Tonight Reporter
Ventriloquist, Conrad Koch, brings his puppet, Chester Missing, to the Joburg Theatre this week. Running until November 7, the production is titled Missing and features the puppet as well as two more Koch creations.
First, there’s a little monster called Ronnie. A delinquent like no other, Ronnie has played the role of pusher man to some audience members in the past. Koch will also be pulling his mentor and life coach out of the suitcase he carries around. Named Charles Hilary, this puppet is an ostrich that will never say “no” to vodka.
Earlier this year, Missing went, er, well, missing on two different occasions. And it always has to do with a flight. First, the puppet and Koch were on their way to Tanzania in May when he suddenly disappeared. After that, the pair were headed to Montreal, Canada, for the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival when the puppet went missing again. So, naturally, with a title like Missing for a show, those incidents will be discussed.
However, as seen in Missing’s latest photo opportunities, the audience will be dealing with a different puppet. Yep, the usually darker-skinned puppet is now the same shade as Koch. How did Missing turn into a white puppet? Is it skin-bleaching? You’ll have to go and watch the show to find out.
Missing, the puppet that the show is named after, has some pressing questions. According to the production’s press release, he wants to know the answers to things like: “Where are we going? Who are we? Will Jacob Zuma pay back the money? Why is there a white guy keeping him in a suitcase? Will Chester find himself, or will he stay Missing?”
This will be a new take on the usual Koch/Missing relationship and it will be interesting to see how the audience take to the puppet they have come to know as a revolutionary voice, now with a fairer complexion.
Catch Chester Missing and Conrad Koch in Missing at The Fringe at Joburg Theatre until November 7. Tickets are available at Computicket.