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Butterfly, Butterfly, Kill Kill Kill!

Written and directed by Patrick Harrison



BOTTOM LINE: A Japanese B-movie story with highly visual stylized action and choreography.

Butterfly, Butterfly, Kill Kill Kill! is a very strange show, yet I really liked it. It starts off a bit odd - the cast members, who all have white face paint, hang out on stage before the show begins. There are a few quips from one of the actors, who speaks in a Japanese accent that I found jolting, but also humorous. After the lights go down the action cranks up. Essentially, this show is a B-movie from the 1960s (it is based on Seijun Suzuki's film Branded to Kill) that is performed right in front of your eyes. What grabbed my attention was the ingenious use of choreography. There is a little dance routine at the top of the show that told me, yes, this is going to be an incredibly stylized experience. 


Butterfly, Butterfly, Kill Kill Kill! uses puppetry, film, rice (yes rice), and a wacked soundscape by Dave Harrington, who supplies the sound live on stage during the show. The countless cues are tight, especially impressive for the Fringe, and my hat is off to Mr. Harrington for keeping the show on track. A lot happens here, yet the plot is very simple. It’s really more of a visual piece with stylized choreography, action, and some things I just can’t explain (don't bring the kids to this one though). You’ll have to see it for yourself. Enjoy the ride.


(Butterfly, Butterfly, Kill Kill Kill! plays at The First Floor Theater at La MaMa, 74A East 4th Street, through August 18th. Remaining performances are Sunday 8/15 at 12pm, Monday 8/16 at 8:30pm, Wednesday 8/18 at 8pm, and Thursday 8/19 at 2pm. For more information visit www.depthcharge.us. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door, and are available at FringeNYC.com, by calling 866.468.7619, or in person at FringeCENTRAL, located at 1 East 8th Street at 5th Avenue. There is NO LATE SEATING for Fringe NYC shows.)