EVEN before the adventure starts, the young audience is letting the fun go to their heads – in a wonderful array of colourful hats made from floppy socks, plastic pot scourers and such like everyday objects.
Actually, this is cleverly preparing the three to six-year-olds to collude in a story full of hands-on participation. The tale itself is a simple one: Alice's larky dog likes to chase his tail - and before she can catch him, he's gone. Whoosh! he speeds past on a motor-bike, then in a power-boat (the spray actually hits us as he goes), then up high in a balloon. Alice has to follow him by land, sea and eventually to the moon, but – and here's where the hands-on bit is pure delight for the kids – this pursuit goes round and round on a revolve that has to be pushed by willing helpers...
Three actors – Griff Fender, Elayce Ismail and Alicia Mckenzie – are at the centre of this turning world. Sometimes spinning the metal sculpture-cum-weather vane that morphs into a mobile as various props are added to it, sometimes acting the characters, sometimes manipulating their puppet-selves on the moving circe that's at eye-level for the audience.
The wealth and wit of the visual detail in Clair de Loon's design really goes the extra mile, as do the generous, enthusiastic performances that keep the children totally on-side - and occasionally on their feet, moving to to the wonderful chiming percussion that George Panda provides throughout. Adults will note the use of re-cycled materials – something you can try at home, folks. Ring a ding ding - what a treat!
HHHH
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