Puppetry of the Penis

Do try this at home. There is no disclaimer here. In fact, they sell a book instructing how to perform the Australian art of penis origami. Sure, the first thing that comes to mind are a plethora of sophomoric penis jokes, but "Puppetry of the Penis" is much more.

It is a hilarious comedy show, a celebration of the human body, and a First Amendment freedom statement all wrapped up into a very physical, hour-long show. Okay, you will hear plenty of penis jokes but this show is first and foremost about comedy. No one under eighteen years of age is admitted. The show contains full frontal male nudity.

The show began with 'fluffer' comedienne, Kristeen Von Hagen, 'warming' up the crowd. After about twenty minutes of vetting the audience the caped duo (Richard Binning and Andrew Fitch, aka Fitchy) appeared. In mere moments, the two discarded their capes to reveal their 'puppets.' As you may have guessed, there are no puppets, only penises.

For the next hour, the audience is treated to numerous ways to bend and shape a penis, testicles and scrotum. At times it sounds and looks quite painful, but no penises were harmed in this production. The show is supported by a multimedia screen that is incorporated into the tricks to enhance the visual image and effect and for magnification purposes, not that any is needed in the first ten rows.

Fitchy and Binning are very comfortable and natural on stage. They are very pleasant and engaging personalities both on and off stage. It is a part of the message they send as they entertain.

Binning began the show with the classic, "The Woman," also dubbed as the "Mangina," in an episode of "Californication." Next, Fitchy performed another movie classic, "The Brain," which was featured in the movie, "Waiting." The duo even use a few props in tricks such as "the Kardashian," "E.T." and "the Olympic Torch."

The men pay homage to world landmarks re-created on the Strip with "The Eiffel Tower." And no performance would be complete without the famous, "Hamburger." The duo promises to continue to develop new tricks that pay homage to other Strip landmarks. The pair performed at least 35 different tricks a couple with a few variations.

The show is not for the squeamish, but it is not sexual. Binning and Fitch remind the audience they could not do a single trick if they were aroused, except for perhaps the Washington Monument. However, there are several opportunities to get a 'bird's eye' view of puppeteers as they do not shy away from opportunities to jump down into the audience and share some of their craft with humorous results. Binning and Fitch warn the first row is a 'splash zone,' as the camera man dons a raincoat. Have no fear. You will not need one.

There is also an opportunity for audience participation. The pair related how each night someone from the audience has been brave enough to accept the invitation to get naked and get up on stage and try it themselves. No one was brave enough to participate on this particular evening.

I was tempted, but I feared even the magnification of the camera would not bode well for me in the company of the two well-endowed, fit performers. However, if you are so inclined, the show is always looking for new performers. Las Vegas auditions were held prior to the show's Las Vegas debut.

The duo also do not miss the opportunity to call up audience members celebrating an impending wedding or other celebration. A young woman celebrating her graduation was their fodder for the evening.

Binning and Fitchy are about more than just entertainment, they are ambassadors of physical and First Amendment freedoms. Both men marveled at the difficulty the production had in finding a home in Las Vegas. Several proposed venues declined to book the show before it found a home at the Jewel Box Theatre in the Erotic Heritage Museum.

"It is hard to believe there are so few places where you can see full male nudity in Las Vegas," Fitchy stated.

"Las Vegas crowds have been very diverse. Most nights it is more heavily ladies, but there has been a nice cross-section of gay and straight men in the audiences," Binning said. The performers represent diversity as well -- Binning who hails from New York is circumcised, Fitchy, a native of Australia, is not.

"Puppetry of the Penis," is in residence at the Jewel Box Theatre in the Erotic Heritage Museum, 3275 S. Industrial Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109. For tickets and information, call 702-794-4000 or visit http://www.puppetryofthepenis.com/,