Giraffes Can't Dance

Synopsis

Gerald the giraffe was not a good dancer. Every year he dreaded the great Jungle Dance, where all the animals turned up to jump and prance. The lions dance the tango, the warthogs waltz, the chimps do the cha-cha and the rhinos rock ‘n’ roll. But Gerald the giraffe is clumsy and all the other animals laugh at him. Embarrassed and sad, he wanders off, until, one beautiful moonlit lit night he comes across a friendly cricket who helps him discover his own sweet song to dance to...! Everyone is invited to the ‘Jungle Dance’, so put on your glam rags and don’t forget your dancing shoes! With original music and songs, our storytellers whisk you away on a journey, deep, deep into the jungle. Told with bewitching music, breathtaking imagery, and beautifully carved puppets, this uplifting tale of individuality promises to melt even the coldest of hearts.

Our Review:

Anne Morlwy-Priestman - 2 November 2009

Bringing a child’s illustrated story-book to life is not as simple a task as you might think. The touring company Blunderbus has a formula for this which does seem to work; keeping an audience of the four to seven age groups enthralled for a whole hour with only three actors is the proof.

Giraffes Can’t Dance is a book by poet Giles Andreae with illustrations by Guy Parker-Rees. It’s a jungle story with a message about bullying and discrimination carefully – and subtly – built in. Designer Cherry Knight offers us a setting which suggests the bright colours of book illustration but leaves plenty of room for the action. The performers manipulate the head-pieces, rod puppets, masks and extraneous limbs of the different animals to make them individual and recognisable while never being threatening.

The adaptation is by Bill Davies with music and lyrics by Frank Goodhind.. The narrator is a chirpy cricket (Teoni Woodward) and the long-legged, accident-pr...

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