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Reviews {KIDS}
MIRAZOZO Inflatable world of fun and relaxation ●●●●●
‘Have we been in here yet?’ said the girl next to me to her friend. It’s an easy mistake to make, the rooms and corridors of Mirazozo are all similar but different and, like a maze, it’s hard to know where you’ve been and where you’re going. This is absolutely not a complaint, however. The ease with
which you walk through this vast inflatable, stopping to sit or lie down, lean against the walls or, as one toddler did, slide along on your bum, makes Mirazozo a genuine pleasure rather than a frustration. The latest creation by Alan Parkinson of Nottingham-
based company, Architects of Air, Mirazozo is filled with light in hues of green, red, blue and orange. Yet, remarkably, none of it is generated by any kind of electrics. Even on grey, rainy days, of which there have been plenty this Festival, Mirozozo is still a luminarium of colour provided wholly by natural light. Ambient music appears to emanate from nowhere and each time somebody opens the door, the walls move as if breathing gently. Mirozozo is in the Kids section of the Fringe programme, but of course it’s a haven for adults as well. And herein lies the only drawback. If you’ve headed inside the inflatable womb looking for some relaxed down-time, be prepared to share it with some very excitable toddlers who can’t believe their eyes, older children playing hide and seek, and staff trying to ensure nobody runs.
Most people (toddlers aside), however, do a bit of both – marvelling at the craftsmanship that has gone into this hand-stitched plastic, admiring the light, exploring each room and then laying back against the soft, yielding walls and enjoying a brief moment of calm in amongst all the Festival madness. (Kelly Apter) ■ Assembly George Square, 623 3030, until 29 Aug, 9.30am- 8pm, £5.
PATRICK MONAHAN: STORIES AND FAIRYTALES OF TRAVELS FOR KIDS WHO DANCE LIKE CAMELS Comic silliness with a disco beat ●●●●●
In an ideal world, Patrick Monahan would be available every weekend to babysit my children. I doubt they’d get much sleep, but there would certainly be no tears. This amiable comedian, who branched out a few years ago into entertaining younger audience members, is out to have a good time – and take us with him. The structure to the show is a little loose, and
some segments (especially those featuring songs) go on a touch longer than necessary, but an hour in Monahan’s company is still a total pleasure. The promised ‘stories and fairytales’ in the show title are, in fact, just one story, but Monahan has so many props and costumes to flesh it out with, it takes the entire show.
Best of all, we’re all part of the action. Whether we’re sitting with a camel mask on our heads (everyone has to at some point), passing back the ocean (blue sheet) or joining in with some daft dance steps, we’re with him all the way. (Kelly Apter) ■ Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 28 Aug (not 17–19, 22–26), 2pm, £7.50–£8.50 (£6.50–£7.50).
PASTA! MACARONI PUPPET’S SHOW Playing with their food ●●●●● THE INCREDIBLE BOOK EATING BOY Quirky adaptation of much-loved book ●●●●●
Given that nursery schools the world over have already realised the potential of dried pasta shapes to entertain small children, this lovely little show by Italian puppeteers Placedumarche seems to be the next logical step in pasta-based play.
The premise is deceptively simple – the pasta escapes from the shopping bag and goes on to create imaginary landscapes – however, that would belie the serious levels of enthusiasm and effort that has gone into creating a multitude of clever puppets. On wires, the pasta becomes glowing, floating butterflies; armies of rigatoni march across the stage in formation and Catherine wheels of penne blur like lights. Somehow, they’ve discovered that dried pasta looks magical under a stark spotlight. There are comic set-pieces where a group of cannelloni worships a tomato, and the naughty pasta piece certainly raise a lot of giggles. There’s a lot to look at, but towards the end, things do start to lag a bit (there are only so many situations the pasta can get into). However, as an exercise in encouraging children to see the imaginative potential in everything, it succeeds. (Kirstin Innes) ■ Assembly George Square, 623 3030, until 21 Aug, 10.30am, £7 (£5).
This five-minute adaptation of Oliver Jeffers’ 2006 children’s book is one of the quirkiest and most delightful offerings at this year’s Fringe, no matter what your age. The performance itself takes place in the Black Box, Bootworks Theatre’s marvellously innovative performance space. An audience of one (or two, including a young child) is led into the box; the light goes off and the performance begins, told through three apertures that open and close like the turning pages of a book. In this charming tale, a boy called Henry decides to eat books rather than read them, an activity that makes him cleverer and cleverer – before problems begin. The style of Jeffers’ original artwork is lovingly re-created in puppets and sets designed by the company. But it’s to Bootworks’ credit that Jeffers’ distinctive illustrations aren’t simply copied; instead, they create a new and absorbing animated landscape.The five minutes spent in the Box are disappointingly short, but there’s a chance to stick around in a play area where children and parents can play and draw, making the area outside the box almost as fun as inside. (Yasmin Sulaiman) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 29 Aug, every 6 mins between 10.20am and 2.14pm, £4.
18–25 Aug 2011 THE LIST 55
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