The adage that truth is stranger than fiction could not apply more aptly to the story of Hercules the Bear. Who after all would believe that anyone would choose to raise a wild animal as a pet? But that is exactly what Andy and Maggie Robin of Sheriffmuir did when they bought a bear cub for £50 from Kingussie’s Highland Wildlife Park in the 1980s. Their beloved pet Hercules went on to become a legend appearing on the wrestling circuit with his owner Andy and now, thanks to Dunoon and Glasgow based theatre company Tenterhooks, the incredible true story is brilliantly brought to life on stage for the first time.
The 3 performers and co-devisers, Ben Winger and Diane Thornton as Andy and Maggie Robin with Suzie Ferguson as Hercules, bring second to none clowning skills to this lively show. Suzie depicts Hercules from cub to colossus through some imaginative puppetry, and deserves praise for managing the challenging looking apparatus that creates the fully grown bear. From the get-go, they are right in among the audience to shrieks of delight from the children, establishing an almost palpable bond for the rest of this highly entertaining spectacle.
In an atmosphere of carnival and anarchy, augmented by playful music from Pardruig Morrison, the team makes a clever use of props creating a cartoon quality to the show that amuses the already engaged target audience. Jennie Loof’s costume designs are spot on. Across Hercules’ life as a domestic pet and ultimately super star, due in some part to his disappearance while filming an advert on Benbecula that led to a 24-day bear hunt, vox pop recordings reflect the varied views from neighbours at the time to the massive furry new kid on their block.
Tenterhooks has created a joyous bright family show full of surreal moments to draw the adults, in not least being the trio’s hilarious yet moving rendition of The Platters’ classic song, Only You. Led by artist and designer Fergus Dunnet, who also made the puppets with Gretchen Maynard-Hahn, this interactive production is nothing short of ingenious. It does everything good theatre should. It informs and entertains while achieving the goal of a family show by providing engagement surprise and laughter. A real winner!
Hercules the Bear premiered to sold-out audiences on North Uist last year, and continues a tour, thanks to the Creative Scotland Touring Fund, that began in Ayr on 27th September before visiting Edinburgh, Dunkeld, Cumbernauld, Crieff, New Galloway, Paisley, Glasgow, North Uist, Stornoway, Inverness, Cromarty, Banchory, Aberdeen, Dunblane, concluding in Auchterarder with performances on 28th and 29th October.
Age recommend 6+ Running time: 50 mins
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 