By Christine de Kock
FOOTSCRAY’S Snuff Puppets raised about $4000 for Indonesian earthquake victims last Friday with their controversial Twin Towers Show.
Puppet artistic director Andy Freer said the play, performed in the Spanish Club at Fitzroy, attracted about 300 people.
“That was a really good turn out,” he said.
“Four thousand dollars is a lot of money in Indonesia, they’ll be able to build a lot of houses with that.”
He didn’t believe reports of the play being controversial had boosted the number of people in the audience.
The play revolves around the 9/11 Twin Towers attack, and includes a bush representing George Bush, a character of Middle Eastern appearance, and a character representing a victim.
“Of course, there are political elements to the play but then there is a social message that ends with religious tolerance and harmony.”
Mr Freer said reports that the play was a “black comedy and we were mocking the situation” were not based on fact.
“The play doesn’t do any of that.”
It was first performed three weeks after 9/11, and then a year later, and was not thought controversial until last week.
Mr Freer and his team were in Indonesia when the earthquake struck.
“We were running a two-week, puppet-building workshop for professional artists, and it struck five days into the workshops.
“We were very affected by it, and we just had to get out of there within three days.
“We felt quiet helpless in a way with all this destruction around, us so we thought we would perform a benefit.”
