Lost in Space or A Space Oddity

Cheap and Dodgy’s production at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre is a much-anticipated annual event that attracts sell-out crowds (despite being staged Sunday to Tuesday) - and the excitement in the audience is palpable. A themed variety show that includes an overall story (of sorts), songs and sketch comedy, this year’s space themed show has the audience travelling on the good ship Venus Probe, with the mission of inhabiting and populating a new planet.

Unashamedly silly and fun, this production also serves as a fundraiser for some great causes - donating hundreds of meals to Foodbank Mandurah and supporting multiple scholarships for students from the Peel Region to attend WAAPA.

The show also famously includes Member of the Legislative Assembly for Mandurah and Minister for Culture and the Arts (among other portfolios), David Templeman, who is both leading man and executive producer. This year he plays “the almost incorruptible” Captain Cheap. The leading lady is the locally famous Carole Dhu, playing Flight Lieutenant Olga Dodgy. This pair play off each other beautifully, improvise superbly, and venture off-script at any given opportunity. The storyline is wild and naughty, but never offensive and the (mostly very grey) audience adore every moment.

There is a large supporting cast including Andy Peckover as Scotty, resplendent in a kilt and tam o’shanter and sporting an incomprehensible accent. The beautiful Bonnie Creelman wins hearts in her recurring appearances as a stowaway ET - continually rebuffed by Captain Cheap.

Some great singing breaks up the comedy. Mandurah Councillor Peter Rogers delights with a gorgeous rendition of “Stars”, Bella Lambert and Stephen Carter sound beautiful in “Catch a Falling Star”, and Sian Wake charms with “Fly Me to the Moon”. There are fabulous group numbers including “Venus”, a frenetic “Star Trekkin”, a wonderfully nostalgic “Purple People Eater” (starring Darien Peckover) and a sweetly suggestive “Afternoon Delight”.

Numerous skits liven up the evening, all performed with expert delivery and a great sense of fun.

Costumes are colourful and well-co-ordinated, nicely chosen projections make up for lack of set - and while this show is supposed to be “cheap and dodgy” there are pyrotechnics - nicely employed.

Primadonna Productions’ Youth Performers help to close the evening - in fabulous voice with excellent contributions from soloists Holly Creelman, Ruth Creelman and Marnie Kelly.

Before the show, patrons were able to enjoy the views from one of the most beautiful theatre foyer outlooks in the country, with the sights including some excellent Christmas installations, Santa Claus in person and dolphins frolicking in the estuary.

While nobody would accuse Lost in Space of being high art, this is a good old-fashioned variety show that thoroughly entertained and had a beautiful heart. 

Kimberley Shaw