| 19 August 2011
Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories are exemplars of storytelling at its most magical for young children. It was with great joy, therefore, to witness Red Table Theatre’s delivery of four of the best-beloved stories with such enthusiasm and pleasure.
Using everyday objects as props, this four-strong cast extract the extraordinary from the ordinary: in a flash, four large red umbrellas, three bodies, two coconut husks and a halved tennis-ball transform into the enormous form of Pau Amma the Crab, said to be taller than the smoke of three volcanoes! The inventiveness in physically creating such characters out of basic household items is a real strength of this troupe, and it will no doubt have you rummaging in your own cupboards inspired.
These four actresses sing in tight harmony, work together and individually to form characters, and happily dabble with accents to bring these fables to life. The older children present at the show delighted in this vivid and fun presentation, paying attention as it was explained to them why the elephant’s nose is so long and why the moon pulls the tides. The littler children, however, were much more taken by the pillows and toys than anything else. In such a small venue, the need to shout is made redundant, so I did not understand why one of the actresses kept the decibel level so high - the effect was that a few of the children became intimidated, which was a very bad idea given she was later to become a crocodile.
All in all, a fun, inclusive show that will entertain wee people and big people alike.
The Just So Stories, Pleasance Courtyard, 3-29 Aug (not 10 or 22), 12.30pm
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