I wish I was five again. Then I could let out unselfconscious whoops of hilarity and yelps of excitement. As it is, watching this delightful piece of theatre unfold, is almost enough to liberate adult inhibitions.
Performers Adam Fuller and Frances Merriman retell this traditional folktale in an entertaining way that makes pleasantly compulsive viewing.
The production is self-assured enough to set the scene slowly before picking up speed, and in so doing, forges a warm bond with the young audience.
With just a large cupboard popping with doors and drawers, and a wind-up gramophone as props, the farmyard world of the Little Red Hen is brought vividly to life.
Apart from when it is a puppet, Merriman plays the Hen, winning everyone’s affection with her scatty, well-meaning ways. When he isn’t playing guitar and xylophone and helping out, Fuller is the voice and puppet operator of the belligerent Pig, vain Cow and irascible Rat - who are too busy to help Hen sow, grow and reap her grains of wheat.
There is audience participation to kick-start the wacky mill to grind the grain, much hilarity with Hen’s dough-making antics, and a round of applause greeting the bread coming out of the oven.
The two performers create a whirlwind of chaos as Pig, Cow and Rat try to grab the loaf. There is a moment of pathos which gets a collective “ahhhh” for Hen before it all ends happily.
A truly enchanting hour for children - and their parents.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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