PuppetVision Blog pointed out this fact that will have an enormous impact on my move to New York City. It is apparently illegal to perform a window puppet show in New York City.

§ 10-114 Street shows. a. It shall be unlawful to give any exhibition of climbing or scaling on the front or exterior of any house or building.
b. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person, from any window or open space of any house, or building, to exhibit to the public upon the street, or the sidewalk thereof, any performance of puppet or other figures, ballet or other dancing, comedy, farce, show with moving figures, play or other entertainment.
c. Violations. Any person who shall violate any provision of this section, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars, or imprisonment for thirty days, or both.

Now, I don’t normally link to commercials, but I’ve got to admit that this one makes me chuckle.

Wow. Talk about the perfect blending of my worlds. Rogue Artists Ensemble has created an adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean’s graphic novel ‘THE TRAGICAL COMEDY OR COMICAL TRAGEDY OF MR. PUNCH.’
The production photos look stunning. Alas, it is in L.A., so I can’t go, but I seriously want to.

Based the graphic novel by internationally acclaimed artists Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean (creators of the Sandman comics, and Henson Pictures’ MIRRORMASK) and adapted for the stage by Hyper-theater mavericks Rogue Artists Ensemble, Mr. Punch features a dizzying array of puppets, masks and sounds that will make you feel as though you have stepped into the pages of a graphic novel.

Mr. Punch is a twisted tale of murder that explores the oft-fragmented nature of memory, the innocence of childhood and the pain of adulthood. This dark fable set in a rundown sea side arcade, blurs the line between what is a puppet show and real life. There every man becomes enamored with a mermaid and only Mr. Punch can destroy the Devil.

As Judy, dear Judy herself says, “…it’s started now, and it can’t be stopped, not even if the DEVIL and all his crocodiles came up from HELL to stop it.”

PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:
Opening Friday April 27; continues through May 27
Fridays at 8 pm: April 27*; May 4, 11, 18, 25
Saturdays at 4 pm and 8 pm: April 28; May 5, 12, 19, 26
Sundays at 4 pm: April 29; May 6, 13, 20, 27