This atmospheric and symbolic 40-minute-look at the cycle of life through the eyes of a family of newly hatched birds is a captivating, thrilling ride on the wings of a baby bird struggling to fulfil life’s purpose.
On the frame of the tree-like set, three birds go through their comic rite of passage to adulthood, get their flying coats and leave the nest, but will the last bird ever fly the coop? And what about the last unhatched egg?
A great score, complemented by sepia tones and eerie puffs of smoke from hatches in the floor create a memorable atmosphere for Cahoots NI’s show for four- to seven-year-olds. A scary invading bird perfectly depicts the dangers and triumphs necessary for little eggs to become adult birds.
Under-fives may struggle to understand some of the symbolism (that putting on a jacket was symbolic of the bird growing adult feathers and that putting on a flying helmet symbolic of getting ready for take-off), and may get a little fidgety in the last ten minutes, but overall they all gave it the thumbs up and, with a little adult explanation were able to keep up with the show.
My son, an avid four-and-a-half-year-old theatregoer, was enrapt and sorry to see it end, so we will be going again. Dana Rodericks