Railway Bob: The Celebrity Dog ~ Adelaide Fringe 2025 Review

[THEATRE & PHYSICAL THEATRE/Puppetry ~ SA] The Lark at Gluttony, Sat 22 Feb, 2025. The colony of South Australia was barely established when railways came along to transform the transportation. A trip that took six days by wagon now took only six hours. Produce from all over the state could be brought to the ports just as quickly. This significant development is the setting for this story, one that is quintessentially our own. Commuters and train workers in towns far and wide came to know this legendary hound, for Railway Bob, the star of this show, loved nothing better than to ride the train tracks. He especially loved the bush, or perhaps it was just the joy of going for long rides to many distant dots on the map. Whatever the reason, Bob’s fame began humbly enough, as a companion to the drivers on their extended journeys. He also made friends with the porters in many places, and even gained a mention in the SA parliament, and some prominence in the SA Railways, a major institution in those times. Many tales are recorded of his exploits, and of his interactions with various folk. These stories are woven together with a suite of songs into a lively performance with two actors and of course, one very woolly dog. These verbatim reports give an authenticity to what is an important piece of our local heritage. Bob’s reputation grew to mythical proportions, and as such he became the stuff of countless rumours. Like all great legends, parts of his life remain shrouded in mystery. The dialogues and narration are clever and crisp, and the action keeps rolling along as it visits all corners of the state and criss-crosses the nation. The songs are clearly understandable as they contribute to the ongoing narrative, with minimal musical accompaniment from two instruments. The countless characters that Bob meets are played deftly by the pair, who both have fine singing voices too. It is wonderful indeed to see and hear our unique voice being recounted, the real riches that lie right beneath our noses. Such stories are the subsoil of our evolving culture, and we'd do well to nurture this. You would be well advised to indulge yourself and immerse yourself in this delightfully dramatized description of a slice of our history. Presented by ArtBeat 4.5 Stars David Cronin Railway Bob continues at The Lark from 6pm until Sun 16 Mar. Book at FringeTIX or adelaidefringe.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets. #ClotheslineMag #ADLFringe