WHO WE ARE
In 2014, Eileen and Dylan met as improvisers on the Cincinnati team, OTRimprov. Since then, they have performed together on many stages as puppeteers, actors, improvisers, and workshop co-facilitators. Eileen has a BFA in Musical Theatre, an Associate's Degree in Sign Language Interpreting, and is a graduate of Second City Chicago Conservatory. Dylan has a BA in Theatre and received an MFA in Acting.
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OUR SHOW
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Too Hat Two Hander is a Cincinnati, Ohio based troupe. Eileen and Dylan joined forces in the spirit of whimsy and storytelling. First, they get some audience suggestions. Next, they go to the wall of hats and hand props to create unique characters inspired by those suggestions. Then they weave an interconnected story with a cast of dozens as they use improvisation and clowning to seamlessly move from character to character.
With our backgrounds in puppetry, clowning, physical comedy, and theatre, we merge the crafts of theatre and improv into a storytelling event. We first introduce the characters to the audience and then we world build by role shifting into one another's characters, playing more than one character in a single scene, and using genuine connection and emotion to build the story from beginning, through middle, and into conclusion.
REVIEW OF PUPPETPROV PERFORMANCE: "YOUR WISH IS OUR COMMAND"
There is no scenery per se. There are two chairs and black curtains behind them. Walter, the “tech guy” according to Dylan keeps the lights on and the magic of sound happening. Earnest and Shelton explain how the play is going to work. They share that they will ask questions of the audience and they will build a story from their answers. The play is unique and one of a kind because it is dependent on this particular audience’s responses.
The show is broken into five segments. The first is led by Earnest who kicks Shelton into a soundproof hallway and has the audience cleverly decide what Shelton will have to figure out when he comes back. The second is where various puppets become whatever the audience wants them to be and have them give advice. The third skit is a take off of Little Red Riding Hood. The fourth is based on The Little Mermaid. The last one is a “Beasty Rap” where Earnest and Shelton each lead one half of the audience in responding to them in rhyme.
Bright and imaginative puppets are used, audience participation is constant, and humor is the fuel that keeps the audience laughing. His ability to improvise is uncanny. In this play, Earnest is herself amazing in how she remembered what the audience told her and how she uses it throughout. Her humor and physicality with and without the puppets is extremely impressive. Her humor is contagious.
The energy between Shelton and Earnest is electric. It is simply fun to watch both of them work together. -League of Cincinnati Theatres