• theatre
  • features
  • faqs
  • contact
  • theatre
  • features
  • faqs
  • contact
  Art Murmurs - Wellington Reviews

Reviews

Mr Fungus Returns

25/3/2019

Comments

 

Austin Harrison

Mr Fungus Returns is a mischievous and entertaining children’s show, with room to become a family favourite. Mr Fungus (Fergus Aitken) leads us through an hour of mime, prop-work, and clowning ​​which has a basic two-part structure. Act one is an elaborate physical journey as Mr Fungus makes his way to the theatre. Obstacles include a snowstorm and a cleverly executed bus journey in which Aitken switches between seven or eight familiar, bus-dwelling characters.

​The first act contains some exceptional physical theatre and mime which often has us mesmerised and amazed, however it is somewhat plagued by technical issues. These begin with a recurring gag using a mimed door—there is a sound effect which accompanies this ‘bit’ and it did not once play on cue. Even the kids in the crowd noticed this, with a child sitting next to me exclaiming, “You could just do it yourself!” much to the amusement of those who overheard.  


This was especially noticeable during a segment which explored some famous Wellington landmarks, each with an accompanying sound. Mr Fungus makes a game of flipping between the various landmarks and challenging the SFX to keep up. Unfortunately, they miss the mark and the joke lands pretty flat. That same audience member summed it up, saying, “I feel like you’re making this up on the spot.”. Kids are brutal reviewers! Art Murmurs, I reckon we should sign him up!

To Aitken’s credit, one of the highlights of the show is his audience work. He really listens to the crowd and responds to them with animated facial expression, whistles, and that trademark Mr Fungus giggle. The tech issues, I suspect, are a byproduct of a lack of tech rehearsal and will certainly improve as the season and future shows develop. The lighting is bright and vibrant, and the backing tracks add energy and atmosphere which assist Aitken in creating a child-like spectacle which even sees the adults—myself included—whooping like kids and chanting “Fungus, Fungus, Fungus!” throughout the show.

The second act has a whole lot more audience interaction and it is here that the show really finds its feet. Mr Fungus arrives at the show from his “journey” and wins the crowd with a well-executed juggling routine and some inventive takes on classic balloon animals. The balloon bow and arrow is a particular hit—excuse the pun. He closes out with balloon-based fireworks and a delightful post-show message. Aitken breaks character by speaking directly to us for the first time in the show. He reminds us how important it is to laugh and play, and to “look after each other and the planet”. A wholesome end to a charming show which young audiences are sure to enjoy!

Mr Fungus Returns was created by Fergus Aitken and Fraser Hooper with support from the Creative Communities Scheme, as a part of the New Zealand Fringe Festival 2019. Check out www.fergusaitken.co.nz for upcoming shows from Mr Fungus around the country.
Picture
Comments

    Local Honest Reviews

    At Art Murmurs, our aim is to provide honest and constructive art reviews to the Wellington community.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All
    All Age Appropriate
    Art
    BATS
    Beauty Standards
    Black Comedy
    Body Positive
    Circa
    Circus
    Comedy
    Comedy Festival 2018
    Comedy Festival 2019
    Comedy Gala 2022
    Community Theatre
    Dance
    Devised
    Documentary
    Drag
    Drama
    Emerging Artist
    Exhibition
    Experimental
    Female Artists
    Feminism
    Feminist
    Festival
    For Kids
    Fringe
    Fun
    Gallery
    Gryphon Theatre
    Hannah Playhouse
    Heart + Music
    History
    Improv
    Interactive
    International
    Interview
    Ivy
    Lighting
    Local
    Mental Health
    Monologue
    Music
    Musical
    New Writing
    New Zealand
    NZ Comedy
    NZ Fringe
    NZIF
    On Tour
    Performance Poetry
    Photography
    Photospace Gallery
    Physical Theatre
    Political
    Politics
    Premiere
    Pyramid Club
    Queer
    Race
    Roxy LIVE
    Science
    Scruffy Bunny Improv Theatre
    Sexual Violence
    Shakespeare
    Site Specific
    Site-specific
    Sketch
    Solo Show
    Song
    Spoken Word
    Stagecraft
    Storytelling
    Tahi Festival
    Te Auaha
    Theatre
    Thought Provoking
    Thought-provoking
    Thriller
    Toi Poneke Gallery
    Verbatim
    Victoria University
    Violence
    Virtual Theatre
    Weekly
    Wellington
    Wellington Footlights
    Wellington Repertory