REVIEW: KARL THE CAT AND THE JUNKYARD PACK
Playdough Productions develops and performs queer stories through the use of clown, mask, and puppetry. Last summer, their production, Raccacloon, premiered at the Hamilton Fringe Festival and won a “Best in Venue” award. Returning this year at The Staircase’s Bright Room with a puppet stage and live musicians, Playdough Productions offers a delightful and heartfelt musical comedy of discovery and self-acceptance with Karl the Cat and the Junkyard Pack.
The audience (or “junkyard tourists” as they are known to the residents of the junkyard), meets Karl (voiced and performed by Jesse Lewis who is also the show’s playwright). Karl is an adventurous cat but seems to struggle with figuring out their true purpose. As Karl questions this with their many puppet friends, from Daryl the Dog to Courtney the Crow, Karl begins to figure out who they are and where they belong.
The addition of live music and originally designed hand-puppets brings immense charm to the production. The songs are similar in style to those of Garfunkel and Oats and while the rhyming schemes are simple and repetitive, they ultimately suit the childlike whimsy of the narrative. There’s plenty of fourth-wall breaking jokes about handling puppets and the nature of doing puppet shows which allows for audience interaction, callbacks and more.
Don’t let the Mr. Rogers coded puppets fool you though: isn’t geared for a family friendly audience. There is profanity and references that are not ideally suited for younger audiences. We have a toking crow, an obnoxious influencer mom rat and a conspiracy theorist-tinfoil hat wearing skunk who each get their own silly song helping to progress Karl’s journey.
At the end of it all, Karl the Cat and the Junkyard Pack has a heartfelt lesson: you have to figure things out for yourself but you can always ask for support while you do so. If you enjoy queer stories told from a different perspective with catchy songs, endearing puppet characters and delightful, awkward charm, then be sure to add this one to your Fringe docket.
