troupe of thirsty vampires that fight for Eden's soul. Equal parts Angels in America, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Dracula and a Waylon Flowers-and-Madame routine, the lengthy Street of Blood succsessfully comments on celebrity worship, religion, adoption, AIDS, gay anger, revenge and the Golden Age of Hollywood.
In addition to the Henson International Festival, puppet shows are popping up all over town. Audiences can soon enjoy Kevin Augustine's 10 at Here and Basil Twist's puppet designs in Theater Couture's Doll at P.S. 122. At The Present Company, Dov Weinstein is currently performing his acclaimed abbreviated version of Shakespeare's Macbeth starring an army of tiny ninja soldiers and two smiley-face toys as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Held over from the New York International Fringe Festival (where it won an Overall Excelence award), Tiny Ninja Theater presents MACBETH is a diminutive delight. Appropriately labled "a plasticine pleasure" by The Village Voice, this production is thoroughly original. Weinstein and his ninjas accomplish an amazing feat during this 45-minute production: They turn a gimmick into an innovative theatrical experience.
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