Puppets brought to Mandurah

Prepare to be insulted when puppeteer David Strassman brings his entourage of friends together on stage at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre next week.

And Strassman makes no apologies.

His sometimes crude show combines the twisted imagination of his surreal puppet characters with animatronics to create a unique stand-up comedy show. Chuck and Ted E Bare are back but a strange wish transforms them into comical alternate selves.

Strassman’s interest in his work began as a child when he was inspired by electronically moving models at Disneyland and with his junior school which offered ventriloquism as an optional subject.

His first dummy was Chuck—who he bought from a mail order catalogue, the cheapest puppet on offer.

But it wasn’t his career ambition, he said he wanted to be an astronaut.

‘‘I never wanted to be a ventriloquist. I did it really for fun,’’ he said.

‘‘Ten years into it I thought, ‘It’s really stupid. I can’t believe I’m a ventriloquist.’

‘‘I quit for a year.’’

A decision to add robotics to Chuck, thanks to help from a friend who worked at NASA, has transformed his act.

Strassman can leave the stage while the puppets perform on their own with the help of a wireless controlled robotic system.

‘‘It puts an element of fun into what is normally an outdated end-of-pier show,’’ Strassman said.

‘‘That is what really propelled me forward and gave me the interest and incentive to make my show bigger and better.

‘‘The robotics gave me the incentive to want to add the theatre to what normally a night club or comedy club type of show.’’

Strassman has also added more puppets—the grumpy and cankerous Grandpa Fred, Kevin the Rabbit from planet Rigel 3, Angel the alluring robot with her metallic eyelashes and Sid the Beaver.

It’s already receiving rave reviews and will show in Mandurah at 6pm and 8.15pm on Sunday and at 7pm on Monday.

It is not suitable for children.