Bob the Builder Live: Spud's Big Mess at State Theatre on 1/31/09
By: Donette Ambrosy
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As if in response to the shifting socio-political climate in this country, the entire theme of Spud’s Big Mess is one of recycling and eco-awareness. The mantra "Trash is only trash if you can't recycle it!" is repeated over and over and the building of a wind-powered recycling center in Sunflower Valley is central to the plot. I don't think I am the only Gen Y parent who will appreciate this being the primary focus of the production.
Excellent costuming ensures the characters resemble their clay stop-motion counterparts with impressive accuracy. The anthropomorphic work vehicles are nearly life-size and zoom back and forth across the stage with a fair amount of realism. Frequent set changes and ample opportunities for audience participation keep the little ones engaged throughout the show. The cadence and progression of these scene changes follow the TV show closely, further contributing to this show's success in translating to the stage. (I've seen cartoon-based children's shows struggle with this translation in the past.)
As children's TV goes, I’ve always found Bob the Builder one of the more tolerable of the pack. This has less to do with the fundamental characters, story lines, and execution of the show (all of which have their positive attributes) and more to do with its British-ness. I derive nerdy pleasure from catching the little “British-isms” that are missed in the process of exporting the show to the US. For example, I noticed poor "Scrambler the Quadbike" kept slipping in and out of his British accent. While by no means embarrassingly obvious, those who were listening for it (as I was) might have caught Scrambler saying, "We can take old papah, and turn it into new paper."
I was also a bit confused by the character Spud, the trouble-causing scarecrow. On the US version of the TV show, Spud has an American accent while the stage production employed the voice of the British Spud. Did budget cuts prevent them from featuring the American Spud? It's difficult to say, but I suspect his screeching Cockney may have provoked some of the fearful sobbing that punctuated Spud's only solo number. The tiniest audience members seemed a bit spooked by him. Then again, this might have had something to do with this giant, bulbous head and unnatural, carrot-like nose.
Accents aside, Bob the Builder Live was undeniably cute and reasonably slick, with the exception of one malfunctioning windmill in the closing number. The kids in the audience were blowing maniacally - almost turning blue, in fact - to power the wind turbines so the recycling center could open. It must have been a bit confusing for them when only one of the two began to turn, yet the cast rejoiced at their success. The show must go on, after all. And it did. Overall the show is a great mid-winter diversion for kids stir-crazy from cabin fever.
Location Info:
State Theatre
Artist Info: Bob The Builder
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