Where Kids Rule is the theme of the 29th Northern Alberta International Children's Festival, and a quick stroll through a packed downtown St. Albert makes it obvious they are crowned king.
It's impossible to miss the wild balloon hats, wicked face painting, huge smiles and an electrically charged mood that is a mainstay of the five-day festival ending this Saturday.
There's an amazing roster of local, national and international artists introducing never-before seen puppetry, circus arts, acrobatics, clowning, dance, music and drama. But until you've seen several shows back-to-back, it is difficult to appreciate the diversity, imagination and sophistication artists draw upon to entertain and educate children.
Some main stage productions such as At Nightfall are a whimsical fantasy while Ha Ha Ha is unbridled silliness and What a Knight! is just plain fun.
Visit www.childfest.com for a complete list of main stage shows. Tickets are $10/adults; $8.50/children. Call 780-459-1542 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca
At Nightfall
Sursaut Dance Company
Save-On-Foods Stage at Arden Theatre
Ages six and over
A dignified old gent in a black suit and fedora carrying a battered valise waits for the evening train. Preoccupied with work, he fails to see the magical creature following him. By design his journey takes a baffling turn into a magical water world of mysterious bushytailed creatures that live between shadow and light.
The graceful barefoot creatures are used to frolicking and dancing, but this serious, seemingly unhappy new arrival to their forested glen makes them curious. And in their chirpy fashion they decide to lighten his load and teach him happiness.
Sursaut Dance Company's At Nightfall is the stuff of dreams — a blue water world tethered by gnarled, columnar trees that give an ethereal feel to the nocturnal dance. It is breathtaking.
The score pulses with percussive electronica interspersed with sounds from nature — crickets twittering, frogs croaking, an owl hooting and a loon calling.
And choreographer Francine Châteauvert has amassed seven dancers loaded with creative energy. Each one displays athleticism, supple grace and elegance while executing various leaps, cartwheels, lifts, spins and exotic poses.
In essence, the interpretive dance is like a stunning 60-minute moving painting. The choreography never dumbs down to children, but rather forces the viewer to focus completely on the show.
Although the plot is linear, at times it shifts into abstraction making it difficult to follow. In fact, I overheard several people saying they couldn't figure out what was happening.
But this charming dance bridges the world of fantasy and reality and makes you wonder 'what if …'
Ha Ha Ha
Okidok
Save on Foods Stage at Arden Theatre
Ages two and over
The name of Ha Ha Ha is so goofy, yet the award-winning Okidok's clown show was precisely that — 50 minutes of non-stop, infectious laughter rippling throughout the Arden crowd.
The bulbous-nosed clown duo from Belgium shuffled onto the stage wearing floppy shoes and dusty rags that created a powder cloud whenever they smacked each other on the back.
After greeting the audience with chipmunk voices, one mischievous rogue proceeded to stick his finger under the armpit of the second clown and tickle him. The mostly under-10 crowd broke into fits of laughter and were completely captivated from that moment.
The entire show was a series of wobbly acrobatics, bumbling pratfalls and over-the-top showmanship. There was even a couple of chortling bum sniffs.
One of their slickest vignettes was one clown stacking a four-metre tower of boxes while his partner dismantled it. Children in the audience were taking sides and screaming out their indignation. One boy yelled to the worker clown, "Look behind you. He's behind you," while another child hollered at the impish clown, "Don't do it."
A mimed sketch that raised the pain barometer had the duo trying to walk through a door without it swinging and hitting them in the face. Their timing was perfectly synchronized with just the right amount of confusion and indignation.
All in all the two characters charmed everyone. They were expressive and funny — a great family show.
What a Knight!
St. Albert Children's Theatre
Standard General Tent
Ages seven and over
Lords and ladies, lend me your ears. The St. Albert Children's Theatre plans to polish its armour and mount its steeds for a mighty quest to Camelot.
This year the 40-odd member troupe lets loose with What a Knight!, a jolly musical that takes a peek at the court of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, their four princesses, courtiers and an entourage of royal guards, knights, a cook, a minstrel, a jester and of course, Merlin.
In this version of Camelot, Watt Cobblers, the cook's son, just can't do anything right. He is kicked out of Knight School and the only opening is as a sorcerer's apprentice to Merlin.
Just as he starts his apprenticeship, three of Arthur's daughters are kidnapped by Sir Spicious, the Black Knight who wants to exchange them for Excalibur. Unfortunately, Merlin was entrusted to hide the sword and now cannot find it.
While Merlin searches for Excalibur with a magnifying glass, Watt, the tomboyish Princess Alice and her best friend Dusty Dragon team up to give the Black Knight his due.
One of the most exciting scenes occurs when Watt and Princess Alice confront two of the Black Knight's henchmen and a sword fight ensues. Bernie, one of the henchmen, played by Jarrett Krissa, is delivered a solid blow. While writhing on the stage in a mock death scene, his hamminess steals the show.
The Standard General Tent in Millennium Park is a tough place to hold a musical. There is noise coming in from the outside, the sound equipment is at times scratchy or overly loud and the stage barely holds 40 bodies.
But despite some technical inconsistencies, the ensemble never broke character and kept their energy levels going strong. They were having fun and giving their best – a great combo for any show.
