Photos by Luke Matter

• Top Five Show of the 2007 Prague Fringe, (The Prague Post)
• Best Original Script – Stephanie Demas (London One Act Festival 2005)
• People's Choice Award (London One Act Festival 2005)
• Best Overall Production (London One Act Festival 2005)
• Best Actor – Julian Munds (London One Act Festival 2005)
• Best Supporting Actor – Thomas Alderson (London One Act Festival 2005)
• Best Original Script – Stephanie Demas (Brickenden Awards for Theatrical Excellence)

• Funniest Show (London Fringe Festival 2005)
• Impresario (London Fringe Festival 2005)
• Best Production (London Fringe Festival 2005)

REVIEWS

"Blow This Popsicle Stand"

Review by Steffen Silvis, for The Prague Post

A popsicle, Grape, has tumbled from the top of his his freezer-case home into the uncharted Arctic expanse of the freezer's bottom. It's a lonely existence, though Grape's philosophical turn of mind helps him muddle through, though the constant hum of the machine's compressed air hose has pushed him dangerously close to madness at times. Periodically, other stick-people of his kind find themselves in this deep-frozen landscape, such as the smug little multi-flavoured bruiser, Cyclone, and an attractive flirt of equally tantalizing taste, Bubble-Pop, though they will both be eventually rescued. Not Grape, though, as the poor fellow is, well, grape-flavoured. The young Canadian troupe Black Hand Theatre has created this sweet, amusing little live action cartoon as a two-hander for Jayson McDonald (Grape) and the versatile Tyler Parr (as the rest of the dessert tray). The humour is perfectly light, but there's a surprising depth to the piece, with an ending that blazes with hope and redemption. Smartly directed by playwright Stephanie Demas, and boasting two marvelous young actors, Blow This Popsicle Stand is the perfect summer treat. Try it.

"Blow This Popsicle Stand"

Review by Sile Ni Bhroin for Prague TV

Stranded at the bottom of a freezer box, a lonely popsicle (Grape) tries to make sense of his existence. Hypnotised by the constant hum of the compressor fan, his monotony is only broken when other – equally unconventional – characters find their way into his private reality. It is a completely ridiculous concept and a completely delightful show. The two actors, Jayson McDonald and Tyler Parr, are a superb comic duo, handling each new relationship with perfect timing and expressive gestures. At times a (very) tongue-in-cheek Waiting for Godot, at times teen romance, at times a psychological power struggle, Grape’s interactions are hilarious but always human. The brilliantly witty text by Stephanie Demas (who also directed) dances lightly between existential questioning and psychological games – with frequent outrageously funny reminders that we are, after all, talking about popsicles here. The “High-Pitched Ones” or “Little Hands” one encounters “at the top are the children whose arrival signals an escape to the “Outside”. There is an understated current of tragedy in this. The audience knows the characters’ fate and almost wills Grape to remain in splendid – and solid – isolation at the bottom. A wonderfully refreshing show.