Proving that no two shows are ever alike, STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG—back for a return engagement at the Irvine Barclay Theatre through January 1—isn't your kids' (or Jason Segal's) kind of Muppets. While certainly as cute and quirky as their child-friendly counterparts, these naughty cousins of Jim Henson's masterful characters cuss with no filter, engage in despicable behavior, and generally act like bawdy adults trapped in very furry bodies. And, dang, are you going to ache with laughter from it all!
A production offered by Henson Alternative—the adult arm of the Jim Henson puppetry empire—this critically-acclaimed off-Broadway hit's national tour has returned to Irvine where it made its West Coast Premiere at this very same time last year (which I reviewed here). As with all its shows, STUFFED AND UNSTRUNG is an uproariously gut-busting theater piece that combines the wonder of seeing and hearing those superbly-crafted Henson workshop creations acting with a kind of bawdy, decidedly adults-only humor you get from improv. Elmo will surely cry and scream away from all of this. It goes without saying that these actor/singer/puppeteers are, of course, all hardworking and intensely talented... but they're only as funny as the suggestions and situations thrown at them randomly by the loud, interactive audience.
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