I thoroughly enjoyed reading Jon Mooallem's " American Hippopotamus" long-form piece for The Atavist Magazine this week, but was left wanting more after experiencing its "hippopotamuslessness." Therefore, I figured that attending Dr Zeiffal, Dr Zeigal And The Hippo That Can Never Be Caught! would be a suitable remedy.

Lining up to enter the studio, I was very aware that I was about two decades older than the target age for the show and I became excited at the prospect of not having my view blocked since most of the audience was under four feet tall. I cannot remember the last time I was waiting for a show and cries of eagerness filled the air; this enthusiasm continued throughout the show, and I must applaud the children in the audience for being such wholehearted participants from start to finish.

The show is part of the Offbeat Festival, and is performed by the Mouths of Lions group, consisting of Georgia Murphy and Oliver Weatherly. The story that follows features Doctor Zeiffal, a Special Archaeological Scientist Hippo Expert, searching for the titular animal. The show is flexible: the set can be easily re-adjusted and the child-generated answers can take the protagonist in slightly different directions. Even before the start, we are left wondering what is in the pile of red and white boxes with hippo stickers. In my reading about how to engage an audience during a presentation, a piece of advice was to bring a box and do not reveal what is hiding inside until later in your talk; this performance did that very well, gradually introducing Doctor Zeiffal's hippo-catching instruments to the audience.

Doctor Zeiffal is a caricature of a blundering, one-track mind scientist. Murphy utilises slapstick humour and wild goose (or rather, hippo) chases throughout, leaving the younger audience members rolling with laughter and even leaping out of their seats to point and yell at a sneaky grey figure lurking behind curtains. I was prepared for repetitive elements, which are prominent in the children's shows I grew up watching, but sometimes parts of the show dragged on for too long. For example, a hippo map-reading gaffe made me question which institution had awarded Doctor Zeiffal her degree, and Doctor Zeiffal's constant repetition of "don't panic… everything is under control… remain calm… I am a professional" for what felt like five minutes served no larger purpose to drive the plot forward, rather, it merely filled time for Weatherly's costume change.

While the performance did not set out to be the next Planet Earth, I hope that the kids do not form their sole impressions of scientists and hippos from this show. I appreciate the casting of a woman as a scientist, but I was puzzled at the costume choice of a lab coat and safety goggles for someone pursuing fieldwork; I had expected Doctor Zeiffal to be dressed like a young Jane Goodall or Terri Irwin. Granted, that did not take away from the show and maybe added to the humour of seeing someone looking more like a chemist than a naturalist yielding a hippo-calling instrument. Also, I am a bit worried that the next generation will grow up thinking you can attract hippos with candy canes – time will tell.

Overall, my favourite part of the show was witnessing the children interact with each other and with the actors. For one hour, they were fully immersed in helping Doctor Zeiffal with her hippo-finding mission and they showed no signs of embarrassment when asked to don their pairs of Hippo Google Goggles and shout the hippo-finding call. They even heckled Doctor Zeiffal: "Where's the hippo?" within the first two minutes, and "Where is your car?" when she mentioned driving. I was slightly disappointed that the show was advertised as fun for all ages, and expected something like a Pixar movie that has humour for all generations and nuanced messages for older viewers. While I would not have enjoyed watching the show by myself, it was made amusing by the keen audience of junior hippo hunters.