( Mpume Mthombeni and Shika Budhoo)To create a successful two-hander children’s show, you need two performers with good versatility, loads of energy and the capacity to think on their feet should young audience members interact to the extent that they create a diversion to the carefully-rehearsed script!
Co-directors Clinton Marius and Dhaveshan Govender have achieved this with I-Puppeti which comes to the end of its season at Catalina Theatre tomorrow (April 1). April Fool’s Day it may be, but the four members of the creative team – co-directors and actresses Shika Budhoo and Mpume Mthombeni – are anything but foolish. In fact, they are among the most pro-active theatre practitioners in KwaZulu-Natal.
Added to this solid team is the creative energy of Ingrid Diener who designed and made the delightful puppets. These include various types from a sock puppet to a giant figure which almost reaches the roof of the Catalina. There are other images such as a light box which provides the effect of a joyous party as seen through a window and charming dancing flowers (requiring help from young members of the audience). Her pièce de résistance is an angry hippo with toothache, beautifully voiced by Mthombeni! If this is Diener’s first attempt at puppet-making, I am looking forward to her next creations!
I-Puppeti debuted at this year's Musho! Festival and is aimed at primary and pre-primary children. It is written by Clinton Marius, whose children’s production, The Fantastical Flea Circus, scooped all four awards in the category of Children’s Theatre at last year’s Mercury Durban Theatre Awards.
The story deals with two friends who are struggling to make a living. They come up with an idea to create puppet images from their meagre resources and the story deals with a little worm. His name is Squiggle Wriggle and his parents are Annalida and Fishhoeken. Squiggle sets out on an adventure to find some higher authority who can help him get big so that he won’t be bullied any more. This process offers good educational value against the all-too prevalent tendency for tougher, stronger and more street-wise youngsters to bully their less-assertive counterparts.
The educational lessons, which also include self-acceptance, friendship, respect for parents, healthy eating and exercise are well-designed in this fun and energy-filled show. This morning’s young audience responded with vigour from the very start and were delighted when Squiggle discovered that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
Catalina Theatre seems to have made a peculiar choice in opting to sell popcorn which the audience is allowed to take into the show. Apart from the mess left in the theatre, there’s the constant grunching sound from small teeth. Sell popcorn by all means, but don’t allow it into the theatre. Developing audiences need to be taught to separate live theatre from the movies!
I-Puppeti has its last performance at the Catalina Theatre on Wilson's Wharf tomorrow (April 1) at 11h00 with an optional boat ride around the harbour. Tickets are R45 (R60 with the boat ride). Block bookings for 10 or more are R40 (R55 with the boat ride). For bookings call the Catalina box office on 031 305 6889 or book online at www.strictlytickets.com – Caroline Smart
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