LIST.CO.UK/FESTIVAL REVIEWS FESTIVAL KIDS
TREASURE ISLAND Comedy on the seven seas ●●●●● LAPIN WANTS ICE CREAM Puppets on the beach à la Française
There’s nothing groundbreaking about this new show from Derby’s Uncontained Arts. But some- times it’s OK to just tell it like it is, and Treasure Island has enough unusual characters and exciting plot developments for them to get away with it. Building up a warm rapport with the audience, largely by the amount of times we’re asked to say ‘aargh!’ during the show, the actors set the scene for some comic silliness. With characters dashing back and forth from behind the set, or sticking their head over the top, the show plays like French farce meets Saturday morning kids TV – which is no bad thing.
Some of the performances are stronger than others, with a new silent character bringing in the laughs, as does the performer taking on the duel roles of Billy Bones and Captain Smollett. But this is an ensemble piece at heart, and the young cast works hard to keep the pace up and the audience engaged. (Kelly Apter) ■ Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 27 Aug, 12.15pm, £7–£8 (£6–£7).
With a pre-schooler’s brain bearing a remarkable resemblance to a sponge, it’s the perfect time to introduce a foreign language to them. Tania Czajka knows this, and has created a cast of fun characters to deliver the message. Holidaying on the beach, Lapin the cuddly rabbit is
too hot and needs cooling down. Only some glace un brocoli will do the trick, not the jus de pomme, fraise and d’orange offered to him. It is in this simple way that Czajka inserts French into the show, and the children’s minds, repeating key phrases until they start to stick.
Czajka may not be the most dynamic of storytell-
ers, but she has a friendly style and a lovely colourful set on which to house Lapin and his friends. By the time the show comes to a close, all the children are counting ‘un, deux, trois’ along with Czajka, and saying ‘au revoir’ when they leave, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. (Kelly Apter) ■ Institut français d’Ecosse, 225, 5366, until 27 Aug (not 19 & 26), 10am, £7 (£5).
HORRIBLE HISTORIES – BARMY BRITAIN Gruesomely entertaining alternative history lesson ●●●●●
The history of these islands is littered with enough corpses to fill a month’s worth of Fringe shows, so hats off to Birmingham Stage Company for managing to pack so much blood and gore into a bare hour. Terry Deary’s deliciously gruesome book series translates impeccably for the stage, thanks to
funny and engaging performances from the versatile Alison Fitzjohn and Neal Foster, some wacky costumes and a liberal helping of silly sound effects.
Each historical chapter takes the form of a clever parody of some touchstone of contemporary
popular culture. So, the Roman Invasion is recreated in the form of a cookery programme com- plete with rotten fish guts and roast dormouse, while the Viking Invasion is presented as an early version of Relocation Relocation Relocation. Interactive singalongs such as ‘Henry VIII was a Big Fat Man’ keep the pace moving, with much
humour derived from the contrast between Fitzjohn’s short stature and powerful singing voice and nimble moves. And what kind of a Grinch would you have to be to resist a show with so much imaginary poo, blood and vomit splattering everywhere? (Allan Radcliffe) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 26 Aug (not 20), noon, £10.50–£11.50 (£9.50–£10.50).
THE MACHINE Fun show with subtle green message ●●●●●
This is no clever title – there really is a machine in this new show from Little Cauliflower theatre com- pany, and what a machine it is. Occupying a large space in the middle of the stage, the eponymous equipment has clearly been months in the making.
Wheels, tubes, buttons and gizmos stick out here and there, and it’s a fairly safe bet that everyone in the audience – young and old – is longing to see it in action. Little ones get closest to the mechanism, sitting on cushions dotted around the edge of the machine. A few lucky ones even get to go up and press the button.
The two performers are amiable enough, talking to the audience throughout, and throwing in the odd bit of interaction. To say that it’s a show for ages 2+ is a bit misleading though, as it’s nowhere near gen- tle nor simple enough for such a young age group. (Kelly Apter) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 25 Aug, 10.25pm, £6–£7 (£5–£6).
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