CAUTIONARY TALES FOR CHILDREN
CAUTIONARY TALES FOR CHILDREN, Arena Theatre Company at the Studio, Sydney Opera House, 20-24 April 2016. Photography - above and right: Virginia Gay
BY FELICITY AND JAMES DAYHEW
Cautionary Tales For Children is a funny and creative play that engages the audience and provides many laughs. Virginia Gay is amazing and owns this one-woman play based on Hilaire Belloc’s hilarious book. With the incredible music, played and written by the fabulous pianist, Mark Jones it creates a magical and entertaining atmosphere.
The set consists of many shelves with an assortment of objects on them. There is also a wheelie table covered in a green furry cloth that Virginia brings around the stage at will. In the background there was a big sheet that was imprinted with spiders. She brought out many different items from the shelves including jars, balloons and roses.
Virginia brought up kids from the audience to participate in some of the play, so watch out, it might be you! She improvises very well when questions are asked and includes many laughs for parents, as well as their kids.
Since it was a one-woman show she voiced many characters very well, as well as representing the stories she tells really well. They are in a way brought to life by her magical singing voice and re-enactments.
We recommend Cautionary Tales For Children for ages 6-9 years because we think it appeals to the younger ones more. Bearing this in mind we did feel it could be 10-15 minutes shorter, although adults and older children will also have quite a few laughs.
Virginia Gay and Mark Jones did an incredible and remarkable job of bringing Hilaire Belloc’s book to life. We hope you enjoy this play and have a good time.
Cautionary Tales for Children is part of The Balnaves Foundation Open House Program, helping our community connect with the arts. Click here for more information.
