| 13 August 2010
It astonishes me that this is the first time Lynley Dodd’s Hairy Maclary range of books have been brought to life on the stage. A family favourite for over 25 years, the books created such characters as Bottomley Potts, covered in spots; Bitzer Maloney, all skinny and bony; Herculese Morse, as big as a horse – each with a kiddie-friendly rhyme to add fun and rhythm to bedtime stories.
With the audience consisting mainly of pre-school children, simple little engaging missions were set, such as spotting various drawings of the characters that were pinned to sections of the set and revealed in stages throughout the show, with enthusiastic children yelling out the names along with their respective rhymes.
A Highland-accented Grandma-esque storyteller leads hand-clapping, foot-stomping songs, with the cast jumping energetically around the stage in their slightly lacklustre costumes.
Although there were moments when some of the toddlers in need of a late-morning sleep started to lose the plot in more ways than one, the energy and pace of the show kept the majority clapping, shouting, squealing and wiggling nappy-clad bottoms.
Fifteen month old Robyn, behind me, was so excited by Hairy Maclary’s jumping routine I actually thought she might permanently dent her mother’s legs; three year old Lucy, to my left, said her favourite bit was the Zachery Quack number at the end of the show with bubbles floating across the stage to bring the show to a suitably sleepy conclusion.
Good for parents, great for kids, let down only by a disappointing Scarface Claw and an unimaginative costume department.
Assembly @ George Street, 5-29 Aug, 10.40am
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