Nufonia Must Fall

Silent film, puppetry, theatre and music come together in Kid Koala’s production Nufonia Must Fall and the result is nothing less than pure genius and pure joy.

A multidimensional work that evolved from Kid Koala’s graphic novel of the same name, the Canadian production is introduced on stage by Kid Koala (real name Eric San), who conducts a quick and quirky bingo game in which the audience participates. A jovial Kid Koala explains it as a visual overture.

It all seems so laid back and homely and this atmosphere of simplicity is a feature of the entire production, lulling the audience into a joyful, relaxed and absorbed state. In truth, the atmosphere is brilliantly achieved by effortless expertise; a complicated mix of smooth ensemble work backed up by technology and attention to the smallest detail.

On stage we see numerous miniature box sets, each of which provides part of the setting for scenes in a three-act film starring puppets. One set even has a rotating background of shop fronts, allowing the illusion of a puppet’s progress as it walks along a street. The tiny white puppets are manipulated and filmed before a live audience. The filmed action is simultaneously expertly edited and projected on screen in ‘black and white silent film’ style, complete with perfectly synchronised live musical accompaniment and sound effects.

Before the audience, on stage in miniature and simultaneously on the big screen, a love story unfolds, one between an out-of-work robot and a lonely female office worker. When the robot discovers the shocking truth about the object of his infatuation his little robot heart breaks. Once again simplicity is deceptive. The everyday love story at the core of the film is also one of loneliness, isolation, obsolescence, bullying and ultimately, goodness.

Dressed in black and camouflaged by low light, Montreal-based puppeteers Félix Boisvert, Karina Bleau and Clea Minaker, together with head puppet designer Patrick Martel move from set to set manipulating the puppets in tight working spaces, while cinematographer AJ Korkidakis films the action close in to each active set.

The Afiara Quartet is on stage and blends gorgeous classical chamber music with world-renowned scratch DJ Kid Koala’s film score and superb live electronic music, while Kid Koala also overlays this with wonderfully effective live sound effects.

The seamless production is directed and designed by Oscar-nominated KK Barrett (Spike Jonze’s Her and Where the Wild Things Are).

We are kept busy watching the intriguing movement on stage, the tiny puppets and the corresponding larger than life story above us on the screen.

The audience is enchanted throughout and the love story, of course, has a happy ending. I’m sure the artists, too, must be happy with their brilliantly achieved work. They deserve to be.

Only one wish remains: that Nufonia Must Fall’s Adelaide Festival season could be longer and that everyone had the privilege of experiencing this delightfully unique production.

Lesley Reed