Welcoming and child-friendly from the start, anyone without a teddy is lent a spare bear. A semi-circular performance space gives good sight-lines, even for the very young. A backdrop of pictures of the moon and a whale suggest what may come later. Gentle music produces an atmosphere of expectation. The audience is encouraged to 'Wave your bears in the air'. A voice-over announces that this is 'just like any other day' - except that it isn't.

Max (Chris Coiley) wakes up still in his clothes. This - according to Granny (Georgie Nicholson) - is from a cowboy game from the day before. Max has lost his bear. Whenever he says Where's my teddy bear?, the audience have to wave their bears in case Max's teddy is hiding among them. Max sings a song with actions about his lost bear. Granny joins in. Max's teddy is always having adventures and may have got left at the beach. The beginning of the story and the song match perfectly the young children (aged 2-7) they are aimed at.

A simple scene-change is made as a curtain is drawn back to reveal a beach backdrop. Here Granny and Max meet Dude (Barnaby Ferns), who speaks his own comical surfer-speak language. Granny calls him Mr Dude and a surfing song follows with actions. Left with Dude, Max is asked about his bear's favourite thing. The answer is 'Going on adventures in space'. Dude has a friend who lives in the ocean and may help. The Whale (Georgie Nicholson) insists they sing her song Do The Blubber Flubber. Again, language and presentation are excellent and pitched just right. A flashing light further along the beach is a alien space-rocket. Inside is a Robot (Georgie Nicholson) who wants to be a rock-and-roll star: the next song is pure rock and roll. When the rocket lands on the moon, the Blue Moon Gerbil (Georgie Nicholson) points Max in the right direction to find his teddy. They return home.

The fantastical adventures are delightfully presented with simple and seamless changes of scene (and Georgie Nicholson's costumes). There's lots of teddy-waving, lots of laughter, and good songs sung with perfect intonation. The young audience is entranced by this joyful bear hunt.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Chris Coiley – Max. Barnaby Ferns – Dude. Georgie Nicholson – all other parts including: Granny / Whale / Robot / The Blue Moon Gerbil .

Company Credits: Writers – Sheridan Humphreys & Jonny Berliner. Director - uncredited. Designer - uncredited. Lighting Designer - uncredited. Sound Designer - uncredited. Technical Operator – Suzie Rallings. Costumes - uncredited. Producer – Suzie Rallings. Company – Jammy Doughnut Productions.

END

(c) Peter Andrews 2009

reviewed Tuesday 11 August 09 / Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com