We loveeeeeee Eric Carle! You can see from our stash and this is only part of it. We had the pleasure to attend ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar & other Eric Carle Favourites’ by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, Canada, presented by ACT 3 International yesterday. The kids were very excited but didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t either.
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| Photo credit: Mermaid Theatre |
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| Photo credit: Mermaid Theatre |
The show started with Little Cloud which had beautifully painted props! How amazing that a couple of cardboards could be transformed to something so magical. Big K could not help but go oooooo ahhhhhh each time the little cloud morphed into a different shape. She exclaimed, “This is awesome!” when the little cloud turned into a clown. The vibrant puppets against the dark background really adds to the vibrancy. Small K was filled with anticipation and asked where the hungry caterpillar was incessantly. He was extremely engaged by every scene.
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| Photo credit: Mermaid Theatre |
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| Photo credit: Mermaid Theatre |
There were three tales being presented -- The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud and The Mixed Up Chameleon. I really like The Mixed Up Chameleon and was impressed at how some Tshirts could be transformed into props. More importantly, with all the colour changes, the effort to create these props was immense. Toddlers will be able to associate colours and meanings to objects through the reptile who eventually embraces his uniqueness after an identity crisis happens. Mermaid Theatre's vision mirrors the book's stunning illustrations drawn in thick, brilliant brushstrokes of blues, greens and reds. I really enjoyed the part where the chameleon sticks out his tongue and captures the fly! It was a good show which brought the book to life and made a impact on the kids. Both Big and Small K were able to recall which were the shapes the little cloud transformed into and what food the caterpillar ate. Great right brain exercise!
After the show, hang around for the Q&A session where the performers may reveal to you the secrets on how the chameleon captures the fly. Or what materials were used to make the fat caterpillar.
This timeless production is the perfect platform to introduce drama to children as it is a captivating showcase of stunning visual effects, innovative shadow puppetry and vibrant music. Within a short span of one hour, little ones will be also enriched by knowledge of science, the arts and even morality -- all inspired by the themes highlighted in the storybook. Both kids and adults alike were entralled by the use of UV lighting, a dark stage, black curtains and fluorescent costumes. "Black light" enables puppets and props to appear on stage as if they are animated on their own. It was really a visual feast!
The show made such an impact on my kids that upon reaching home, Big K dug out our Eric Carle's stash and started reading to her little brother. Caterpillar FTW! These books have so many homelearning opportunities! We could go cloud seeing or have a sensory time by pasting cotton wools on blue construction paper. We could also do a unit on how clouds are formed! I am motivated! You could check out Mermaid Theatre's site for more resources.
This production is only in Singapore for a week till 15 October 2017 at the Victoria Theatre. Highly recommended for children aged between 3 to 6 years old. Hop over to SISTIC to book your tickets now!
Disclaimer: I was given tickets for the purpose of this review. No additional monetary compensation was received. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and written according to my experience in using the products/ services.
