MARVELLOUSLY INVENTIVE
CAT VS DOG
Written and directed by Dan Bain
Dunedin season directed by Simon Goudie
Reviewed by Terry MacTavish, Theatreview 13 Jul 2014
“They're best friends if anyone else intrudes,” their loving grandmother confides, “But much of the time they really do fight like cat and dog!” Which, of course, makes my guests, brothers Oliver (7) and Harry (5), the perfect target audience for Dan Bain's latest school holiday charmer, Cat vs Dog.
Their mother has the boys well in hand, however, and it's hard to believe they could be anything like the aggressive pets on stage, who are competing furiously for the attentions of kindly old Grandma. Gran succeeds in allotting Cat and Dog equal patting rights, but as soon as she leaves the room or nods off, it is all-out war.
Having previously reviewed Bain's delicious A Paintbox Full of Clowns, I know what to expect: no words at all, just marvellously inventive movement to bouncy music and amusing sound effects. (Though again I find myself wishing the music was live: where is Danny Still when you need him?) Without words, the play is more comical and cartoon-like, while the message, about getting along together, has more subtlety, and yet reaches even the stroppiest of quarrelsome siblings. Read more...
