The Motley-Minded Cobblers (the childrren's theatre arm of Cream-Faced Loons), presented a one hour romp aimed at young children at Manchester's bijou 53Two theare over this weekend.
The story concerned two of Santa's elves-in-training, Ethel (Mikey Rowan), and Gingerbread (Abey Bradbury), who simply don't cut the mustard and fail their training course, and so are cast out of the North Pole forever! In order to try and both prove themselves worthy and to save Christmas, they embark on a mission of their own to get back into Santa's good books and return home. On the way they find a shoemaker who is struggling to sell any shoes since the shoes they make are dull and boring, and their stall is uninviting. The shoemaker needs some elf magic to brighten the shoes, and suddenly they are a huge sensation, trending on all social networks.
There is a lovely message within the script which is reinforced at the end - "A good deed is a big deed no matter how small", showing the youngsters the value of friendship, helping each other, and kindness.
There is a lovely message within the script which is reinforced at the end - "A good deed is a big deed no matter how small", showing the youngsters the value of friendship, helping each other, and kindness.
The two performers change characters throughout with just the change of a hat or voice, and so the children need to be wide awake and quick-witted enough to fully understand which character is which at times, and I am certain the youngsters in this afternoon's performance were confused by this, only laughing at some of the more silly physical routines and a mickey take of something familiar from the TV.
To be fair though, this afternoon's performance must have been a difficult one for the cast; having an audience of only 8 people, and only three of those were children; and I feel certain that the show would have been much different had the room been full of expectant youngsters. That being said, however, Bradbury put her everything into the show, not once for even a split second slowing down. Her energy levels were envious, and she carried the show; Rowan able only to follow in her wake. I also had some difficulty in hearing Rowan at times, very quiet sadly.
A third member of this stalwart cast was seated on side of the stage, and played the music and did things technical throughout, Sam Kearney-Edwardes.
The show was a rapid-fire succession of silliness, some of which worked much better than others. There was perhaps too much and the company was trying to be too clever and fit too much in, with too many different references, obfuscating the narrative, and making it more difficult perhaps than it should have been for the children to follow and engage in.
A lovely idea, full of dance, song, and festive jocularity.
The show was a rapid-fire succession of silliness, some of which worked much better than others. There was perhaps too much and the company was trying to be too clever and fit too much in, with too many different references, obfuscating the narrative, and making it more difficult perhaps than it should have been for the children to follow and engage in.
A lovely idea, full of dance, song, and festive jocularity.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
On - 12.12.21
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