What: Peter Combe: Live It Up and Fry An Egg On a Slippery Dip!!
Where: Garden of Unearthly Delights
(Review by Sarah List)
I don’t think there would be a parent in Adelaide under the age of 40-something who has not heard of Peter Coombe. Before The Wiggles, Coombe was one of the few people in Australia who specifically wrote children’s songs. His music was (and presumably is still) a staple favourite at primary schools everywhere, and even featured in the iconic annual Festival of Music.
Telling tales of the silly and ridiculous, this latest production also incorporates support from The Theatrebugs kids entertainment school. Adding colour, movement and backing vocals, they help to fill the stage with life and illustrate the themes of Coombe’s songs.
The audience is a mix of all ages, and one of the really sweet things about attending Coombe’s show is that the parents are able to connect their childhood’s to their kids experience, rather than it being about parents taking their kids to see someone that their kids specifically like.
As a non-parent, I borrowed up my god-daughter (6, Miss Adventurous) and her sister (8, Miss Very Specific Tastes) and I pretended we were going for an afternoon out for their entertainment.
Coombe’s new songs were well received, but without a doubt the audience was there for the classics – Juicy Juicy Green Grass, Newspaper Mama and so on. There was lots of crowd involvement from the parents and kids, and during the finale the kids were encouraged onto the stage to participate. This part was an absolute hit with the kids, and I think that maybe a different venue with more floor space so that the children could be at the front and more easily join in would suit this show. They looked like they were busting to participate, and it was pretty difficult to do that with as much enthusiasm as they felt from a chair in the audience.
Miss 6 loved the show and joined in throughout, but Miss 8 wasn’t as thrilled (which is not unusual for her as she’s 8 going on 18 and her dream show involves cuddling cats).
I’m curious to see what his shows for adults are like (same songs, but the crowd would be people of my vintage without their little ones in tow).
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