list.co.uk/festival Reviews | FESTIVAL KIDS
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MR TIGER GOES WILD ●●●●● Jolly t ale of friendship told through slapstick and a rock band
‘In the city we always follow the rules,’ declares Mr Deer proudly. He’s a scrupulously well turned-out gent in a morning suit and top hat, adorned with antlers and fluffy tail. It’s clear he likes things done properly, and he
expects the same of his best friend Mr Tiger. But Mr Tiger’s wild, and he likes nothing more than to leave the city, scoff the cake he’s been told to leave alone, and get out of the monkey suit and into his tiger onesie for some growling practice.
’Do you want to see a miracle?’ asks the painterly man at the easel. What a lovely way to describe the concept of art to children, and to further elaborate on it with a wonderfully designed show which anthropomorphises the blots of paint on that easel in inventively dramatic form. The curtain pulls back and the easel is there, scaled to such a large size that women wearing sheer, sequinned bodysuits in each of the colours represented can dance in waist deep pots of paint, teasing each other about which of them is the best and most important.
This fun and cheerful two-hander from Goblin The moral of the story being, of course, that it
Theatre, adapted from the internationally acclaimed children’s book of the same name, is delightfully well thought-out, with likeable performances. Silly slapstick, jolly songs, and a message about not forgetting your friends despite their differences and inability to always do what you want, are delivered in a manner perhaps best suited to smaller kids. It’s a nice show, perhaps not entirely bearing the force of personality such a concept deserves, but the characters are cute and the set – which breaks in two to reveal Mr Tiger’s rock band stage – is an excellent piece of design work. (David Pollock) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550 until 31 Aug, 11.10am, £8–£10 (£7–£9).
takes all sorts to create the rainbow of colours and personalities we see around us. The text of Theatre Courage’s piece is quite wordy and perhaps best for older kids, but all ages appear suitably enthralled by some great, colour-themed song and dance sequences which make the cast appear even larger than it is. Green frogs and leaves leap around, yellow sunbeams lead a simple singalong and blue waves wash delicately under billowing fabric. These, and the animated painting sequence at the end, are a visual feast which keep attentions rapt for the whole hour. (David Pollock) ■ Spotlites, 220 5911, until 22 Aug (not 17), 4.05pm, £6 (£4).
COLORS ●●●●● Imaginative show brings the art of painting alive FUNZ AND GAMEZ TOOZ ●●●●● Traditional kids show with jokes for grown-ups
The sleeper kids-comedy hit from 2014 continues its irreverent ways with Funz and Gamez creator Phil Ellis once more walking a tightrope which permanently threatens to snap under him. Alongside his often not-so-merry men Bonzo the Dog (always ready with barbs and scowls), Jim the Elf (a doe- eyed naïf who often appears to be in the wrong show) and Uncle Rick who has replaced his late identical twin Mick (his ashes are tastefully brought up on stage), Ellis throws together the elements of traditional children’s entertainment but underpins them with cheeky wit and sardonic asides.
Comments about ‘the spectrum’, ISAs, Grand Theft Auto and the late Keith Harris have adults sniggering into their sleeves, while Bonzo frequently courts a theatre producer in the audience as a means of escaping his nightmarish fate. If all this sounds like you should be steering your
little one well clear of this show, don’t fret: there are sweetie showers, songs, and games to keep them amused. Even if Phil (dubbed ‘north Manchester’s most reliable comedian’) does cheat at them all. ‘It’s not high art, is it?’ bemoans Bonzo. Maybe not, but it’s a charm riot for all the family. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Assembly George Square Gardens, 623 3030, until 31 Aug (not 25), 3.20pm, £9 (£7.50).
THE MAGIC PORRIDGE POT AND OTHER TASTY TALES Tales told through a set filled with surprise and delight ●●●●●
If there’s one thing you quickly learn at a Theatre of Widdershins show, it’s that nothing is as it seems. If you see a pile of stones sitting in a basket, a box of porridge in a shopping trolley or an empty brass pot on a stove – chances are, there’s more to them than meets the eye.
That’s one of the chief delights about watching this show –
wondering what storytelling Andy Lawrence will transform next. With three full tales packed into this lively hour, there’s a lot of scope for building, re-shaping and creating people and places before our eyes. All the more impressive when you know that Lawrence hand-crafts all the set and props himself. First up is the well-loved Magic Porridge Pot, but – as with
all Widdershins shows – the tale has been modified to give it a new slant. Now, it’s an elderly lady and her over-sized dog (who thinks he’s a butterfly) that are given the pot. The usual mayhem ensues, requiring the audience to join in the magic spell. As ever, Lawrence has found a funny and charming solution to producing an abundance of porridge on-stage. Then it’s on to the next tale – Stone Soup, a lesser-known
traditional folk story, in which a hungry stranger fools the townspeople into feeding him. Only here, the people are replaced by the charmingly named (and cleverly constructed) head chef, ‘Waffle Sweat’. Once more, Lawrence involves the audience, asking us to throw things into the pot. The food theme draws to a close with The Gingerbread Man,
again with a witty twist and fun opportunities to join in. All the tales go down well with both young and not-so-young – and why wouldn’t they? There’s no age restriction on finding wonderment in transformation. (Kelly Apter) ■ Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, until 30 Aug, 1pm, £9 (£7).
13–20 Aug 2015 THE LIST FESTIVAL 67