By Colin Flaherty
Downstairs at Bard’s Apothecary is an appropriate venue for a show about a Bunker. A basement with bare brick walls is where we are to wait out the end times. Seats are strewn almost randomly throughout the space with boxes of miscellaneous items, setting the scene for this hastily thrown together refuge.
Our equally dishevelled host of sorts, Jett, wanders around the space, stumbling over empty chairs and asking questions to this disparate group of people so we can plan how to cohabitate. As it’s a small room, it’s likely they will speak with everyone but there is no pressure to play. There is plenty of chat about how we spent our time in the “before times” leading to plenty of amusing lines about pop culture.
This is one of those shows where audience interaction decides whether it’s a brilliant performance or merely a good one. In a rambling conversational manner (it is the Apocalypse, not many people are in a rational state of mind!) Jett probes for material to spark some witty lines and progress the story forward. Sometimes we’ll hit pay-dirt encountering some eccentric characters in the crowd and veer off into hilarious tangents. When these responses lead to animated discussion between audience members it makes for an entertaining communal experience.
It appears that our interaction has the ability to guide the performance to some extent but there are scripted moments to keep the show on a redetermined path. Some wonderful prop gags delight and a moment of dramatic tension brings the collective together as a team. The conclusion feels a little lacklustre but it is somewhat appropriate for this absurd high stakes situation that is tackled with minimal urgency.
This immersive piece will keep a smile plastered to your face. Even if you are part of an audience of timid folk who don’t offer up the seeds of comedy gold, Jett Bond is a fun and engaging performer with which to spend an hour.
Bunker is on at Bard’s Apothecary until April 5