The Magic Chicken in Adelaide
The thing that I like most about this “Theatre Beating” show and the way that it unfolds is that the kids get it, entirely. They are laughing and saying their own stuff with the show from start to finish – a great indication, among many others.
I’ve seen a few productions for little ones the last couple of years, that while executed brilliantly lose the children somewhere along the way. Crazy and wonderful The Magic Chicken doesn’t see their attention stray for a second.
Out in audience world, we know that this is no ordinary kitchen or restaurant from the word go. It’s Kooks-ville big-time! The cooks are totally out there and anything that can happen (with a magic chook in the house) does, as the cooking gets going.
Two dopey chefs gradually get the pizza made while trying to keep a golden egg-laying chicken away from the hands of the customer-come-scoundrel, flirt and scary dude. And so much silly action takes place in the process! It’s busy, brilliant, stylised, theatrical, and so much fun!
Mime, puppetry, clowning and slap-stick are blended together and play against each other taking us into a mad world where the food is secondary to the frolic and unexpected delays and detours of getting it served up on the plate.
The antics – with the accompanying dramas, foibles, conflicts and convoluted resolutions are so interesting and amusing that the entire audience (not just the kids) are in the recipe all the way.
But it is also (on a more serious note) very human in its presentation of the way people are and be. Working together, getting over obstacles and not being too aggressive or lost to fun and joy, subtly gives kids of all ages some top food for thought.
With some incredibly directed and performed slo-mo sequences, snappy dance moves, strong acting, puppet work that really works and awesome live sound, it’s a great holiday show for all the family!
