PUPPET GUY. With Conrad Koch, Chester Missing and others. Baxter Theatre.
MEGAN FURNISS reviews
I was walking back to my car alongside Gavin, his son Matthew, and Matthew’s mom, after watching Puppet Guy, and Matthew was re-enacting word for word the part where his dad had been on stage, ‘helping’ Conrad. They were in raptures about how brilliant the show had been. They were gurgling with laughter and amazement all over again, and I was laughing too.
In the show Conrad jokes about being the best ventriloquist in SA, because he is the only one. No. He is the best because he is the best, and Puppet Guy is the perfect production to see him at his best.
Two hands open the show. Two talking hands. Then we were encouraged to welcome everybody’s favourite political puppet, Chester Missing, who is kak funny, on the money and so, so rude. I love Chester, and in this show he does not disappoint. He had us shrieking with laughter in the first five minutes.
But Conrad has new puppets too, and these include an utterly hilarious, put together from an old sock, slipper and couple of feather dusters Ostrich, and a flabby and Redbull rushing boy mosquito. Of his new incarnations, his DJ Hoodie is my absolute favourite. He looks like a completely off his face Muppet and he is so, so funny, spinning the tunes that accompany people in places.
A large part of this show relies on members of the audience participating, and this brought the serious guffaws and rolling in the aisles.
Before we knew it, 70 hilarious minutes had flashed by. Conrad has timing, technique and charm, but most importantly, he has a real funny bone, honed to mastery.
Go catch Puppet Guy before Conrad and his mouthpieces zoot off to Canada.
What: Puppet Guy
Where and when: Baxter Theatre from 3 to 14 April 2018.
Book: www.webtickets.co.za
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