Improbable Theatre Presents THE DEVIL AND MR PUNCH at the Walker Center Beg, 5/19

Julian Crouch, co-founder of London-based Improbable Theatre, has been in Minneapolis over the past week working on a new show, "The Devil and Mister Punch", base on Punch, the iconic puppet character that has been featured in British puppetry since the 17th century.

"Punch is an irrepressible character who seems to go unpunished and gets to say and do things that people can't," Crouch told the Star Tribune on Wednesday. "He's not old-school bad, like the devil, who has things planned out. Punch doesn't say to himself, 'I'm gonna go home and abuse my wife and throw my baby out the window.' It's just that he's volatile. One thing happens and he reacts."

Improbable Theatre has brought its  inventive works to the Twin Cities regularly over the years, including "Shockheaded Peter," "The Hanging Man," "Animo" and "Spirit," a whimsical show in which a pistol-headed puppet and a camera-headed puppet battle over who owns the verb "to shoot."  

"Devil Punch" is a collaboration that features movers in the worlds of puppetry, music and film. Crouch's company has tapped members of Basil Twist's ensemble as well as former Del Fuegos band member Dan Zanes. Filmmaker Ragnar Friedank is part of the team. Like past works, this new production uses visually striking puppets to tell stories where tragedy sometimes alternates with whimsy.

Punch and Judy shows have a varied history which grew out of commedia dell'arte and this Improbably production will contain many of its traditional elements.  "Puppetry is a bastard form that spoofed the legitimate stage," said Crouch. "An opera would open at Covent Garden, for example, and two days later the puppet version would open. Because of its history, puppets can say and do things that people can't. And that gives us a type of freedom."

Improbably Theatre's THE DEVIL AND MISTER PUNCH will have its world premiere on at 8 pm tonight and will play Friday at 7 and 9:30 and Saturday at 7 pm at the Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased by calling 612-375-7600 or visiting www.walkerart.org