FESTIVAL KIDS | Reviews
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BETTER TOGETHER Clowning show with right-on message ●●●●●
The three clowns of Better Together manage, just about, to overcome the problems of a title that is guaranteed to alienate almost half its potential Scottish audience. Although it still has that unpleasant taste of being told what is good for you. A clown at a bus stop? That's great. A clown
listening to their walkman and dancing? Even better. Two clowns? Double the fun – particularly when they're both listening to music and can't hear each other. It just gets more and more silly as they roll around the stage. Add a third clown – the wonderfully bendy, athletic
Avi Simmons who can't stop looking at her phone – and a long-running gag about waiting on a bus, and this could be an hour of pure wonderment, sight gags and rollocking physical comedy.
The innate silliness of modern life where our hand- held devices get in the way of our friendships is a solid starting point, and when the clowning grows out of such silliness, this is properly giggle-inducing. But that is also its message and there are just too many times when the message becomes the point of the show – rather than a consequence of its comedy. (Thom Dibdin) ■ Pleasance Courtyard, until 19 Aug, 10.30am, £8–£10 (£7–£8).
DAVID BADDIEL’S ANIMALCOLM Adaptation of comedic novel that’s strong on character ●●●●● THE NEW I HATE CHILDREN CHILDREN'S SHOW Still a great magic show ●●●●●
Malcolm hates animals – they can’t talk, they take up all his family’s time and, worst of all, they’re not a new laptop, which is what he was expecting for his birthday. Instead, he gets a chinchilla and, the final straw, a school trip to a farm. There’s a lovely sentiment at the heart of David
Baddiel’s novel for younger readers, which has been whole-heartedly embraced by Story Pocket Theatre in this lively adaptation. Arriving on the farm, a magical goat puts a spell on Malcolm, which turns him into a series of animals: tortoise, cat, sheep, chinchilla, bird. All of whom prove how clever and instinctive they are, and slowly allow Malcolm to re-think his stance on non-human creatures.
As we’ve come to expect from Story Pocket, characterisation is strong, whether the actors are playing Malcolm’s family members or a pig. What feels less strong however, is the humour – something Baddiel is famous for, and yet feels thin on the ground here (although Goaty McGoatface definitely pulls in the laughs). Also, the songs are less catchy than they should be to keep everyone hooked for the full 70 minutes. (Kelly Apter) ■ Gilded Balloon Teviot, until 19 Aug, 11.30am, £11–£12 (£9–£10).
Run children, run! Paul Nathan returns with more avuncular rudeness and an all-new, improved version of the magic show for kids which pretends to hate the audience and is all the more engaging for it.
That's 'returns' as in, goes back into the room
where he has just performed his original I Hate Children Children's Show with a second audience for the day. And 'all new' as in, these are tricks that he hasn't done in the original show – but with cutting a rope in half, forcing cards and plenty of deft sleight of hand, they are by no means new to the world. As for 'improved', well yes, you might say so if you
happen to think the added edge given by routines and tricks that aren't quite fully formed yet is an improvement. They don't all work, but that doesn't matter, he can always blame his oh-so-willing helpers. There's still glasses of bubbly for the mums, John Anaya on ironic guitar riffs and knowing interaction from Nathan who makes sure as many kids as possible get on stage to help with the tricks. And it's still a great magic show with tricks that engage to the point where you cease to care how they are done, just enjoy their presentation. (Thom Dibdin) ■ theSpace @ Surgeons Hall, until 25 Aug, 1.35pm, £11 (£8).
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CIRCA: WOLFGANG Acclaimed circus company does it for the kids ●●●●●
Each year, Australian circus troupe Circa heads to the Fringe with a new and improved way to demonstrate its skill. Whether it’s through acrobatics, aerial work or hula hooping, you know you’ll see beauty and strength in equal measure. But this year the company is doing things a little bit differently. An hour in Circa’s company still spells first-class lifts, stretches and tumbles, but with a young audience to entertain, they’ve also thrown some slapstick and silliness into the mix.
With nobody around to help celebrate her birthday, Kathryn O’Keeffe slumps in a chair and puts on some classical music. Seconds later, Mozart (aka her real-life husband Paul O’Keeffe) appears in frock coat and wig, and the fun begins. Accompanied by Gareth Chin on the accordion, playing new
arrangements of Mozart’s music, they help and hinder each other, fall out and make up, but ultimately become fast friends. Circa is known for its impressive acrobatics, and there’s no shortage of that here: with the O’Keeffe's balancing on top of each other (and often it’s him standing on her); circling the stage on a bicycle while getting dressed; or stacking chairs high and giving us that sharp intake of breath when they’re successfully scaled. ‘Don’t do it!’ shouts one child cautiously, ‘that’s tricky’, acknowledges another.
Such bravery and skill is a given with Circa – what we’ve seen
less of, but is ably demonstrated here, is the company’s ability to get the kids giggling rather than gasping. But a simple yet effective routine involving a misbehaving spotlight that keeps moving becomes increasingly funnier, as does the slow-motion fight scene. A great introduction to contemporary circus, and Mozart, for younger audiences. (Kelly Apter) ■ Underbelly’s Circus Hub, until 25 Aug (not 20), 2pm, £12–£14 (£11–£13).
70 THE LIST FESTIVAL 15–27 Aug 2018