Bus Boy

Bus Boy is a sensitively told tale about a boy obsessed with buses, who meets a young girl who is almost desperate for a good time.  Set on Rottnest Island, this locally written production by Izzy McDonald, is tightly performed by Rorschach Beast.

Sean Guastavino wins hearts in a compelling performance as Bus Boy, a boy in his late teens, who is clearly on the Autism Spectrum. He can name any bus-route on the mainland, can tell you the exact requirements for driving for Transperth and believes his Transperth-green coloured bike is a bus. He is also lonely.

Jerry is desperately trying to forget a traumatic incident and is seeking excitement. Very convincingly played by writer Izzy McDonald, Jerry is a little rough around the edges, with a good heart. Jerry immediately forms an unlikely but strong friendship with Bus Boy, which leads them to make what director Geordie Crawley describes as “bold choices” with “big consequences”.

Simply set, the focus is very much on the actors, but an organic and clever sound design by Robert Woods is key to us getting into the heads of the characters.

Bus Boy has a lovely feel, and its 5pm show time is a great way to get in an extra show at Fringe World.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Jamie Breen from Very Serious.