The Selfish Crocodile

Published Monday 6 August 2007 at 09:50 by Brian G Cooper

Bill Davies’ adaption of Faustin Charles and Michael Terry’s popular children’s story works splendidly in Blunderbus Theatre’s latest and very satisfying production. Its delighful animal characters rapidly jump from page to stage as endearing larger than life mask-style puppets, whose chuckle-making antics are visually echoed by Java-style shadow puppets on a screen set amid colourful jungle scenery.

The simple plot is engagingly narrated by Mouse (Davies), a realistic rod-puppet animatedly worked by Davies and Ross Collins - selfishly keeping the river to herself, Crocodile frightens off all other creatures with her fearsome teeth - until tootache makes her seek friends.

Great-hearted Mouse overcomes his fear and extracts the painful molar. Taught by Giraffe to be thankful, Crocodile welcomes the animals to the river as her friends.

Jeanette Longworth excels as the comically gruff Crocodile, Claire Alizon delights as Giraffe and Wildebeest, whose disgusting noises have the youngsters in stitches. Frank Goodhind’s songs memorably enchant - especially There’s a Croc - and top marks to Cherry Knight and Jessica Kay for their stunning animal-head puppets.

Blunderbus Theatre much enhances its reputation with this vividly presented show, which greatly amuses and always delights both young children and adults.