Edinburgh Fringe 2016
I Hate Children Children’s Show
Unusual Productions
Genre: Children's Theatre
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
I Hate Children Children’s Show is a family entertainment geared towards young children including fast paced patter and parlor magic tricks. It will entertain the youngest family members throughout the hour-long show.
Review
This show is presented by a duo in black T shirts comprising an energetic affable animator and a musician, the two performers manage to hold the attention of young children and their parents from the start to the end of the show. Fast paced patter, jokes and audience participation are abundant and the order of the day. Young participants are eager to take part in various parlour magic tricks as their families and siblings watch.
For anyone who has seen or heard about this show before, it has a new look with a new performer and musician this year. The prior version included an idiosyncratic character in costume (as seen on the current posters), which is different from the new performer comedian. The musician and performer work together very well as the former plays electric guitar, underscoring most of the show and is always ready to add a loud twangy dramatic build up to the tricks and jokes. They improvise together sometimes to keep up the energy and they don’t miss a moment.
The performer delights in giving quick witted put down comments to the children and quickly adds a topper that amuses everyone as he runs across the stage or up and down the stairs generating excitement. A hilarious balloon animal section at the end is unexpected and surprises the large number of children onstage, completely. Also, parents are not immune to participating and fall in to place without fuss, which is surprising, but they probably want to set a good example to their children, so it is a win-win for the show because it adds humour and involves everyone.
The two or three songs in the show are funny and sung with exaggerated clownish physicality and facial expressions, which maintain the attention of the young children. The good size stage area is set with two banners about the show, one includes the show order of songs, activities and tricks, and several colourful props. I Hate Children Children’s Show is a family entertainment geared towards young children. It will entertain the youngest family members throughout the hour-long show.
