Taiwan Season: Whale, Where Are You Going?
Move over, Pinocchio, there is a new old man, puppet and whale in town!
The shadows and puppetry in this children’s show fascinate all, as you embark on a journey with a mischievous little boy who’s always up to something, and a quiet old man who just wanted a bit of peace. I’m sure the parents in the room could relate to the old man on that one.
Luckily for the parents, peace is precisely what they get during this show. Every child fixates on the puppetry, paper planes and beautiful shadow art. The calming music and the shadows create tranquillity in a room filled with children, who knew that was possible?
The show starts with a shadow story of a man and a whale floating in the ocean, then the lights switch on, and you meet the old man and his now mundane lifestyle. Until the help of some scheming workers behind the scenes creates a little puppet boy who comes to life! The man, scared at first, soon warms up to the boy, as he is taught how to be more adventurous, especially when they are both taken by a storm, and you once again meet the whale.
The Taiwanese show reminds me at times of In the Night Garden, probably as it has the same age demographic, but it also has a warm and adventurous story at heart. The imagination that went behind the props brings everything to life, as kids gaze upon the whale shadows that shimmer on the walls, or look above at the handmade clouds and wind. The various arts and crafts displayed during this show are fantastic, and the story with these tools is told beautifully, without uttering a single word.
Taiwan Season: Whale, Where Are You Going? 10.10, Assembly Roxy, until August 24
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/taiwan-season-whale-where-are-you-going
