Jett Bond – Bunker

Welcome to the bunker. The world may or may not have ended, and you, dear audience, find yourself in the basement of Bard’s Apothecary with a slightly-crazed, blood-covered stranger, and a bunch of new friends (allies? enemies? sources of food should we resort to cannibalism?) 

Jett Bond’s Bunker is fundamentally an experimental comedy. It straddles the line between improv and a LARP experience. It’s the kind of show that is truly shaped by the audience, and every night is going to be a completely different experience for that reason. Joining me in my group of survivors: a musician who quickly took it upon themselves to provide a ukulele soundtrack to the evening’s proceedings, a children’s drama teacher who refused to share their pasta salad, and a photo editor who immediately offered themselves up to be eaten first. And Jett Bond, playing a character who’s oddly charming if undeniably weird. 

Bond is a skilled improviser. This show was actually, genuinely, continuously funny. It’s maybe the hardest I’ve laughed so far this Comedy Festival. Part of that was the authenticity that arose from the audience’s co-creation, but an equally big part of it was Bond’s ability to turn our (often disappointing) responses into something funny.

If you struggle with audience participation, then this show might not be for you. It’s art that relies on the social experience, and for that reason demands a certain willingness to put yourself out there. Personally, this was the most fun I’ve ever had during a maybe-apocalypse.