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 Childrens |
Rating Guide None = Unmissable 
= UnwatchablePage number refers to the Fringe programme Once Upon A Time (Page 11) Drams Venue Sweet at the Crowne Plaza (Venue 39) Address 80 High Street Reviewer Fiona O'Hanlon Once upon a time a group of actors from SOFA Productions came to the Edinburgh Fringe to perform classic children's tales. The result is Once Upon A Time, a triple bill consisting of Wind in The Willows, The Hare and the Tortoise and Pinocchio. The well written script captures the essence of each traditional tale in a manner which allows them to be accessible to children of all ages. Although most children will understand the 'moral' of each story by watching the piece, an actor reinforces the messsage through audience interaction after each tale. Costumes are impressive and props effectively used, yet the piece is marred both by problems understanding some of the character accents and by unpolished scene changes. A memorable instance was when the washer woman (who was meant to be tied up) loosened her ropes and walked off stage before the screen went up at the end of the scene. Nevertheless, Once Upon a Time is a commendable representation of three classic tales permeated with valuable moral advice. © Fiona O'Hanlon 16th August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com Runs to 25th August, daily at 11.00 Company Sofa Productions.
A Real Princess. (P12.). Drams 
(of something soft!). Venue C. (Venue 34). Address Chambers Street. Reviewer Fiona O'Hanlon. What do you do if you're an independent modern princess who doesn't want to marry a prince? Why, spend a year backpacking of course! In A Real Princess we join the acrobatic Princess Tereza and her juggling friend Mee in their travels around the fairytale world. Using their magical steps song and tap dance to transport themselves to other realms, the duo solve the dilemmas of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Emphasis is placed upon the princess' contribution to such rescues - usurping the heroic male role she breaks the patriarchal fairytale rules. Unfortunately, such an empowering message is not clearly communicated to the younger end of Franko Figueiredo's target audience. Rather, a full appreciation of A Real Princess rests upon a knowledge of the traditional tales Figueiredo modifies, namely Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. As a result the children's response to pantomime style of audience participation requires prompting from cast and parents alike. Nevertheless, the cast are both enthusiastic and energetic and their vibrant costumes and gymnastics serve to hold the visual attention of the younger members of the audience. A commendable performance, but one for the school-aged child or a 'pre-schooler' who knows their fairytales! © Fiona O'Hanlon 4th August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com Runs to 24th August at 11.40, not 10th. Company Stone Crabs.
The Really Dangerous Safety Show (Page 12) Drams
just a wee sip of the soft stuff.Venue Sweet at the Crowne Plaza (Venue 39) Address 80 High Street Reviewer Fiona O'Hanlon Dr Palfi is not your average clown…he is (drum roll please)…a 'consultant laughologist.' Yes, I know it all sounds very pretentious but his ability to evoke genuine laughter from every single member of his audience means that he truly deserves his title (and that PHD!). With over forty-five years clowning experience under his…em… braces, Dr Palfi has developed a deep understanding of children's humour, a skill which enables him to improvise much of his fifty minute sketch. Incorporating classic slapstick clown antics and pantomime humour as secondary parts of his routine, Palfi gives clowning a contemporary edge. This lack of conventionality is reflected in his unusual costume – an oversized nappy worn over mismatching striped tights and t-shirt. And it really works…as this year's show The Really Dangerous Safety Show goes down a treat with children and adults alike. Whilst adults appreciate the verbal gags such as 'You're only eight? When I was your age I was nine, ' the children are desperate to get on stage to assist the apparently vulnerable Palfi, who fails to perform 'dangerous' tricks like catching keys and whose sore back means he is unable to pick up the litter he (repeatedly) drops. However, in granting children such a hands-on role, The Really Dangerous Safety Show became 'nearly dangerous' as a boy of eight or nine stood on tiptoes on a chair, overreaching as he attempted to stick a table-cloth between two lights. Palfi's piece ends with a memorable performance of Beethoven's little known concerto in E flat minor, played by Palfi and four audience members on the trombone, drum, tamborine and two sets of symbols. The performance received enthusiastic (if prompted) cries for an encore…which was granted… A marvellous production suitable for ages four to nine(ty nine!) © Fiona O'Hanlon 20 August 2003 - Published on www.EdinburghGuide.com Runs to 24th August, daily at noon. Company Dr Palfi Consultant Laughologist.
Rumplestiltskin At The Fairytale Laundry. (Page 12) Drams Venue Assembly Rooms (Venue 3) Address George St. Reviewer Thelma Good. One of the bundles in this new show from Allie Cohen is what happens to the fairy tales characters' washing. She has created a world of charm and fun where odd socks could be a problem but aren't. She is the fairy tales' laundress where the character's send their clothes to be cleaned after their various adventures. On the line is a king's costume, a red stained white dress, (it got mixed up with Red Riding Hood's garment) and a costume of a country girl. A Mr Stiltskin drops in to give her a hand. Soon there's a story under way. It's the little wizen man's one about him the country girl a miller's daughter, the miller who's a red haired kilted Scot and the King. They're taken down from the line and their sock faces are soon speaking to one another. The miller's daughter is the apple of his eye, the best spinner in the kingdom he boasts. The king who's taxing even pocket money, now orders her to come to the castle. There night after night she gets more and more straw to spins in to gold. It's big problem her father has landed her in - she may be a great spinner but these are spins too far. But Rumplestiltskin turn up to give her a hand striking a bargain each night. With some audience participation and the superbly fashioned sock puppets Cohen
creates a world where laundry becomes forest or castle by changing what's hanging
from her ornate washing line. It's not a five dram show, there are times when
the pace slackens unnecessarily, but there's a lot of inventive charm. Cohen's
also got a platform in the character of her laundress to create other flights
of fancy. Ones where the much washed characters' old stories get remodelled
into new adventures where their costumes and characters' encounter new dangers
and tales. It's too safe this production, going out in the same well worn story
when you sense the creator could take us to new fairy tale lands. The music
from Edinburgh-based band Aberfeldy adds to the accents to create a Scottish
scents to the Cohen's Laundry.
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