Yeah, so Trevor is one of those bastard farmers who treats his dog like shit then blames it for being useless. So he advertises for a replacement, four contenders turn up and he puts them through their paces – for the edification of the masses who enjoy watching innocent creatures being degraded and humiliated. All good fun, right? What could possibly go wrong?

It’s a great set-up for a Fringe show, not least when Celebrity Trevor Island’s guest contenders are performers who also get to pitch their own Fringe shows at the end (see below).

Ben Kelly on keys adds to the preshow ambience in Te Auaha’s Tapere Nui which is adorned with four strings of ‘big top’ lights, a large blue plastic rectangle, an orange armchair, a dog kennel … It’s Ben who introduces the MC, Trevor (Jeremy Hunt – also credited as the Showrunner for Ruff as Gutz Spectacles), who romps on in gumboots, shorts, singlet and beanie.

Of course we all oblige whole-heartedly when Trev get us to provide animal noises in three job lots. But it turns out to have no purpose. We are never called on to do it again. The few mooing, bleating or cackling offers from the audience in response to what ensues thereafter are totally ignored. But of course we’re animals and Trev’s a bastard so what can we expect – is that the idea?

Anyway, so Trev gets us to boo the arrival of his farm-hand Dog (Anna Barker) claiming it likes the attention, then introduces the contenders for the farm hand job: Dylan Hutton, Eliza Sanders, Salome Bhanu and Em Barrett on opening night. Now a dysfunctional hand-held mic has been abandoned, which Trev doesn’t need anyway, but it might have been useful for amplifying the softer voices of some of the contenders when they answer his questions about what they like and why they want the job.

On with the tests, then – physical, mental and artistic – carried out in the chicken coop, a.k.a. on the blue plastic rectangle. Fortunately the contenders are wearing clothes that are conducive to getting messed up. The first test involves donning chicken feet (i.e. rubber chickens) and trying to dodge the blindfolded, noodle-wielding Dog. The rules were not clearly explained but I guess chaos was the end game anyway.

Subsequent tests involve making a pizza pie with a severe limitation involving just one body part; an artificial insemination simulation-cum-competition; competing on ‘Trevia’ questions; competing to get the most ‘eggs’ (water ballons) from a central pile into your corner. During the ‘Trevia’ test, attempts to enhance the drama with live music only succeeds in obliterating key words and diminishing the entertainment value. Hopefully that mic will get sorted for the next two shows.

Using a contender (Dylan) as its mouthpiece, the Dog lets it be known it thought it was getting a help-mate, not being replaced. Trev derides the idea, reinforcing his bastard persona, and a revolution ensues – which is where we, as fellow farm animals, could have been included.

Even though ‘Ruff as Gutz’ is their brand, a more thorough consolidation of the central premise would improve the show a lot. First, as with Celebrity Treasure Island, the MC needs to be authoritative and clear, and in this case his bastard persona needs to be convincing and consistent. He needs to be the panto-villain, if you will. In counterpoint, the Dog needs to engage our empathy and there need to be opportunities to for us to reinforce that throughout – culminating in Trevor getting his comeuppance.

In short, the whole experience could be much more entertaining and satisfying for players and audience alike.

Yeah well, that’s what I reckon anyway.   

Guest contenders:
Dylan Hutton (he/him) – other fringe show: Sandwich Artist (6 – 9 March)
Em Barrett (she/her) – other fringe show: Pure Grime (26 – 28 Feb)
Salome Bhanu (she/her) – other fringe show: Winging It (16 – 17 Feb)
Eliza Sanders (she/her) – other fringe show: Manage Your Expectations (27 Feb – 2 Mar)

Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer