💀 Hamlet Has No Legs
World Premiere: September 30 – October 8, 2010 — The Empire Theater, Santa Ana, CA
Extended Run: January 7 – February 12, 2011 — The Maverick Theater, Fullerton, CA
(The show that started it all.)

This is where the puppet anarchy began.

Armed with nothing but savings, duct tape, and a blue-monster puppet purchased off of a new website, All Puppet Players launched a theatrical revolution. What started as a kid-friendly way to make Shakespeare less scary mutated into a gonzo, adults-only puppet explosion—equal parts improv, foam, and chaos.

Hamlet Has No Legs wasn’t just a puppet version of the classic tragedy. It was a 75-minute blackout comedy with ninja kitties made from gloves, collapsing columns, and Hamlet himself telling the universe:
“Talk to the hand.”

Why it worked:
Ad-lib insanity

Glove-based ninja armies

Beaker-esque Rosencrantz & Guildenstern in the balcony

Matrix-style duels with invisible feet

And constant, howling audience interaction (you held the poisoned cup, remember?)

Critics raved:

“Adulterated hilarity… Punch & Judy meets The Muppet Show with a Shakespeare skin.”
“A seamless communion between Us and Them.”
“You’ll never want to see Hamlet any other way.”

This show was lightning in a bottle. A felt-flinging, self-aware, fourth-wall-demolishing revelation that proved you could take one of the most revered texts in history… and stuff it full of dick jokes, cat puppets, and perfect, improvised madness.

Performance Timeline:

Sept 30 – Oct 8, 2010 — The Empire Theater, Santa Ana (World Premiere)

Jan 7 – Feb 12, 2011 — The Maverick Theater, Fullerton (Extended Run)

(The Dithering Dane was never the same.)