BOB & ROB AND THE CREEPY CAMPING TRIP

Once again Bob and Rob wrap educational message into fun entertainment for all ages. (Review by Caroline Smart)

Once again, as the likeable brothers Bob and Rob, Grant Jacobs and Rory Booth wrap an important educational message into fun entertainment for all ages in their new show Bob & Rob and the Creepy Camping Trip.

This is their third show on the same theme and it’s all about protecting the environment through controlling litter. The troublemaker here is Tokkie the Tokoloshe who has the power to hypnotise youngsters into leaving rubbish lying around so that they eventually get into trouble with their parents. Not sure if this is the right kind of thinking as it diverts the sense of responsibility but it leads to a lot of fun in a theatre format!

The initial press release indicated that there would be new songs, screen projections and puppets – however, the production only features a screen which portrays some of the popular children’s television cartoon shows as well as the scene where the boy’s mother challenges them to do without their technology “fixes” such as X-Box and Playstation for a week. Fired with enthusiasm, they set up a tent in the garden and set about their adventure without a television, cellphone or laptop in sight.

While audiovisual input is always very useful in a show with a small cast as it facilitates costume or scenery changes, the footage needs to be of a high standard in terms of camera angles and sound quality. If the idea was to present something quirky, they didn’t pull it off.

However, this doesn’t apply to the rest of the performance which was full of energy and bounce, the youngsters responding enthusiastically and readily to invitations to come on stage or sing along. Before the performance started, there were several piping voices around me insistently enquiring of their parents – not “When’s the show going to start?” but “When are Bob and Rob coming?” indicating that they have generated a good following among the little ones.

In this amusing romp, we see Grant and Rory disappear in and out of the tent – later appearing in different disguises as Tokkie and the languid Tamelda the talking tree (Rory) and the deliciously bossy film director Lizzie the ladybug (Grant).

There are enough wry humorous comments and clever quips to amuse the adults while the youngsters are enchanted by the carryings-on of these two talented young actors. Their energy is infectious; their focus is good and their intentions extremely well-supporting. I highly recommend this production for 45 minutes or so of fun and nonsense in this hectic period before Christmas and New Year!

Presented in association with TheatreBIZ at the Catalina Theatre, Bob & Rob and The Creepy Camping Trip runs daily at 11h00 until December 23 (seven days a week). The ticket price includes a boat ride around the harbour – make sure you take jerseys or anoraks as it can get chilly out on the harbour waters.

Bookings through Thandeka on 031 305 6889 or email tsibisi@mweb.co.za Tickets available online at www.strictlytickets.co.za or at www.catalinatheatre.co.za or at www.goingplacesSA.co.za / www.goingplacesSA.com.

The Catalina Theatre is still functioning thanks to support from Rainbow Chicken, National Arts Council and Ethekwini Municipality. - Caroline Smart