Pamela Allen’s picture books have enchanted generations both here and elsewhere and with Lion In The Night Patch Theatre has embarked on their third collaboration with Allen.
However, rather than re-tell, Patch has chosen to weave that story with their observation that four to six year olds are only able to experience fragments of a narrative, rather than a whole.
The result is a three quarter hour show that possesses 16 stages, though the not wholly focused eye may see really only about six distinct scenes. But who’s counting when entertaining children of that age is involved and, as always, the Patch team delightfully combines the known of their audience with their unknown, the mundane with wonder and actors’ antics with nifty sound and visual effects, perhaps culminating in Theo (Rory Walker) taking a bath amongst cut up vegetables, milk and smelly socks.
As with their recent Me and My Shadow, in Lion In The Night Patch is able to quickly attain and sustain the attention of the little ones without resorting to extravagant cavorting round the stage and/or potty jokes. For those who get to this show early enough and are seated in the front rows, the beauty and wonder of Theo and Angelie’s (Eliza Lovell) world will captivate and be most agreeable. Highlight scenes are the aforementioned bath one, the Royal Tea and Many Sounds.
Full credit is due to both actors and also musician Belinda Gehlert who displays great versatility both with instruments (piano and violin) and also as the force for conveyance.
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