Panto meets children’s party meets Harry Hill in this brilliantly bonkers family show.Rating
Good
Kid Carpet is in town for half term and brings his utterly bonkers one man (multiple animals) show Jack and the Beanstalk (Sort Of) to the Half Moon Theatre. ‘What’s it like?’ I hear you ask. Well it’s actually quite difficult to describe, other than to say from start to finish it’s high energy anarchic fun that has the kids squealing with laughter and eager to join in. What’s not to like about that?
Loosely, the story tells how Kid Carpet starts out to give an air guitar workshop, but is persuaded by the most famous animal pop band in the world, the Noisy Animals, to put on a panto instead. All the familiar panto elements come into play as we embark on an adventure up the beanstalk and back again.
The technology within the show is great. The band consists of plastic animals, projected via close-up camera work onto a big screen, where the story is supplemented by animations and wild live music and songs. The cast of toys are animated and characterised in a decidedly low-fi but totally hilarious way, sometimes on a revolve, but largely just by Kid Carpet picking them up and moving them. This is not Manual Cinema, but it’s effective and a technique you’d hope the kids might want to try for themselves after the show. Then, by alternating cardboard backdrops he’s able to change scenes and characters quickly. Or should I say Swiftly? Because along with Gorilla, Bear, Bad Badger and a Hedgehog who dresses as a goose there’s a literal flying visit from Taylor Swift as the Fairy Godmother. Of course the gorilla gets to play the drums (nod to Phil Collins there!) and the Badger looks like a member of KISS.
Kid Carpet’s performance is a hilarious mix of styles, from children’s party entertainer to Harry Hill to wannabe rock star: he’s wacky and wonderful and develops a brilliant rapport with the excited kids, who are eager to join in. The audience have a fantastic time, encouraged to help him do his make up to become the pantomime dame, join in with a traditional panto list song and help collect the eggs from the goose. At brief moments the adults get a little in-joke for themselves, although it’s never risqué, and some lovely additional touches include a surprise beanstalk and a ceiling lit up by stars and spotlights.
The whole thing is kind of slapdash, but intentionally so, making it joyfully accessible. Currently the show feels maybe five minutes too long and is possibly still finding its form a little, but with a suggested age range of 3-10 years, Kid Carpet manages to provide something to keep the whole family entertained and buzzing. Full of laughter, silly songs and crazy fun, like the beanstalk, this production will surely undergo a rapid rise to the top.
A Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals production, presented by Half Moon
Jack and the Beanstalk (Sort Of) is aimed at ages 3 to 10 years. Its run at Half Moon Theatre is now completed.
