The Flatiron Hex
About the show
Little Shadow Productions brings back this solo puppet performance about Wylie, a contract shaman who works for NYORG—a city in the middle of a swamp. More…
Wylie uses his unusual talents to solve problems and do routine maintenance on the city’s interweb biotechnology. Due to the haunted land and sentient mainframes, Wylie faces many occult adversaries. Storms constantly threaten to destroy NYORG, but a secret feature of the Flatiron building keeps the storms at bay—that is as long as the cloud-code is cracked and the correct ritual procedure is followed. Inspired by speculative fiction and neo-noir, 'The Flatiron Hex' is a peek inside a parallel world infected with intelligent viruses and paranoia. Elements of the fantastic collide with the everyday to become evocative of a magical reality.
"With an awesome display of virtuosity, puppeteer extraordinaire James Godwin vividly enacts an enthralling sci-fi tale with shades of film noir...Godwin’s delightful script co-written with Tom Burnett is an affectionate and rich amalgam of old movie conventions with a cheeky spin...Precise staging exuberantly realizes the fanciful universe that is striven for...In the category of unique theatrical experience, 'The Flatiron Hex' is beyond category." Full Review
"Performed with astonishing verve by Godwin...The plot is convoluted and purposely difficult to follow as one twist follows another and intrigues pile up...The complexity of this production is mind-boggling, if drolly rough at the edges...Godwin, who designed the intricate and varied puppets and the ever-changing set, takes the breath away with his energy and skillful command of each and every aspect of the production." Full Review
"A lighthearted exploration of several potentially heavy topics...It seems confused as to what message or questions the audience is meant to take away...It touches on issues that affect us all without the discomfort of working in naturalism or a recognizable universe. Unfortunately, without employing that discomfort to parallel contemporary life, it may not arouse the conversations and question-raising among its viewers that this reviewer assumes is part of the intention." Full Review
for a previous production “A truly odd marvel…It takes about ten minutes to ‘get into it’ but once your mind adjusts to its quirky nature you will find yourself enjoying it immensely…The sound, video, and lighting were truly remarkable…Yet the true genius of the show was its creator, James Godwin, who managed all the physical and shadow puppets…A hilarious, successful, and bizarrely-feel good live performance…For fans of the experimental and avant-garde this show is an absolute gem.” Full Review
for a previous production “Deliriously weird…It’s not every solo performance that makes you wonder if the usher has slipped some psilocybin into your preshow drink…The plot makes very little sense and probably made even less than usual during that preview performance, as Mr. Godwin couldn’t stop inserting jokes and gripes about that blown bulb into nearly every scene. But in full light or half-light or no light at all, 'The Flatiron Hex' is a dauntingly original and possibly hallucinogenic delight.” Full Review
for a previous production "The futuristic puppet epic never downplays the End of Days, an annual event in NYORG, but provides it with an irresistible infusion of technology and hocus-pocus...The deadpan narration fits this crazy sci-fi perfectly…'The Flatiron Hex ' has a lot of the familiar, but is ultimately something utterly original and silly. " Full Review
for a previous production “Along the way you are introduced to dozens of characters, all performed with sniper precision and impeccable timing…Godwin’s use of multimedia is simple yet effective…At times the comedy does get cheap…Overall the show is a delight. It is thought-provoking and intriguing. Godwin’s most outstanding contribution to this piece is his commitment...Godwin has clearly put a great deal of work and time into this show and it has paid off.” Full Review
for a previous production “'Flatiron Hex’ creates something of the atmosphere of tongue-in-cheek film noir…Godwin’s ability to manipulate his voice to effectively portray a large variety of roles reminded me of the talent of Mel Blanc…The play is perhaps a bit too long to sustain its premises…But there is no question that ‘The Flatiron Hex’ is very imaginative and delightfully complex, something of a psychedelic journey into the brave new world of the computer age.” Full Review
for a previous production “‘The Flatiron Hex’ is both charming and supremely difficult to follow. Godwin dashes around, manipulating puppets, making voices, and chomping blood capsules (this is one of the gorier puppet shows you’ll see). The convoluted story, and Godwin’s occasional aggression toward spectators, can make the piece jarring to watch. But the odd antics and the ecological vision—more prescient than it seems—save the day.” Full Review
for a previous production "Writing-wise 'The Flatiron Hex' drags for the first half of its 90-minute run time as the audience is still struggling to understand the world they are suddenly thrust into...However, at or around the halftime mark, the story goes utterly bananas. The play falls down a rabbit hole of insanity and keeps tumbling down until its climax; this crazed second half is what saves the show...For those with a taste for the outlandish and weird, 'The Flatiron Hex' is a humorous ride of the imagination." Full Review
See it if Social action take on storytelling, sci fi, puppetry, shamans in a constant battle against evil + ChristopherWalken + NYORG + ritualTech r U
Don't see it if attention to small detail & intimate storytelling, lots of blood & guts, plus a healthy sense of the ridiculous are not in your wheelhouse
See it if Puppeteer with amazing repetoire of techniques draws us into a dystopian future NYC. Weird original characters, many hilarious moments.
Don't see it if You don't enjoy strange alternate universes, magic, blood and goo.
See it if you appreciate skill, imagination and fun. Remarkable character puppets in a creative dystopian future. Sit close to appreciate the details.
Don't see it if you dislike puppets or intimate performance venues.
See it if you love puppets! This uses several kinds well (marionette, table top, shadow...). U like quirky cross-genre shows (noir/sci-fi/nerd comedy)
Don't see it if you don't like puppets or quirkiness. A few jokes will land better w/New Yorkers.
See it if You enjoy creative one man shows with a tongue in cheek vibe
Don't see it if If you're not into avant garde
See it if You want to see some amazing puppets that are part of a silly storyline that's too busy
Don't see it if Puppets and crazy storylines aren't your thing
See it if You are intrigued by multimedia performance art combining sci-fi, film noir, puppetry and comic sarcasm in a dystopian tale of a future NYC.
Don't see it if Nothing I described above interests you. But I am glad I gave this a chance and was entertained by it.
See it if you like gritty (neo)noir; Shadowrun-esque cyberpunk; and Space Eldritch scifi-fantasy-horror. Yes, really, all these. Oh, and puppetry.
Don't see it if A one-man show with fantastical characters, fake blood, surreal worlds, and very little narrative logic puts you off. Very idiosyncratic.
Also A wonderfully weird show, that at times had me rapt and at others mere... Read more Read less
See it if you're interested in any kind of science fiction theater
Don't see it if Although this show was creative and memorable it didn't really pop and its flavor of strangeness would not appeal to everyone
See it if you like a wide variety of puppets, the humor on Adult Swim, and picking up on the world-building details of a complicated plot as you go
Don't see it if a wacky, hardboiled, magical scifi adventure in dytopian New York doesn’t interest to you; you dislike the small scale of puppet theater
Also The plot has a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy sort of complexity and... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy a wide range of puppetry, all created and operated by the talented and funny James Godwin. Dystopian noir, NYC style.
Don't see it if you want a dramatic, impactful tale or cute, furry animal puppets.
See it if you do not mind a silly story line to showcase a promising voice talent /actor & puppeteer. There is a variety of puppetry/effects to amuse.
Don't see it if you don't dig childish humor for adults, amateurish puppet staging, & fake blood. It would be more impressive if it featured ventriloquism
See it if you're interested in the artistry - great use of puppetry, electronics, projections, etc.
Don't see it if you don't like gratuitous blood or sex or if you are looking for a classical noir story.
Also I was very impressed with the staging and use of multiple mediums. Sev... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see a performance using all sorts of puppetry to convey a sci-fi graphic novel to no avail.
Don't see it if solo performance and puppets are not your thing. Very unimaginative.
See it if You enjoy creative puppetry. Your sense of humors straddles surreal and sophomoric. You lean into the weird.
Don't see it if You dislike the gumshoe/detective/Dick Tracy genre. You avoid shows that seem to thinnly veil the creator’s fetishes.
See it if you love a complex and rich plot that makes the audience work for it, like film noir/detectives, surrealism, absurdism, sci-fi, one-man show
Don't see it if you don't want to think
Also This was great!! A rich plot with beautiful puppetry. Each character w... Read more Read less
See it if you like old New York jokes, sci-fi humor, film noir style, comic book style, puppetry and inventive staging.
Don't see it if you devalue the efforts of a one man show with puppets, you don't like using your imagination and/or like jokes about New York City.
See it if Blew my mind! Just incredible what this one person can do.
Don't see it if You need to have a lot of action. This is an intense, fun, quirky ride!
Cast & Creatives (7)
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