Offbeat laughs in private detective show
Butt Kapinski Buskers Boutique Theatre, at Christ’s College World Buskers Festival, until January 27
The less I tell you about this show, the better. All I can do is urge you to see this surprising, hilarious and intimate piece of offbeat brilliance.
I have not laughed so hard at the theatre in a very long time and I left the theatre absolutely buzzing.
So what can I tell you without revealing this show’s ridiculous twists and turns? Let’s start with the show’s sole character – private detective Butt Kapinski, a classic film noir protagonist wearing a Humphrey Bogart raincoat. And coming out the back of the collar of that raincoat and hanging above his head is a lamppost. This lamp pretty much provides all the lighting for the show. Because Butt Kapinski is a protagonist in a film noir story and that means we need moody, dramatic lighting.
Kapinski moves through the audience, occasionally choosing someone to spotlight with his lamp and inviting that person to play a character, or provide atmosphere and setting for the story.
I hesitate to say this show involves audience participation, because I know how much that can put people off. But it’s not the kind of audience participation that makes you sweat.
Instead, Kapinski creates a collaborative, immersive atmosphere where it feels like the audience has a voice and a part to play in the show. This works incredibly well and relaxes everyone so they can join in the ridiculous fun.
This is a show that is built around the surprising and playful genius of audience members. And what genius. I have noticed, over the years, that you can always rely on a Christchurch audience to bring the weird. It feels like every performance would have its own tone and flavour based on the responses of the audience members.
Kapinski also toys with the archetypes and cliches of film noir, playfully and intuitively questioning the gender roles of these classic tropes in the most subtle way.
And just when you think this is just an anarchic and ridiculous romp, with no greater purpose or meaning, the twist is revealed, like the revelation at the end of a classic film noir. I have not laughed so hard at the theatre in a very long time and I left the theatre absolutely buzzing.
Go and see Butt Kapinski for one of the most surprising, liberating and hilarious hours you will ever spend in a theatre.