Amy Merrigan
Here’s a confession: any hint of puppets in plays tends to make me pretty cynical. Maybe it’s the awful image of sock puppets that jumps to mind, maybe it’s some traumatic experience I’ve blocked out, who knows. Puppets have always given me a bit of a spinal shiver.
The two men, one puppet show that is Bruce, however, well and truly proved me wrong.
With more accents and personas then I care to count, Bruce is a tour de force of brilliant voice work. From the wise old bloke with the zimmer frame, to the woman you just know was head girl at school to the slightly creepy yet sensitive one-eyed Russian, Bruce packs in more character development then I’ve seen in many a show with, you know, real actors with bodies.
And then there’s Bruce himself, our protagonist. Bumbling, chaotic but lovable Bruce… and I can’t believe I just wrote that about a goggle eyed foam puppet that looks like a brick.
The madcap story includes car chases, rocket launches, love, revenge and even a mention of the space time continuum. It’s silly and cheeky but so very well performed by Tim Watts and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd. There are a number of emotions I wouldn’t expect to have felt about a puppet, let alone one that resembles building material. If you are looking for guaranteed laughs, give it a go.
Bruce is playing at Underbelly Cowgate (Belly Button) until 30th Aug 2015. For tickets and more information, click here.