Fringe Children’s Shows
Abigoliah’s GoPro Comedy Show
Laughing Horse @The Free Sisters
THREE Stars
Colors
Spotlites
FOUR Stars
High Jinx Magic and Illusion Show
Assembly George Square
THREE Stars
Carmody Wilson
Performers are getting savvier and looking to the past for children’s entertainment. Gone are the ersatz tributes to big- top style amusement, and in their places are more of the genuine article. These three shows provide a true variety of amusements for the discerning junior fringe-goer, to mixed success,amid a burgeoning glut of options.
Abigoliah is host, entertainer, technician, barker, and kid-herder in this small, fun show in the teeny-tiny Yurt Locker. It’s part of the Free Fringe, so, in keeping with the ethos, it’s got a changing line up of whomever can come in and entertain the tot troupes. Abigail herself, a brash, unflinching American living in London, warmly greets everybody and gets things started by creating an atmosphere of bonhommie- basically everyone is embarrassed into feeling comfortable together. Warning parents: this is not a show for the shy (old or young.)The show is filmed, ostentatiously, by a camera strapped to Abigoliah’s head, and the idea is you can then go online and see it for yourself. There’s stand-up comedy by and for kids, fire-eating, and whatever else may come along.
(runs to August 30)
Much more methodically planned and expertly choreographed was the excellent and, quite frankly, breathtakingly weird, Colors, by Russian company Moscow Theatre Kurage. A simple pretence of an artist trying to decide which of his palette to use unleashes a colourful torrent of tap dancing, singing, shadow puppets and the most pleasantly confounding absurdity. This show is a riot. Ingenious set pieces and costumes add to the bewildering, over-the-top, freewheeling feel of this wonderful show. Each “color” in the palette is given a fierce personality, and along with the heavy Slavic accents, proclamations like “I am the SUN among you” take on a powerful and hilarious portent. Red’s dramatic and frantic dancing (complete with shouting, turbaned back-up dancers,) sets the tone. The glorious weirdness really takes hold as Green and her many friends (Peas in a Pod, Grasshopper, Leaf and Frog,) frantically gyrate to frenetic drumbeats and saxophone music. A beautiful calm descends as Blue in her undersea world (a very effective transparent tarpaulin,) lulls us into a reverie. And then it’s back to the crazy world of the studio, where the artist gradually restores calm. Judging from the chorus of eager tiny voices calling out answers to the questions, Colors is a hit with the little people, and parents will get a kick out of it too.
(runs to August 22)
Less magical, strangely, but nonetheless just as polished, was Hi-Jinx, The Magic and Illusion Show. Here are all the elements you would expect: women disappearing into boxes and being pierced, juggling, rope tricks, women dancing in revealing outfits during interstitial moments, uni-cycling, women being referred to as good cooks and cleaners, and plenty of practiced magical patter. Maybe it doesn’t send the best message to all the boys and girls out there, and perhaps there were a spot too many exhortations for applause, but it’s a perfectly fun, well-performed show. This point may be dull, but magician Micheal Jordan should try juggling equality a little more along with his knives. Sexism aside, it’s a good display of legerdemain and professional showmanship, and enough to make the punters happy to part with their pennies under the big top.
(runs to August 16)
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