December 16, 2013
A very children friendly show pedals into the Burton Taylor studio just in time for the Christmas holidays. Eta and Erb are bicycle workshop elves who have millions of bicycles to build for Santa to deliver on his sleigh, helped by an adorable polar bear. The trouble is they keep getting distracted by the lights going out and cheeky snowmen. And then Rudolph is poorly so how is the sleigh going to get up in the air? If you are aged three to six you are unlikely to be reading this Daily Info review but this is a show firmly aimed at you. Under threes will find all the Christmas lights and gentle music fun to watch too. Even when the North Pole is hit by power cuts there are enough twinkly lights on, powered by furiously pedalling adults from the audience, to stop anyone getting scared.
The show I saw was the play’s first outing and the school party from St Joseph’s joined in with great gusto, sometimes their enthusiasm seeming to overwhelm the two performers. It is an interactive show and lots of opportunity for getting up and down, raucous singing and even colouring in. I am sure by now the cast are into their stride and some of the early teething problems ironed out. There is a little bit for adults in the show – the snowmen tell truly cracker worthy awful jokes – but I would have liked to have seen more. Any children over six are better off going to the panto next door.
Remember that the BT is upstairs and doesn’t have much room for buggies. Comfy cushions are provided for all who want to sit on the floor (or indeed slide around the floor on, or curl up and have a snooze) but if you need a chair there are those too.
Father Christmas and the Icicle Bicycle runs until Tuesday 31 December with a relaxed performance on 29 December.