‘The Bugalugs Bum Thief’. Go on – you can’t resist. Say it out loud. Relish the alliteration and feel the silliness spread across your face. Bum bum bum! Let’s be real folks – the word ‘bum’ is a universal delight! Kids and adults alike can’t help but crack a smile when they hear it. And we get truckloads of bums in this humdinger of a show that’s totally cheeky, totally funny, and totally bonkers!
Adapted for the stage from beloved Aussie writer Tim Winton’s picture book, it’s a wonderful comedic goldmine of humour and wordplay. Not to mention a lesson in surrendering to the ridiculous. With its lighthearted and playful wit, this show is bottomless fun (pardon the bum pun) reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously.
In the crazy crayfishing town of Bugalugs, Skeeta Anderson wakes up to a terrible crisis – his bum’s gone missing! And he’s not the only one – the whole town’s bums have been pilfered! And now they can’t sit down! (cue some fabulous physical comedy) Skeeta embarks on a hilarious hunt to track down the sneakiest thief in town and get his bum back.
The talented trio of Ziggy Resnick, Madeline Li, and Toby Blome truly brought the house (and their pants) down in their ability to tap into the childlike spirit of kids on a mission, perfectly capturing an appetite for the unknown and the mischief that defines childhood.
Ziggy Resnick as Skeeta, embodied the innocence and curiosity of a kid in a ridiculous predicament, defying the limits, bringing a refreshingly genuine spirit to the character that was both heartwarming and hilarious.
Madeline Li and Toby Blome, as Skeeta’s trusty sidekicks, channelled their inner Scooby Doo gang members, displaying some remarkable versatility. They breathed life into a vibrant cast of eccentric Bugalugs townsfolk, including a hapless cop, Skeeta’s bum bereft parents and the intimidating Mrs Misery – complete with fluro-pink dressing gown, shower cap and a terrifying hairbrush – just to name a few.
Stef Furnari, talented percussionist and ‘one-woman band,’ added an extra layer of excitement and energy with her dynamic and lively drumming. These infectious rhythms accompanied several humorous Bugalugs songs and conundrums to great effect.
Audience participation? Of course! Bugalugs school teacher, Mr. Wally took the lead. We played several games of “Heads, Shoulders, Knees” and learned that Mr. Wally’s rule – “keep the ending close to the beginning” – is a sanity-saver during kids News Time. Lauren and James, our brave volunteers, shone bright.
Lauren almost overcame stage fright to share her favourite food, while James regaled us with a harrowing tale of his car hitting a rock and exploding luggage (talk about a show stopping steal!) Then Mr Wally’s bright red boxer shorts made a memorable appearance and everything was back on track.
Kids go wild for bum jokes because they’re the perfect blend of teetering on rude without being crude so this revival is a perfect bum-tastic treat for the funny bone. A marvellous celebration of catchy tunes and all things delightfully playful, superb entertainment for little ones aged 4-12. Now, for the big question…… just who was the brazen bum thief? Nah – that would be telling!
For the answer and all things to do with Bugalugs Bum fun, see: https://riversideparramatta.com.au/whats-on/the-bugalugs-bum-thief/ for further information.
This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.
