The characters in this attractive show are jointed, flat, cut-out puppets based on Lauren Child’s illustrations for her best-selling Charlie and Lola books, so this really is reading meets theatre (via television).
Four puppeteers, neat in denim aprons, tell the engaging story of Lola (Ceri Ashcroft) who doesn’t always do what her sensible older brother Charlie (Andrew Cullimore) wants. So she confides in, and is sometimes naughty with, her imaginary friend Soren Lorensen (James Cullimore). When Lola says there are whales in the bath they appear - like the thirsty tigers at the tea table. Especially good to watch is Stevie Thompson, whose body language and facial gestures behind puppets such as Bat Cat or a herd of elephants are extraordinarily expressive, warm and evocative.
Each puppet is impeccably voiced with appropriate syntax and tone (the title is typical) and what a pleasure to ‘meet’ fictional children who enunciate clearly without a trace of the usual sloppy diction to make it sound ‘cool.’
I loved the moments - and so did the (mostly) under-sevens in the audience - when Lola, whose magician skills are limited, manages to conjure paper butterflies to cascade on to the audience and when her bath time bubbles permeate the whole auditorium.
Production information can change over the run of the show.
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