Oily Cart Company’s A Peck of Pickled Pepper is skilfully and precisely aimed at audiences aged three and four. Lasting just 40 minutes, it is the story of how Polly Pepper finds the ingredients for a party cake. There are visits to hens for eggs, to a cow for butter and to bees for honey.
The company’s 13 year’s experience in entertaining the under fives is clear: no section of the play lasts more than four or five minutes and, while there is a huge variety of activity songs, puppets, a revolving stage and lots of hilarity in the audience, there is nothing threatening, confusing or out of control.
It was a particular pleasure to see one four-year-old invited to turn the churn to make the butter: gripping his theatre ticket in one hand and turning the handle with the other, he beamed at his friends with complete joy. A book of the story is sent to nurseries and playgroups in advance so that, although the piece is original, the material will be familiar to the children when they see the show.
Touring nationally until February 4. Oily Cart: 081 877 0743.
