“Planet of the Grapes" (Edinburgh)

The wildly inventive, internationally acclaimed, award-winning lockdown hit “Planet of the Grapes” is now alive on stage - transporting audiences to a futuristic world where talking grapes reign supreme and humans are rendered speechless. Created and performed by Peter Michael Marino, this fast-paced comedic homage blends the charm of Victorian toy theater with the sci-fi spectacle of the 1968 classic “Planet of the Apes,” creating an interactive, immersive, all-ages adventure packed into a juicy 60-minutes. The production is directed by Michole Biancosino and plays August 5-30 at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Pleasance Courtyard. In “Planet of the Grapes,” an American astronaut crew crash-lands on a distant planet where an intelligent, articulate, and evolved grape society enslaves mute humans like laboratory monkeys. What unfolds is a high-energy theatrical experience that spills off the cutting-board stage and into the audience - blending satire, spectacle, and unleashed imagination with uncorked, creative madness. Performed on a carefully concocted tabletop stage - complete with hundreds of grapes, dozens of corks, and a pocket universe of scenery - the production brings big ideas to small scale. An original electronic score by Michael Harren underscores a story that playfully explores themes of science vs. religion, class clashes, planetary concerns, and humanity’s sense of superiority. www.planetgrapeshow.com