Finally, the two stars appear, and after some introductory banter they disrobe, revealing the real stars of the evening, which prove to be startlingly pliable and versatile. The thing is, once Morley and Friend get naked (or nearly so--they keep their shoes and socks on), there's nothing sexy or naughty or even vaguely dangerous about the show: they're so comfortable performing au naturel (as indeed they must be) that even us uptight Americans relax with them and pay attention to their show.

What follows, for about 45 minutes, are bizarre little set pieces, punctuated by ample, generally clever patter. Most of the creations are silly; a few are genuinely witty. All astonish in their way: these guys have definitely been practicing.

The audience mostly howls with approval (though I noticed a few men leave the theatre in the middle of the show).

The only thing sillier than Puppetry of the Penis is pretending there's anything wrong with it. For consenting adults in search of absolutely unadult fun, this is an entirely respectable diversion. Now don't see this show if the thought of two men contorting their genitalia publicly turns you off. But if you think that might be your cup of tea, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

2002 UPDATE: This show, which demonstrates the "ancient Australian art of genital origami," features a pair of young men performing what's described as a series of "penis installations." The two naked penis puppeteers stretch and twist their organs into such shapes as The Pelican, The Windsurfer, The Eiffel Tower, The Loch Ness Monster, and The Hamburger. A video camera projects their work onto a large screen on stage, for the folks in the back.

Note: Original cast members David Friend and Simon Morley have left the show. The new penis puppeteers are fellow Australians Daniel Lewry and Jim MacGregor.

This is, as you have probably figured out, a "non-sexual adult show." Okay then, so the show is twisted but harmless. The performers were just on Leno last week, talking not performing. Even this was too much for the Mormons:

It is the programmers versus The Penis.
KSL-TV (Channel 5) decided Tuesday not to broadcast tonight's Jay Leno show because it will feature performers who contort their male organs into such shapes as the Eiffel Tower and the Loch Ness monster.
The two Australian artists from the stage show "Puppetry of the Penis" won't be performing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" — they will just talk about their stage performance. But that is too much for KSL, the NBC affiliate owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"It's inappropriate and something I'm not comfortable with having on KSL-TV," said Jim Yorgason, the station's vice president and general manager.
"There are times when they have programming we find objectionable or unacceptable," he said. "It's a fine line, and we take it on a case-by-case basis. This segment is not anything I can support at KSL."
NBC programmers are negotiating with Utah's WB station, KUWB-TV (Channel 30), to air Leno's late-night show. KUWB had not decided by Tuesday night.
"It will cause a big shuffle," said KUWB creative services director Jim Crownover. The station would have to move the risque dating shows "Elimi- date" and "Blind Date" to accommodate Leno at 10:35 p.m. "If we can't get out of our other programming commitment, there's no place to run it."
While Leno's show will headline actress Jamie Lee Curtis and rocker Beck, Yorgason was rattled by the performers of "Puppetry of the Penis," David Friend and Simon Morley, who call their show the "ancient Australian art of genital origami."
Yorgason has not seen the stage show but was advised of it by a viewer who learned they would be on Leno. Yorgason then made the decision with other KSL programmers after visiting the "Puppetry of the Penis" Web site.
"I can't in my wildest dreams think that what they do on the Internet site they will do on the Leno show," he said.
A "Tonight Show" spokeswoman said that after a producer saw "Puppetry of the Penis" he invited the two artists "to come on and just discuss their show." An NBC spokeswoman said there have been no other complaints from affiliates.

Nor are complaints apparently anticipated from a few entire countries, accordingly to Bart's Variety report, which indicates the actual show will be shown on TV somewhere on this mortal coil.