Yesterday I finally saw the play of The Night Garden by the Tony Bones performers. It was brilliant! I watched them set up in a room at Abbotsford Primary – interesting to see them be so fully self-contained with their own stage, curtains, sound and lighting… They had songs and dances, puppets for the part where Sally goes down the stairs and a singing bush… naturally. It was just a two-man play. Strange swapped between a small hand-puppet cat and a man in full costume. Even Sally shrank too at one point. And somehow they managed costume changes, music, puppetry, turning pages of the book and scene changes – just with the two of them.
I learned a lot too watching them manage the crowd of kids, giving them wiggle-time and lots of interaction. Above all, I loved how they interpreted the story and brought the book to life. Great stuff. I hope they come to your school soon!
Funny bits: Watching the kids go mad laughing before it started when someone was just tossing a hat behind the curtain. How funny the idea of bad breath is to kids. The wolfy howls during audience participation – some of the cutest squeaky noises you’ll ever hear. The singing bush – so camp.
It’s a pity that they only do this play for one year!
