Nufonia is a robot: a tape deck lies on his chest, four black eyes look out from his head, he wears headphones over his ears. He works in an office answering phones, but, overwhelmed, he is fired for a newer model. Hired by a sandwich shop he falls for a customer – and she falls for him, too.
Created by Canadian DJ and musician Kid Koala, and directed by KK Barrett, this show is an intimate and simple tale. Inspired by Kid Koala’s graphic novel of the same name, here puppeteers create a silent film of his love story live on stage. Accompanied by the Afiara Quartet, the composition is emotionally stirring, then lighthearted and humorous, pulling together musical references as varied as the Psycho soundtrack and Duke Ellington.
In half-light, we make out just the outlines of the puppeteers. They roll on low stools between set pieces; they run between spaces making minute adjustments to the puppets they carry; sets are swapped in and out as they’re needed. And while the focus of Nufonia Must Fall is always on the screen above the stage, the puppeteers are a gentle and exciting reminder that what we’re seeing is live.
The film, small and tender, could stand strong on its own, but the heart of the production lies in watching it being created. We witness the fun Kid Koala appears to be having downstage, we hear the fullness of the strings in the auditorium, we guess at the silent conversations between puppeteers, and we appreciate the unseen relationship between director of photography AJ Korkidakis and video editor Ben Knight.
In a monochrome set, the little white puppets go through emotional highs and lows, as you might expect in any love story. They are simple, but accompanied by Kid Koala’s music you find yourself readily empathising with them, desperately hoping for a happy ending. And, of course, this delightful show delivers.
Nufonia Must Fall runs until 7 March
- Adelaide festival 2015 runs from 27 February to 15 March at venues citywide. Find all Guardian Australia’s coverage here
