Boom Bah!
Lower NZI, Level 1, Aotea Centre, Auckland
15/07/2009 - 19/07/2009
Production Details
Boom Bah! is coming to town
An overflow of inspiration in Boom Bah! children’s theatre show
Ting! Shhh… Listen. What’s that sound? Boom Bah! is coming to town!
THE EDGE® is pleased to present a special children’s theatre season of Boom Bah! where a picture book story is brought to life through puppetry, theatre and live music. Boom Bah! is coming to Auckland for the July school holidays as part of Time Out Theatre for Children at THE EDGE®.
Performed by Australia’s leading children’s theatre company Windmill, the show has been created especially for 1 to 5 year olds. The production is full of rhythmic language and music – a great way for children to enter into a visual, physical and creative world.
Boom Bah! is a wonderful early experience for children to go to the theatre and see characters come to life. Written by Phil Cummings and Nina Rycroft, Boom Bah! tells the story of a group of animals as they create a makeshift band from everyday objects around the home.
THE EDGE® Producer of Public Programmes Bronwyn Bent says that it’s never too early to get inspired by theatre and the performing arts. "Once you’ve seen Boom Bah!, the music, rhythm, puppetry and exhilaration is going to stay with children and their parents for a long time."
This is Windmill’s first time performing in Auckland. "It’s not often that families in Auckland get to see such a high-quality piece of children’s theatre. This is a great chance to see a much-loved theatre company that tours internationally," says Bronwyn.
Windmill will perform their show Boom Bah! at the Aotea Centre, from July 15th – 19th 2009. On Saturday July 18th, as part of the popular Pick & Mix programme, there’s a special ticket price of only $10 per person.
After each show, the performers will bring out their puppets and instruments for an interactive session with the audience – for both children and parents to enjoy!
Boom Bah!
Wed 15 to Sun 19 July, Lower NZI, Level 1, Aotea Centre
Performance 11am (Storytime from 10.30am)
Ticket price*: $12.50
Children under 1: FREE
* Service fees will apply.
When a small mouse creates the sound of a simple TING, a bustling band gathers and grows.
Pick & Mix with Boom Bah!
Saturday 18 July
Performance 11am (Storytime from 10.30am); Meet the performers 12pm
Special ticket price*: $10
Children under 1: FREE
* Service fees will apply.
After the show, meet the puppets and performers from Australia’s much-loved children’s theatre company Windmill.
Tickets are available from THE EDGE® Box Office.
Phone: 09 357 3355 or 0800 BUYTICKETS. Or visit www.buytickets.co.nz
Cheerfully innocent, delightfully silly musical spectacle
Review by Nik Smythe 16th Jul 2009
Leading Australian children’s theatre company Windmill has come to Auckland for the first time to present Boom Bah!, a curious oddity based on the best-selling picture book by Phil Cummings and Nina Rycroft.
Master of ceremonies ‘Cat’, a thoroughly domesticated feline played by Alirio Zavarce, is enjoying his breakfast when a couple of (adorable) mice (puppets) play a trick on him, making a ‘ting’ noise and then hiding so he can’t tell where it came from.
This little sound is the first of a gradually increasing symphony of noises, made first with spoons and sticks and kitchen containers. Joined by ‘Goaty’ the goat and ‘Piggy’ the pig (Louise Mignone and Patrick Graham), Cat and co. utilise the benefits of a very handy ‘magic Cupboard’ into which they place various objects that are then turned out transformed into playable instruments.
‘Chicken’, performed by David Heinrich, enters playing a real instrument (melodica) and the musical adventure is well underway. The farmyard gang explores rhythms, melodies and moods within the varying sounds discovered in different instruments and objects (composer Quincey Grant) .
Plenty of pranks and surprises accompany the happy scene, so that all in all Boom Bah! is a cheerfully innocent, delightfully silly musical spectacle aimed at preschool age but good fun for anyone who thinks they’d enjoy escaping into that magical realm of the toddler’s imagination. Artistically, Jonathan Oxglade’s impressive costumes and versatile set design perfectly capture said imagination.
Following the performance the children are invited to meet the characters and have a turn trying to play their instruments. Director Rose Myers and choreographer Jeff Meiners have created distinct and recognizable animal characters in their players. The cast engages warmly with the pint-sized crowd, who are consistently enthralled throughout the eventful 45 minutes.
_______________________________
For more production details, click on the title above. Go to Home page to see other Reviews, recent Comments and Forum postings (under Chat Back), and News.
Copyright © in the review belongs to the reviewer
Comments
nik smythe July 17th, 2009
Edge producer Bronwyn has corrected me on a couple of line-up changes from the initial press release:
Chicken was performed by David Heinrich and the Goaty played by Louise Mignone. Admirable turns both. Apologies for the error. [Corrections now made in review - ED]