The Terrible Infants

Source: The List (Issue 582)
Date: 9 August 2007
Written by: Tom Tàbori

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Puppetry on the dark side

This collection of twisted morality tales for ages 9–14, are sumptuous testimony to Les Enfants Terribles’ collective methods. Yet artistic director, Oliver Lansley, as the trenchcoat-clad emcee still shines bright at its helm. Combining music, performance and puppetry to excellent effect, The Terrible Infants finds Lansley hilariously ticking off the rascally musicians and aping his fellow performers.

But despite Lansley’s orchestrations, the play’s intermittent bids for something darker are palpably collective – like the wheeling and swooping of a flock of lunatic gulls. The obvious pleasure the actors take in their performance occasionally threatens to upset the show’s momentum, but normally this revelry is a pleasure to behold, making both children and adults follow them wherever they wander. (Tom Tàbori)

Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, until 27 Aug (not 12, 20), 2.40pm, £8–£9 (£6–£7).

More: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Morality tales, Puppetry, The Terrible Infants, Fringe (Edinburgh Festivals), Kids

Last updated: 25 Jul 2008 17:14 BST