Ernie's Secret Life, playing downtown at the wonderful Dixon Place Theater, features actor Carlo Adinolfi as Ernie, a man fraught with the fear that his son might be missing.  He is a character very reminiscent of Don Quixote, seeing the world through his own lens and tilting at his own windmills.

We embark on an adventure with Ernie as he canoe's to Nova Scotia to rescue his son. But wait. He's afraid of the water. Perhaps he can carry the boat on a bus with him, which he does until the bus driver catches him. And so goes the story, progressing through a series of events along Ernies journey.

The huge, fun bonus is the production itself. Both Writer/Director Renee Philippi and Puppetry/Scenic master Carlo Adinolfi has brought a fantasy world to life in this blend of live-action, puppetry, and creative scenic design.  With a team of puppeteers either holding small armatures, or in fully-body suits, to back up what would otherwise be a 'solo' performance, the audience is consistently entertained with new visuals.

Overall, the show is a more experimental dive into mental states, rather than a distinct, clear story with simple structure. If you are open to theater that makes you think, and explore well after the show has ended, then "Ernie's Secret Life" might be for you!