Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his collection of crazy, yet always funny puppets had the Abbotsford crowd cheering for more on Friday night.
One by one the popular performer brought out his signature characters from Walter the grumpy old man, to the zany, and purple, Peanut and even his politically incorrect Achmed the Dead Terrorist – a skeleton and former suicide bomber.
Walter, who always has his arms crossed in discontent and a negative view on most things, opened the show with his usual phrase of “Shut the hell up” whenever an audience member cheered.
When asked by Dunham if he’s every in a good mood the puppet responded “I hope not, because then your show would suck.”
The Abbotsford performance had a strange twist. Dunham was also preparing for a Halloween special, to be taped in May, and told the audience it would get both the Controlled Chaos tour show and some bonus, Halloween-related humour so he could test his new material.
That resulted in almost three-and-a-half hours of comedy.
Walter, who was supposed to be dressed as Frankenstein’s monster, was asked why he didn’t have bolts attached to his neck. He responded that he had bolts, but he needed them for his knee, hip and four in his bedroom door in case his wife of 46 years got frisky.
The character also speculated on why people would come out and watch “a middle-age dumb-ass and his dolls.”
With that, the tone of the evening was set.
Despite his often off-colour humour, Dunham charmed the audience all night long, covering everything from Halloween and senior sex to beer drinking and father and son relationships.
Other characters quickly followed. Bubba J is a beer-drinking, NASCAR fan who wants to dress like a vampire because he’s used to seeing “rednecks.”
When told he was performing in Abbotsford car-fan Bubba J asked simply “is there a Costello-Chevy?”
The crowd’s biggest applause came in the second half when Peanut and Achmed were introduced.
Peanut, the purple, often racist and always hyper-active puppet is one of Dunham’s oldest characters and still has a loyal fan following.
While Achmed is newer, but quickly gaining a loyal following among Dunham fans.
The violent, but misunderstood terrorist is nothing but bones, with an attitude.
“Greetings Canadian infidels … Silence! I kill you.”
For Halloween, Achmed wants to be the scariest thing he can think of, a woman.
“Worse, an American woman. You marry one of these all the money for bombs is gone in no time.”
He said his female costume is fitting to put terror in the hearts of the western world.
“You thought I was scary before, wait until you see me parallel park.”
