They Came From Uranus

When I was a child, my father made me a puppet stage. I had a collection of hand puppets and marionettes and would put on shows for friends, and have maintained a keen interest ever since.

There has not been a plethora of puppet theatre productions since the iconic Tintookies made the genre famous in the 1960s. So naturally, I was keen to see this solo puppeteer and his creations, especially when they are in drag!

They Came From Uranus is puppet show meets glam drag, starring Murray Raine as the solo performer and puppeteer.

Raine was mentored by the legendary Norman Hetherington, who inspired him as a child puppeteer and supported him as an adult puppeteer. Most people will remember Norman as “Mr Squiggle” – the ABC children’s show of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

They Came From Uranus features two large green aliens located either side of the puppet-stage. Each has a cut-out where the face should go. The left alien’s face is used for the recorded narration, and the right alien’s face is used for shadow puppets.

Raine performs from inside a puppet theatre in the centre, which has a pink neon sign above it reading “Busty Barb’s”. This is where Raine’s “Humanette” puppets strut their stuff.

These puppets have short bodies but a human face! Raine’s face is the face of the puppets. He’s in a black suit, drag make-up, and wears hats, wigs and cardboard cut-outs.

Each Humanette puppet performs a drag number, lip syncing to classic songs and modern hits. These performances are integrated with a ‘50s style horror alien invasion narrative that involves sexually starved aliens who have fallen in love with burlesque star Miss Candy Carcrashian via wi-fi waves.

The stars of the show are the puppets. Very quickly you forget there is a human providing the face and moving the limbs. Each has their own personality, beautifully made and operated. They take on a life of their own.

My favourites are Sonny and Cher (“I’ve Got You Babe” and “If I Could Turn Back Time”), the cat (“Pussycat Song”) and Lady Gaga, complete with her famous meat dress (“Born This Way”). Even the alien intent on invading Earth has his/her own number.

They Came From Uranus is a production loaded with glam, sex and alternate lifestyles and borrows heavily from the best of B-grade sci-fi movies. It is more than a puppet show, it is a comment on life…….especially social influencers!

Barry Hill OAM

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