Futz is a satirical look at Cyrus Futz, a simple minded farmer who lavishes his love and attention on his pet pig Amanda following his bad run with women. When his "sin" is discovered, Futz is targeted by the town lynch mob in a play that pulsates with raw emotion and simmers with wry wit and outlandish humour.

Futz was written by Rochelle Owens in the 1960's and has become a classic of the American avant-garde theatre and an international success. The play has received prestigious awards, and won author Rochelle Owens an OBIE.

So if our like your comedy black, secretly enjoy laughing at things you know you really shouldn't be, head to the Western Campus and the Cowshed Theatre (Weds & Thurs at 6.30pm, Fri at 8pm).

The production will have just returned from Darwin on the last leg of tropical tour. In Cairns Dr Michael Beresford, Associate Professor Theatre School of Creative Arts, went to see the show twice.

"Karen Gibb's direction is slick, accomplished and is well served by Craperi's conventional yet functional set. In less assured hands the play would have faltered, but through a heightened stylization of the real, Gibb moves us into the purity of this very moving play and lets us glimpse its epic qualities.

The acting ensemble is tight doubling as characters but also chorus performing a grotesque but beautiful musical score. There are stand out performances by Kate Hooper as the village slattern, Ron Pulman as Cyrus Futz and Jeremy Cheetham as the village idiot. However it is Gibb's performance of the village idiot's mother that will make you laugh but also haunt you for days later.

TropicSun has delivered on what is a rare occurrence in North Queensland - grand theatre."
(Dr Michael Beresford, Associate Professor
Theatre School of Creative Arts)

The Cairns Post wrote..

...the black comedy is emphasised in this production and it is absolutely hilarious... Director Karen Gibb's background in movement shines through as the piece is cleverly choreographed... The cast thrive on the production's physicality launching into their roles fearlessly and with much gusto... FUTZ ...does what theatre does best - it challenges our perceptions and makes us talk about the world we live in.
(Denise Carter)