Lets be friends FUREVER

Last night we had the pleasure of attending a show at Brisbane Powerhouse called "Lets be friends furever". This is a where I tip my hat and my Shmackos to creativity, alive and well, in the arts world and say thank you to the creators who came up with such a warm and wonderful show. 

The seats had been cleared from the front and they created a pen with a grand piano, a dogs kennel and a a few other little doggie artefacts. The lights dimmed and we were told in a strong and firm voice to SIT, SIIIIT - good. 

And then it began - a show about dogs and our connections with them, alternating video testimonials from dog owners and their pets and live presentations of them with an interviewer booming questions at them. My favourite was Carl a returned Commando who was first up with Guja his dog- how he had almost walked away in fear of its aggressiveness and then turned back to meet the dog and become bound to her. Their close bond was so very obvious to everyone in the theatre. 

We loved F..ing Brett and Steve and their owner - clowning around on stage for their entire time. How F..ing Brett who eats chickens, was rescued or at least taken from a less than engaged neighbour and how these two just love one another. 

We met Ava, the Afghan and heard about how her hair grows, that she is a hunting dog and a show dog for her adoring owner. 

Two children came on stage to introduce their cocker spaniel. They seemed to think their doggie was a bit dim but they loved her nevertheless and sang a song all about her. Big dogs, little dogs, pooping dogs all made an appearance with their various owners, some looking like their beloved pets. 

A Great Dane - a puppy weighing a mere 78 kilos who sniffed at the dog kennel and didn't stand a hope in hell getting into it. Her owner telling us her husband wanted a cat and she came back with this one. 

And this little pug, the runt of the litter, weak and barely able to survive but who is now thriving and has some 30,000 followers on Insta ! 

The show then brought on a vet - a handsome and serious one- who talked about pets dying. The messages from owners who invest so much love and attention and also money in their pets is of course they do all these things knowing they have a short life and losing them is possibly one of the most painful experiences we ever go through. The video footage was heartfelt and moving and my friend, who is a dog owner, was chocking up. I remembered the enormity of losing Tara.

How does a show get over this hump, where do they go from here? Right on cue three people walk in with the most adorable puppies and exchange true and interesting facts about how much money we spend on them, how much fitter and happier we are because of them, how much poop we scoop up, how many shoes get ruined, let alone carpets chewed. 

But we love them and they love us back unconditionally and unreservedly. 

What more can one hope for in life. To Brisbane readers - go and see it -https://www.brisbanefestival.com.au/whats-on/2021/lets-be-friends-furever

To all the rest - enjoy your best friend, cherish them as they cherish you.