Gonzo the cockatoo's timing is off and he ''fluffs'' his lines but he has the starring role in a Dunedin play, which opened at the Globe Theatre yesterday.
The unpredictable cockatoo is pictured with some of the Peter Pan cast (from left) Julez Culpitt, Don Donner, Simon Knopp (4), Lily Anderson (10), Raileigh Anderson (9), Ben Knopp (5), Zac Diehl (7), Spencer Campbell (8), Beau Campbell (10) and Leo Tucker (7). Play director Carol Krueger said Gonzo (15) improvised his lines.
''He sometimes gets bored and starts imitating the noise of a telephone ringing.''
Gonzo (15) was still working on his timing and often squawked his line ''hello'' at the wrong time, left his perch, and walked among the cast, she said. As well as Gonzo, the cast of 25 included 21 children, aged between 3 and 15, and a white poodle called Sammy.
The season finishes on Saturday, Mrs Krueger said.
