PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON. To 25 February.

London

PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON
by Mike Kenny

Polka Adventure Theatre To 22 February 2003
10.45am/12.30pm/2.30pm 21,28 December,4,11,18,25,January, 1,8,15,22 February
10.45am & 2.15pm 8-10,15-17,21-24,28-31 January 4-7, 11-14 February
11.15am & 2.45pm 19-20,23-24,27,31 December, 3 January,18-21 February
Runs 40min No interval

TICKETS 020 8543 4888
boxoffice@polkatheatre.com
Review Timothy Ramsden 17 December

A fine piece, sophisticated yet just right for its audience, with a pair of strong performances.Mike Kenny's gentle, sophisticated piece for 3-5s switches round the story of the song. Instead of little Jackie Paper bring the likes of string and sealing-wax, it's the imaginary Puff who brings comfort to the distressed boy.

For Jackie is suffering the terrible childhood nightmare of feeling abandoned. Mum's ill, and Dad sends him to his aunt. To little Jackie she seems like a dragon meat and two veg in place of pizza, no 'phone, no TV: what a life. Though Olivia Carruthers's performance makes clear to the young audience (literally sitting at the actors' feet in Polka's Adventure Theatre for the very young), she's kindly, it doesn't seem that way to Jackie, marooned in her house by the sea.

When she tells him the local foghorn is a dragon roaring it sets Jackie's imagination rolling. Sheathes of fabric from the setting curl round arms to produce Puff, Jackie's imagined, comforting friend even flames from the stove get in on the act. Kenny precisely mirrors very young imaginations and the fluidity of their realities.

It's described as a story that starts sad and ends happy as not all stories do, we're told. So it makes anxiety and misery manageable, warmed by escape to a world recreated by Matthew Blacklock's initially sad-faced Jackie.

Auntie Jean's done her best, bringing him brown paper, string and sealing-wax (something vividly new and intriguing to the boy) to make a kite. It's nothing like the smart model dad brings when mother's well again and Jackie going home. So it's a sign of how two opposite lifestyles have come together that the lad leaves the new-bought model, preferring the humble, home-made toy from his time with auntie Jean and the magic dragon formed out of fog, clouds and a young boy's mind.

Jackie Paper: Matthew Blacklock
Auntie Jean: Olivia Carruthers

Director: Roman Stefanski, based on Vicky Ireland's production
Designer: Abi Bown
Music: Andrew Dodge

2002-12-18 15:01:14