Thumbelina
École Father Jan
Illusion Theatre
Runs until June 2
Ages: 4+
The stage is set. It's mostly dark in the École Father Jan theatre, save for a warm light illuminating a large stretched fabric flower in the centre of the stage. Ambient nighttime noises are heard as the audience members find their seats. Maryse Poulin, stage left, uses various instruments to mimic the sounds of nature at night: chimes tinkle softly, a bird calls out and leaves rustle in the breeze. A child with heavy eyelids rests his head on his mother's lap; the atmosphere is calm and serene.
The shadow of a hand can be seen from behind the petals of the fabric flower. Then another hand. The children in the audience giggle as the hands reach over the petals and the heads of the performers finally emerge. Sabrina Baran and Lila-Mae Talbot smile warmly and welcome everyone to Illusion Theatre's rendition of the classic Hans Christian Andersen story, Thumbelina.
The tiny puppet that is Thumbelina is born in the centre of the flower, but is quickly torn from her home and forced out into the great big world. She meets many creatures along the way, including a fat toad, a curious fish, a silk butterfly and many more. Each puppet is a work of art.
Thumbelina's journey is narrated, but few words are actually uttered. The story is told brilliantly through the music and movement of the performers on stage. llusion Theatre lives up to its name, using light and shadows to help tell their story. It's a unique and captivating performance to witness. The performers convey emotion not only in their faces, but also in the movement of their bodies. At times the dances are silly; at others, they're serious.
In the end, Thumbelina triumphs over each obstacle she encounters.
"A new world opens for her," says Baran, as Thumbelina peers into a magic hole in the centre of the flower.
"And in it, she finds new strength."
Children exclaim as Thumbelina emerges from the hole with a shimmery set of wings. The moral of the story is no matter how small you may feel, there is always strength inside you.
— Jasmine Roy
The Rainbow Fish
Mermaid Theatre
Save-On Foods Stage (Arden Theatre)
Runs until June 3
Ages: 3 - 7
Beautifully illuminated puppets and scenery make this rendition of Marcus Pfister's The Rainbow Fish impossible to forget. Blacklight makes this colourful story even more vibrant.
Rainbow Fish is known throughout the ocean as a striking beauty, with colourful scales that sparkle when they catch the light. Three fish tales are told within the 50-minute performance: The Rainbow Fish, Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Blue Sea, and Opposites.
In the first story, Rainbow Fish learns there are more important things than superficial beauty. He learns to share his most prized possession, his shiny scales, with his fishy friends. In the second story, Rainbow Fish learns that determination and bravery are key to reaching your goals. Finally, the third story teaches kids about the concept of opposites. The final pair of opposites is shown as Rainbow Fish "gives" away his scale and a little blue fish "takes."
The audience is assured from the beginning that this is a "non-shushing show." You can certainly hear the children have a grand time as they shout the names of each new sea creature that appears (and there are lots of them – fish, seahorse, whales and jelly fish, just to name a few).
Dozens of ocean creatures swim as if alive, moving on stage just as they would in the water: a tiny blue fish quickly darts back and forth; a firefly squid pumps and pushes his tentacles; and a crab scuttles across the ocean floor.
The Mermaid Theatre puppeteers have truly mastered their puppets. If you're interested in a stunning visual performance, this is certainly a show you'll want to see.
— Jasmine Roy
