Acting debut: Ballarat ventriloquist's doll Wally is playing Wacky in Damascus College's production of Annie. He's pictured here with Annie Nankivell, who plays Annie. PICTURE: KATE HEALY
Acting debut: Ballarat ventriloquist's doll Wally is playing Wacky in Damascus College's production of Annie. He's pictured here with Lochlan Kent, who plays Bert Healey, and Daniel Gay, who plays Fred McCracken. PICTURE: KATE HEALY
Acting debut: Ballarat ventriloquist's doll Wally is playing Wacky in Damascus College's production of Annie. He's pictured here with Annie Nankivell. PICTURE: KATE HEALY
Acting debut: Ballarat ventriloquist's doll Wally is playing Wacky in Damascus College's production of Annie. He's pictured here with Daniel Gay, who plays Fred McCracken. PICTURE: KATE HEALY
BALLARAT'S creepiest doll is about to get his first curtain call.
'Where's Wally', the 1950s ventriloquist dummy which has been scaring Lydiard Street North, is set to make his stage debut as part of the musical Annie.
The sold-out production will be staged by Damascus College students from tomorrow night until Saturday, putting the sinister-looking doll in the spotlight.
And his owner couldn't be happier about it.
Lesley Braggion purchased the doll, sight unseen, at a Melbourne auction earlier in the year.
Ever since, she has been looking for any opportunity to get him out of the house.
"When I picked him up I thought 'God you're ugly'. He spooks me a bit," she said.
"The kids hide him everywhere around the house. You can be stepping into the shower and he's there waiting for you."
When The Courier wrote an article in May about how Wally had been placed in the window of the house to spook passers-by, he became notorious.
Tony Braggion said people had driven from across the city just to get a glimpse of the doll.
"It's crazy. He has become famous," said Mr Braggion.
Vicki Rowe of Damascus College said the script of Annie actually incorporated a ventriloquist doll, making Wally the ideal choice to play the role of 'Wacky'.
Wally had his first rehearsal with the cast yesterday and was an instant hit.
"A lot of the kids loved him and they thought he was great, but he did scare a few adults," Ms Rowe said.
Mr Braggion said he did not know what was in store for the doll in the future, but the next step would most likely be to establish a Facebook page for him.
