Unlike Boston University’s Athena’s Player’s recent production of the ‘Vagina Monologues’ which one would expect to feature ventriloquism ‘Puppetry of the Penis’ delivers exactly what the name promises. Last Thursday night, an audience (comprised mostly of middle-aged women) in the Copley Theater watched as two men demonstrated ‘the ancient Australian art of genital origami.’ The two performers managed to manipulate their genitals into over 40 ‘installations,’ including a brain, the Loch Ness monster, George W. Bush and a squirrel. Just think balloon animals, penis-style.

Strangely enough, the evening begins with some lesbian stand-up comedy, which is humorous, although not as unique as what was to follow. The two penis puppeteers: Simon Morley, 33, and Daniel Lewry, 25, appear on stage clad only in sneakers and sparkly capes reminiscent of Elvis or Merlin. After a bit of repartee to break the ice, they open their capes and begin the show. The phallic feats received gasps of amazement and hysterical laughter from the crowd, as well as many high-pitched shrieks. There’s even audience participation.

The installations are projected onto a large screen behind the performers so that even those in the cheap seats could have a painfully accurate view of each creation. Morley and Lewry emphasize the penis art does not hurt them. However, it certainly displays a great deal of flexibility and stamina, not to mention ingenuity. Almost no props are used in the performance, except for a piece of wood with a hole in it (use your imagination) and a skateboard, helmet and electric fan for the dazzling finale. One of the puppeteers strikes a penis pose on a moving skateboard with his partner holding the dangerous blades of the electric fan mere millimeters away from his scrotum. For the rest of the show, the audience’s attention remains on the penis, testicles and scrotum (according to Lewry, ‘derived from the Latin for ‘fun’!’). The two performers also exchange a great deal of goofy Australian banter during their act, which is always hilarious.

Morley said, ‘This show was not written for a theater. In fact, it was written in a pub. We’d been drinking.’ The penis puppetry phenomenon was first brought to the public as a calendar, and finally as a performance, which has now toured in Australia, Great Britain, Canada, and the United States. If you think you have what it takes, the producers of POP are now searching for ‘more like-minded gentlemen who possess a unique combination of natural talent and a complete lack of shame.’ You can email your contact information to [email protected].

Although it is shocking, disturbing, and at times even terrifying, an evening at ‘Puppetry of the Penis’ is probably the most fun you’ll ever have at the theater … full of naked men. More importantly, it is, as the performers put it, ‘The first time you’ll be able to have a good laugh at [a penis] and not hurt anyone’s feelings.’