An Electoral Collage

The politically radical Bread and Puppet Theater, founded in NYC in the ’60s and based in northern Vermont since the ’70s, tours wonderful, whimsical shows with a knack for getting to the heart of big issues sideways. Their new giant puppet show, inspired by this strange and seemingly unending presidential election cycle, played last week in Ashfield and Greenfield, and this week it comes to Next Stage in Putney, VT, and to Gateway City Arts in Holyoke. Written and directed by the company’s iconic founder Peter Schumann, Underneath the Above Show #1 takes place in a distant country filled with a technicolor cardboard population. The company calls it “a hilarious, timely antidote to the election-themed entertainment on TV. And, with its raucous energy and bright palette, it makes a great spring hurrah!” Come for the show; stay for the group’s famous free sourdough rye bread with aioli. Appropriate for all ages.

Underneath the Above Show #1, presented by Bread and Puppet Theater. May 8 at 7 p.m. $15. Next Stage, 15 Kimball Hill Road, Putney, VT. May 10 at 7 p.m. $15-25. Gateway City Arts, 92 Race St., Holyoke. (802) 525-3031, (413) 824-0822, breadandpuppet.org.

— Hunter Styles