Wakka Wakka’s Dead as a Dodo is Exquisite!

A masterpiece in puppetry, Dead as a Dodo will transport you to another world—one inhabited by a little boy and his best friend, a Dodo. Our leads are dead; both are skeletons who scrounge the earth, digging for bones to attach to themselves to bring themselves back to the land of the living. Although they may be dead, our truly brave heroes are full of life and spirit. Our heroes demonstrate it again and again as they are confronted with unbelievable obstacles.

Each is the other’s guiding light and compass, buoy and savior. They surprise themselves with their cleverness and inner strength as they encounter, on this unique day in their existence, not only monstrous obstacles, but one of them, Dodo, is actually coming back to life, and with life, he must leave his dear friend.

Here’s a preview:

 

 

 

 

 

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A Visual and Emotional Spectacle

The staging is a kaleidoscope of dark and light. A light that sparkles as if the stage has captured thousands of little stars to glisten there just for us. The songs are beautifully dark, touching, and humorous. You will leave with Boy and Dodo and the friends they meet along the way in your heart.

The stage shifts with flowing textiles and light to become the underworld of lava and mountains to climb, look out over, and dream about what is beyond. The monsters our two heroes encounter want their dreams, hopes, and fears from them. The one being brought back to life, Dodo, is an animal that has been extinct since the late 1600s. Their extinction resulted from humankind hunting them for food and destroying their habitats. The creature who is the savior to Boy, the Woolly Mammoth, has been extinct for some 10,000 years, but here he is, saving Boy on stage. The production quietly gracefully reminds us that our planet is fragile and we must take care of it or lose it.

A Story for All Ages

The day I saw it, the audience comprised adults and very young people equally. All were attentive, listening, laughing, cheering, and gasping. They were mesmerized by the story and how it was unfolding before them. They were enraptured by the artistry and witchcraft of the multi-talented performers as they manipulated small and large puppets as if by mind magic.

The set is made of a huge transparent fabric that can catch light and pictures in cartoon fashion, creating images that fly up and across the stage. At Baruch Performing Arts Center, we all released ourselves from this world and entered Boy and Dodo’s world of enchantment.

Themes That Resonate

The themes of friendship and the preciousness of our planet are essential and extraordinarily presented. Even though we sometimes imagine ourselves in this world as carrying no weight or importance, that we are disappearing slowly, and that what will remain of us is nothing but bones, this magical presentation sends life from the land of the dead to remind us of our importance and abundance.

A Masterful Production

When the performers came out for their bow, I was surprised to see only eight. So much was happening on all parts of the stage that I thought, “How did they do that?” But I don’t care to know. A little sorcery in life is needed.

About Dead as a Dodo

Dead as a Dodo is written and directed by Gwendolyn Warnock and Kirjan Waage and features a talented cast, including Alexandra Bråss, Lei Lei Bavoil, Dorothy James, Andy Manjuck, and more. Part of the Under the Radar Festival, this production is a breathtaking work of art that exemplifies the magic of puppetry and storytelling.

Dead as a Dodo is written and directed by Gwendolyn Warnock and Kirjan Waage and is now playing at Baruch Performing Arts Center as part of the Under the Radar Series. It’s running through February 9th.

With: Alexandra Bråss, Lei Lei Bavoil, Dorothy James, Andy Manjuck, Hanna Magrete Muir, Sigurd Rosenberg, Peter Russo, Marie Skogvang-Stork, Anna Soland, Kirjan Waage, and Olivia Zerphy.

Don’t Miss The Enchantment

Dead as a Dodo is an absolute work of art! An enchantment of puppetry and storytelling!

Grab a friend or a family member younger/older, and go! Share some of the magic Wakka Wakka has created… for us.

Event Details

• Dates: January 8 – February 9, 2025
• Location: Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave, Manhattan
• Tickets: Available here. Student rush tickets ($25) are available 90 minutes before each performance.
• Appropriate For: Ages 7 and up (incorporates fog, loud noises, and strobe lighting)
• Running Time: 75 minutes, no intermission
• Tickets HERE
• $25 student rush tickets are available 90 minutes before each performance at the box office.

ABOUT Under the Radar Festival