Brighton Fringe 2012
Low Down
Story based on Polly Dunbar’s book about a little girl who feels very drab but is helped to achieve colour in her life and her appearance by a variety of amazing characters. Told by masters at keeping children completely enthralled.
Review
The Buzz had already begun as the Hurly Burly staff worked together to accommodate the flood of mothers and toddlers arriving with high hopes to see Flyaway Katie after the company’s last hit ‘Shoe Baby’. We were not disappointed.
As we sat waiting I wondered how they were going to achieve the magic of this show without a black out in the middle of the day- I soon forgot as the magic began. A beautiful little puppet peaked out of the raised puppet show curtain and disappeared before re- appearing again to the squeals of delight from the audience. Every time there was an empty stage my two and a half year old daughter turned to me to ask –‘what’s coming next?’ The Long Nose Puppet Company are masters at keeping children completely enthralled.
The main character ‘Flyaway Katie’, based on Polly Dunbar’s book of the same name is about a little girl who feels very drab but is helped to achieve colour in her life and her appearance by a variety of characters, including a caterpillar with a west country accent, a hilarious buzzing bee with lots of teeth and sparkly sunflowers that suddenly burst open.
She wants to be in the bright painting in her bedroom of tropical birds and at the end her dream is achieved as she floats about the stage with wings and bright colours with Tom Gray’s music swelling to a crescendo that brought a lump to my throat and a complete flashback to the overwhelming joy of childhood fantasies.
The tent was cleared in a flash as all the children went outside to meet the puppets and feed the caterpillar grass. A lovely way to end a truly beautiful show.
