Festival Kids list.co.uk/festival
THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES ●●●●● This charming show from Puppet State Theatre Company has been doing the rounds for a few years now, but the two performers approach it with the kind of freshness and wit you’d expect from a brand new show. Adapted from Jean Giono’s short story, the narrative centres on a selfless man who plants thousands of acorns and transforms a dry, miserable habitat into a lush paradise. Aimed at ages 7+, children will need a fairly strong vocabulary to understand all of the script – but enjoying the hilarious talking dog will come easily to all. A moving story about the power of regeneration, told with humour and imagination. (Kelly Apter) ■ Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, until 31 Aug, 5.30pm, £7 (£5).
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✽✽ Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson’s popular storybook is transformed into a wonderful stage production by Tall Stories, complete with catchy songs, superb acting and a truly magnificent broom. Five stars. Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 31 Aug, 2.30pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£7.50–£8.50). ✽✽ The Man Who Planted Trees A beautiful story of regeneration, hope and how an unselfish act can change lives. See review, left. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, until 31 Aug, 5.30pm, £7 (£5). ✽✽ Giraffes Can’t Dance Blunderbus Theatre Company delivers another slice of puppet and musical fun with this lively adaptation of Giles Andreae’s storybook. Possibly the friendliest company on the Fringe. The Spaces @ Royal College of Surgeons, 0845 508 8515, until 29 Aug, 10.35am, £7 (£6). ✽✽ The Greatest Bubble Show On Earth If you’ve ever wondered what life looks like from inside a giant bubble, then stick your hand up to volunteer at this perennially popular show, and the Amazing Bubble Man will help you find out. C too, 0845 260 1234, noon & 1pm, £8.50–£9.50 (£6.50–£8.50). ✽✽ Rapunzel and the Tower of Doom The long-haired lassie gets a re-working by Theatre of Widdershins, in this five-star show filled with innovative sets, superb puppets and witty storytelling. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, until 30 Aug, 11am, £7.50 (£5). ✽✽ The Wind in the Willows A lively, comic and well-acted adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s popular story, courtesy of Cambridge University. Gilded Balloon Teviot, 622 6552, until 31 Aug, 12.30pm, £7–£8 (£5–£6). For venue addresses see index page 112.
27 Aug–10 Sep 2009 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 85
WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM Modern-day take on fairytale characters ●●●●●
The Brothers Grimm liked to show the dark side of life in their twisted fairy tales, and have scared generations of small children silly with their stories of girl-eating wolves and cannibal women living in gingerbread houses. This family show from the Peculius Stage Company takes
the 150th anniversary of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s death as its starting point, and plays around with some of their most well known characters. The action takes the form of a string of sketches, sewn together as the Grimm Brothers flick TV channels at home. Rapunzel stars in a shampoo advert, Hansel and Gretel do a dance performance on a talent show and Rumpelstilskin pops up in a trailer for an Arnold Schwarzenegger-style action movie. Although the comedy skits hide a modern message about consumerist society, the jokes are often weak, and an added sub-plot of Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose left smaller audience members squirming in their seats, and parents a bit confused.
While the youthful cast bring energy to their multiple parts, the overall entertainment factor is low, and the humour often a bit, well, grim. The Sky+ rewound scene is, however, very nicely done. (Claire Sawers) ■ The Spaces on the Mile @ The Radisson, 0845 508 8316, until 29 Aug, 2pm, £5.50 (£4.50).