As you enter the venue you are greeted by the highly energetic Trash Test Dummies are there, turning rubbish into a whimsical spectacle. Wearing overalls and safety hats, these three performers might be in the business of bins, but there’s no denying their comedic talents. As they weave through the audience, their impromptu balancing acts move between genuine skill and absolute hilarity.

It’s not just about rubbish bins. Their antics blossom into peculiar dance routines intensified by pounding music. And as you settle into this unanticipated trashy ballet, you soon realize the unpredictability of the performance.

Segments of remarkable dexterity, like mounting rubbish bins atop one another and balancing with just a hand are clear standouts. The show also sways into chaotic territories. The ambitious sea of balls scene, while novel, skates on thin ice as young audience members grapple with when and how they should participate, leading to a muddled frenzy on stage.

Sequences such as the delightful “New York, New York” hat jig, and the tense ladder jailbreak scene, pulsate with energy. Yet, despite these pockets of brilliance, the narrative threads of the show occasionally fray at the edges. The mix of a playful “death” and subsequent resurrection in a game of “he’s behind you” feels a touch contrived. And although the dummies unquestionably shine in their element, the show’s choice of venue appears oversized for its content. A smaller space might have better amplified the rapport with the audience and reduced some of the disarray.

While Trash Test Dummies certainly spills over with mirth and moments of genuine astonishment, it’s interspersed with sequences that could benefit from some fine-tuning. Amidst their delightful chaos, one thing is clear: the dummies unerringly believe there’s a wonder to be found, even in the most mundane.

3.5***

Reviewed by Matthew

Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows – The Lafayette

12.05 (1hr)

Until 26 Aug (not 14 or 21)