JONAH AND THE WHALE

They're coming along fast and furious, these productions to entertain the children during the long school holidays. I am of course referring to my previous reviews of Sally Sunshine's Most Amazing Suitcase and Cinderella. Unlike those two, Jonah and the Whale is completely geared to entertain the children.

Singing duo Jaziel Vaugh'hann and Kerry-Lee McKibbin, only 26 and 20 years-old respectively but with a combined 17 years of experience in entertainment, patently have a great love for children and entertaining them and are very adept at bringing them out of their shells, although more successfully with some than with others. They have the children enthralled by their storytelling to the point where they are only too willing to get involved.

The show is more of an interactive entertainment for the children than a play. Nevertheless, they stick very closely to the biblical story of Jonah and the whale in a simple and educational way and impress with good morals, taken from the story, and without preaching - indeed taking it to their level.

The emphasis is on drawing and colouring-in using the crayons, blank sheets of paper and programme. This takes the form of an attractive booklet of black and white drawings based on Jonah and the whale with which the youngsters can display their artistic abilities, and there were indeed many. A large part of the show is devoted to this with appropriate songs by the singing duo, and even an enjoyable well-known sing-a-long. I was not familiar with the songs by the two and in fact could not hear the words clearly most of the time. I don't know whether this was due to the sound design. Perhaps it needs attention. The sound quality at the Rhumbelow Theatre is usually very good.

The theatre auditorium is transformed into a semi-circle of tables where the children and their mothers (there were no fathers at the show I attended) are seated. There is the performance area where the two tell the story and to which the children are invited to dance, all in keeping with the story. Mothers and children entered into the spirit wholeheartedly - and there are some very promising young dancers for the future. Their energy is astounding and it was as much fun watching them as the rest of the activities. Part of the interaction with the children was the folding of the large sheet of drawing paper into .... a boat, of course - a boat figuring so prominently in the Jonah-whale story.

There were children of all ages in the audience, I estimate from about three or four to about ten to twelve, and all loved the experience, as did the mothers, but it is very much a show for the children. As such it is an ideal activity for the school holiday.

Jonah and the Whale runs at the Rhumbelow Theatre, Cunningham Road, Umbilo, until July 12 at 14h30 from Mondays to Saturdays. A variety of snacks and juices are on sale and the children all leave with small gifts. Tickets R50 each and booking is through Roland on 031-205 7602 or 082-499 8636 or e-mail roland@stansell.za.net Be warned, there is only limited seating. – Maurice Kort