The great Australian mockumentary Kenny, which follows the life of a lovable plumber working for a portable toilet rental company, is being brought to life on the Wollongong stage.
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The film originally starred funny-man Shane Jacobson as "the Dalai-Lama of waste management", and has been adapted into a Ted-talk style production, running at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre from Wednesday.
Kenny shines a light on those essential workers that we need and value.
- Steve Rodgers
While the show is a relatable comedy with plenty of toilet humour, Steve Rodgers who wrote the adaption said Kenny also shone a light on essential workers.
"In some ways the job he does, people who are close to him judged him for that, expecting him to do more with this life," Rodgers said.
"What I think he teaches them - and us - is that it's the essential jobs that no-one wants to do, those workers are the real heroes.
"The show was originally scheduled to play before COVID-19 hit, so in another light ... it has shined a light on those essential workers that we need and value. Kenny kind of emulates that and celebrates that."
Actor Ben Wood takes on the leading role, stepping into a character who is proud of his work, despite his dad's harsh judgements and ignorant members of the public who take him for granted.
Rodgers said the most difficult challenge in turning a recognized movie into a one-man-stage-show was transcribing the relationships.
"The thing I really responded to in the film where the relationships ... it's those close relationships with family and lovers and friend that's where we're valued," he said.
The idea to portray the show in a Ted-talk style was derived from Rodgers' love for family slide shows and their ability to replicate a story from a memorable time - such as scenes in the original film.
Any die-hard fans of the Aussie movie needn't fret, as many of the "celebrated lines" have also made it into the stage production like "there's a smell in here that will outlast religion".
KENNY is on at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre from March 3 to 6. Further details and ticketing information can be found at: www.merrigong.com.au