Children’s Theatre Review: Simon Gwynn
As the audience enters the tiny Den of Zoo Roxy there are a number of large but unsuspicious-looking cardboard boxes lying on the ground. When the whole cast simultaneously bursts out of them, a ripple of delight and mild shock spreads across the theatre, and this very much sets the tone for the whole piece.
A Stone’s Throw tells the story of a little girl who, jealous of her older brothers’ superior stone-throwing skills, hurls one so hard that it knocks the very sun out of the sky. We follow her as she scours the earth looking for pieces of sun in the hope of restoring it.
The many exotic locations and unlikely characters the girl encounters are related vividly with a staggering array of props and techniques – highlights of which include a glow-in-the-dark Moonbird and a truly gigantic giant sloth. Not everything works brilliantly, but it’s lots of fun anyway.
What makes this more than a kids’ fantasy story is the thoughtful application of some reasonably substantial environmental themes, at times echoing Pixar’s masterpiece Wall-E, which add a bit of edutainment value without ever feeling overbearing. This comes recommended to children of all ages – but especially those who are actually children.
5th – 20th August, Zoo Roxy, 11.30am, £6-7 (£4-5),
http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/childrens-shows/stone-s-throw
