list.co.uk/festival Reviews | FESTIVAL KIDS
P H O T O :
M A N U E L V A S O N
BEOWULF Adventure and emotion go hand-in-hand in Take Thou That's retelling ●●●●● DUCKIE Le Gateau Chocolat’s first foray into children's theatre ●●●●●
THE TIME MACHINE Puppetry and storytelling brings the first science fiction novel to life ●●●●●
The great Anglo-Saxon poem of Beowulf is given an intelligent makeover by Take Thou That, who create a play that echoes with adventure and derring-do – but which has a much deeper layer of meaning, too. Finding a way into the 900-year-old text by way of 9-year-old Sophie (Eva O’Hara), whose mother is a world expert in Beowulf, is a nice touch. It immediately gives the language its own interest before all the exciting sword play.
The heart and soul are both there in Le Gateau Chocolat's updating of the story of the ugly duckling, told with a plummy voiceover moderated by the cabaret star's own impressive vocals and stage presence. The telling, however, leaves a lot to be desired. For all that the costume designs are both delightful and intrinsically clever, the production is let down by too many elements of its technical presentation, from lighting to blocking and direction.
The clever touch here, however, is that Sophie's In Le Gateau's world, his first created for a young
mother has cancer. As she explains her illness, Sophie's imagination dreams up a live Beowulf (Charlie Layburn), whose fight to save King Hrothgar from the monster Grendel and his mother, she imagines is like the medical attempts to defeat her own mother's tumours.
While Sophie and her mum talk about the memories that they will not be able to share, the story in her imagination is given a bold physical telling by the eight-strong ensemble. There's plenty of clashing of staves, great warrior chants and the imaginative creation of monsters and settings of Beowulf's deeds as Sophie attempts – and fails – to bring reality under her control. (Thom Dibdin) ■ Underbelly Bristo Square, until 17 Aug, 11.40am, £10–£11 (£9–£10).
audience, Duckie is not a mis-named swan, but a proper yellow chick who finds himself unwanted by his fellow circus ducklings because of his inability to quack. So Duckie sets off to find an animal whose act he
can join. Lions, flamingos, elephants and sea lions all reject him until a hen peacock looks to his future and a wee mouse gives him a few wise words. Each animal has a song to sing, a subverted version of a pop hit, sung in that rich, resonating voice but moderated down for young ears. And while Duckie might not find a place to fit in, his experiences create an inclusive lesson of learning to be who you are. (Thom Dibdin) ■ Summerhall, until 12 Aug, 2pm, £12 (£10). (£6.50–£9).
This accessible retelling of HG Wells’ 1895 novel comes with a pedigree so strong, it would get Best in Show at Crufts. The entire team, from performers to director and dramaturgy, are all central arteries of the beating heart of Scottish children’s theatre (Andy Cannon, Shona Reppe, Rick Conte to name but three).
So it comes as no surprise to find that the
storytelling is crystal clear. Wells’ narrative is not without its complexities, but the Scientific Romance Theatre Company, as this crew is named, know how to simplify a tale without dumbing down. Set in the Victorian era, an ambitious scientist heads off into the future in his brand new invention. Finding himself in 802,701, he meets Weena, one of the passive Eloi people (a character ripe for puppetry if ever there was one) and a scary subterranean Morlock, who likes nothing better for lunch than an Eloi sandwich.
Despite the peril involved (the Time Traveller’s machine is stolen – will he make it back home?), there’s no real sense of danger portrayed here. Which leaves the show enjoyable with the occasional laugh, but lacking adrenalin. (Kelly Apter) ■ Scottish Storytelling Centre, until 19 Aug (not 15), 2.30pm, £10 (£8).
DICK AND DOM Kids TV stars make entertaining Fringe debut ●●●●●
'Ant and Dec are like Waitrose, and we're Lidl,' say Dick and Dom with pride; although to extend the supermarket comparison further, if there's no Waitrose nearby then Lidl will do just fine. Or if Ant and Dec are indisposed and off our television screens for well-documented reasons, then commissioners looking for another much-loved pair of sometime kids’ show presenters to make the step up to family work could do worse than Dick and Dom. The pair – Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood – are best known as the hosts of BBC children’s television show Dick and Dom in da Bungalow between 2002 and 2006, and although their star has fallen somewhat since then, the fact this is their first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe still comes as a surprise. With the large McEwan Hall nearly full just after lunchtime,
their gameshow Dick v Dom is a perfect fit for the festival, an audience participation game in which the crowd is split in half and made to contest for each performer. It’s the kind of show which is aimed squarely at children, yet skilfully draws on elements of music hall performance, gleeful local radio presentation and postmodern turn-of-the-millennium kids’ television, for those who like to spot such influences. McCourt and Wood are skilled and clever hosts whose
preparation and fluency with one another is a rare thing, even when they’re orchestrating a pie fight, entreating a pair of dads to drink a baked bean smoothie or asking a couple of mums to literally punch their way out of paper bags. At one point the audience is asked, ‘are there any grubby students in who don't have kids but just bought tickets to relive their childhood?’ The number of hands raised in the air suggests an older audience is willing the pair on to make a crossover. (David Pollock) ■ Underbelly Bristo Square, until 12 Aug, 1pm, £12.50–£14.50 (£11.50–£13.50).
8–15 Aug 2018 THE LIST FESTIVAL 75