The Bugalugs Bum Thief Review

8th April 2009

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre was delighted to read Stephen Bevis’ review of our current production, The Bugalugs Bum Thief, in today’s edition of The West Australian…

Tim Winton’s cheeky detective tale set in the sleepy coastal hollow of Bugalugs is apparently the most stolen book from WA school libraries. No doubt the author would give a sly grin and send in his boy-detective, Skeeta Anderson, to investigate.

Skeeta is the young hero who wakes up one morning to find his bum has disappeared, along with every other posterier in Bugalugs.

The overnight theft of 496 very crucial parts of the human anatomy is no laughing matter for those concerned – but someone forgot to tell the young audience at the remount of one of Spare Parts’ most popular productions, first created in 1998.

Any show that gives kids the licence to laugh along with their parents at the many manifestations of the word ‘bum’ is off to a flying start. What takes The Bugalugs Bum Thief to the next level is the dexterity, warmth and choreographic skills of the three performers working to the vision of director Noriko Nishimoto.

This adaptation cleverly combines actors and rod puppets. The wobbly movements well serve the story about townsfolk whose absent rumps put everything precariously out of whack.

Katya Shevtsov is an engaging performer, with some nice dance moves and a nimble hand as a puppeteer who wags Roger the dog, Skeeta’s loyal sidekick.

Spare Parts’ main puppeteer Michael Barlow and Bugalugs’ co-devisor Paul Johnson have great fun with their puppets, Skeeta and his mate, Mick Misery, who is the only person in town happy about his missing bottom because it allows him some respite from his mum’s smacks.

The projection of black-and-white images at the back of the stage complements the whimsical, nostalgic tone of the play, as does Barlow’s narration. The appearance of a few contemporary personalities on the projected slides also gives the adults a bit more to titter about.

_The Bugalugs Bum Thief is already close to selling out its latest season and it’s not hard to see why. _