Review by GoBranson, March 25th, 2011
“Matt Levingston and Gareth Sever have taken the preconceived notion of Branson entertainment and turned it on its head! Unique and original is just the tip of the iceberg with this comedy percussion duo. With a high-caliber and high-energy mix of hilarious songs, stunning tap dancing, creative instrumentation and, of course, jaw dropping percussion, this is one show you do not want to miss!
Buckets N Boards is playing at the newly renovated Clay Cooper Theater on Highway 76, just across from the Titanic Museum and Montana Mike’s. The theater has an impressive refreshment selection, clean and spacious restrooms and a gorgeous lobby (not to mention that 1,000 seat theater with 3 large stages)Your first impression of Matt and Gareth comes from a beautifully complied introduction video by the talented David Newton. This video sets the mood and gives you a taste of the comedy gold that you are in store for. You’ll also get a feel for the guys’ casual tone, their “costuming” consisting mostly of jeans or khakis and their eye-catching Buckets N Boards merchandise t-shirts.
Acoustics is a topic that is sometimes ignored, however, a percussion based show could not be held in a better theater. Everything from the faintest tap to the loudest bang comes through crystal clear with no echoing or feedback. The quality sound system definitely meets the demands of such a powerful show!
Now to the good part: the performance itself! Right off the bat, I was impressed by the array of musical talents Matt and Gareth possess. Their fluid and organic interaction makes for an incredibly smooth performance. At first, I felt that the “blackout” cutaways were a bit overused, but it really did fit the ADHD pace of the show. The boys are both extraordinarily energetic and have an awesome stage presence. They do a great job taking advantage of the large space that the Clay Cooper stage has to offer. Their ability to turn just about anything into a rhythm instrument was genuinely surprising throughout the show. Very clever! Matt and Gareth’s interactions with one another and the audience is priceless and Matt’s hilarious expressions are a show of their own. Buckets N Boards is definitely an interactive experience. It’s no wonder they were voted Best Comedy Show by Branson Critic.
Overall, Buckets N Boards is incredible. I highly recommend this show to anyone looking for something that breaks the mold of what you’d normally expect from Branson entertainment. I’m very much looking forward to going back and seeing this show again next week!”