Aliens Love Underpants

Have you ever watched a film and wished the first half had been edited out? Or read a book and given up after a few chapters because the story wasn't engaging you? Well, Aliens Love Underpants certainly verged on having the unfortunate quality of not fulfilling its remit for the first half hour of this hour-long sold out show at the Pleasance.

Based on the brilliant rhyming book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort, the show should have been action-packed right from the start. However, the first half which is air-filled, mostly with pointless audience interaction and repeated attempts at breaking the fourth wall, falls completely flat on the audience of 3 to 8 year olds and their parents. Still, the second half works well for all, with brilliant puppetry and stage props, and at last, an attempt to follow the exciting story line: aliens keep coming to earth to steal human underpants, as they have a very special relationship to them and use them in varied and amusing ways. "Aliens love underpants, in every shape and size.  But there are no underpants in space, so here's a big surprise..."

Aliens and Timmy on Planet Janet

The show tune-style singing feels contrived, bar for a few moments of harmonious musicality. The stage lighting is excellent, and the alien puppets original and well handled. However, there is a definite am dram feel about this show, which could definitely be improved on. The boys both loved it though, as did the rest of the audience, so I guess I'm just too harsh a critic.

Juju's favourite bit: When they talked about space
Mum's favourite bit: Planet Janet
Juju's overall rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

The Boy and the Bunnet

We are not a Scottish family. I am French and my husband is English, and it so happens that our son Julien has an English accent. But we are Scottish-friendly of course, having lived in the Auld Reekie for so many years. We certainly put our knowledge of the Scottish culture to the test when we went to see The Boy and the Bunnet at St. Brides, which has been renamed Acoustic Music Centre for the Festival period.

Sae oot tae the show we gaed...

This is the second year running for the show at the Festival, but hurry if you want to see it, as it is only on until the 18th August. Led by seven Scot trad musicians, the story is narrated in Scots language by a story teller in front of a screen showing an animation film based on illustrations by Jojo Norris. This is the tale of a little boy living with his granny, who gets lost and found again, helped by his distinctive hat and all the many animals that surround him. The sweet story really appealed to the boys, they had no trouble understanding Scots, and loved the original music, composed by James Ross, who was also playing the piano. Each character in the story had its own instrument, making it very much like a Scottish version of Peter and the Wolf.

The musicians and the screen showing the animation

The quality of the story telling and musicianship was exceptional and certainly very engaging. Although there was not much audience participation during the story telling, at the end of the show, there was a chance to sing and dance for everyone.

You can watch the 2012 show here and take a look at the lovely web site.

Julien is ever so pleased with his signed copy of the book

After the show, the boys were really keen to buy the book by James Robertson and audio CD, which we got signed by composer James Ross. And guess what the boys asked me to read for their bedtime story that evening?...
Aye, that's richt, and in ma best Scots voice tae.

Julien's overall rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
Julien's scariest bit: The "urisk"
Leo's favourite bit: The dancing cat
Mum's favourite bit: The selkie