Grimace the Gorilla unmasked after 15 years
And Grimace the Gorilla is... New Plymouth arborist Bruce MacDonald.
After 15 years of keeping Grimace’s true identity an almost complete secret – a lot of his mates didn’t even know – MacDonald has revealed he is the man behind the mask (and costume) that has entertained thousands during the TSB Festival of Lights.
MacDonald had promised to reveal his identity ahead of Grimace’s final performance tonight after announcing his retirement last weekend.
His young family needs a dad in the summer holidays, he said.
‘‘For 15 years I’ve been tied to the park.’’
He has many tales to tell from 15 summers, but never a problem that would keep him from coming back, he said.
One year a kid tried to put a lighter on him but he was drenched in sweat and ‘‘not combustible’’.
Another time a teenager hoisted Grimace onto his shoulders and was planning to throw him in the lake, until MacDonald told him he didn’t care what he did to him but not to scare the kids.
MacDonald was a tree officer with the New Plymouth District Council, which runs the lights festival, at the end of 2005 when he made the suggestion of having someone dress as a gorilla during the festival.
The events team were having a meeting, with the feeling being that things had gone a bit stale.
‘‘The next day they came back and said, ‘we want you to do it and
you’re going to be called Grimace’.’’
MacDonald said judging body language was the key to making friends. Sometimes the simple act of giving – even just a leaf – could make
tentative kids realise he was not a threat. ‘‘I know teenage kids that still have their leaves that I gave them when they were toddlers. They’ve got it pressed in a book.’’
Ahead of his final night, MacDonald said he want to thank the community for having him ‘‘and apologies for any nightmares caused’’.
- Other entertainment includes Bark in the Park at 12pm, Rizki & the Vagancy at the Hatchery Lawn from 7.30pm, and the Renee Millner Trio on the Fred Parker Lawn from 8pm.