DIMENSION ZERO @ HERE Arts Center
The Boxcutter Collective’s sci-fi puppet musical Dimension Zero premiered at the Mainstage Theatre at HERE Arts Center on Wednesday, October 22, with support from the Jim Henson Foundation.
A kooky anti-capitalist rock extravaganza, Dimension Zero explores the struggles of the human experience and shows the audience what can happen when we band together with our inner Bing-Bong (more on this later).
Created to educate and entertain the public, puppetry has existed for thousands of years, with origins traced back to Ancient Greece and Egypt—and possibly even prehistoric rituals. Brooklyn-based political puppet troupe The Boxcutter Collective is proudly keeping the art form alive. The scenic art and design of their puppets were the show’s greatest strengths. From bad billionaires to New York City icons—and fan favorites such as giant pizza slices and adorable orphans—they were all completely charming.
The Coney Island policeman bit was a high point, harkening back to the style of Punch and Judy, with the puppeteer showing exceptional timing and clowning skills while communicating with nothing but squeaks. The live band was also fantastic, filling the long scene changes with transitional grooves that kept the audience engaged.
The late-show introduction of Bing-Bong was somewhat confusing but left room for interpretation; think of it as chutzpah, positivity, inner strength—or that elusive and ever-hard-to-sustain hope. At the climax of the play, when the guests rallied together, it might have been the first time I’ve ever enjoyed audience participation. The circuit of positive energy created by connection—fingertip to fingertip—buoyed me long after the show was over.
Overall, while mostly entertaining, Dimension Zero would benefit from a few stronger performers alongside the skilled puppeteers. The play has great potential, and I could easily imagine it transferring to a bigger stage with bigger puppets—with a bit of work. I wonder, though, if developing the show further might take away some of its charm. Puppetry has always been art for the masses; perhaps this piece is exactly where it should be—entertaining the people, instilling them with hope, and inciting the revolution. The puppets shone, and for this long-lived, underused art form, that’s just how it should be.
You can read more about The Boxcutter Collective and their projects at https://boxcuttercollective.org
