Little Day Out reviewer, Wai Ling, attended I Theatre’s opening theatre production of the 2017 season. Read her The Ant and The Grasshopper review below.
The Ant and The Grasshopper Review
We all know the importance of keeping traditions. Yet to be able to pass the gems of the past to future generations, we sometimes have to be prepared to make changes to keep them relevant to the times.
This is what I Theatre has done with the classic fable, The Ant and The Grasshopper.
On top of the original themes of preparing for the future and balancing between work and play, I Theatre’s version of The Ant and The Grasshopper tackles themes on embracing of change and the appreciation of the arts. These are topics that will resonate with families in Singapore, especially with increased recognition of the need for a more holistic educational model in today’s society.
Promo Code for P3 Parents: Get Up to 20% Off P3 End-of-Year Exam Booster Classes
More Characters, More Sides to the Story
In addition to the title characters of the Ant and the Grasshopper, I Theatre has also enlisted the help of other insects you can expect to encounter in the garden to tell the story. This allows for a richer, multi-faceted tale.
Opening the show are zany bees, Bee 1 and Bee 2. With their high-energy, applause-seeking performances, the bees light up the stage, bringing fun and laughter to the audience.
Nessa the Caterpillar is another interesting addition to the storyline. The short-limbed character’s complaint of growing fat was the perfect excuse for getting us all to stand up and exercise with the cast. Nessa is a key character in conveying the theme of dealing with changes in life.
Last but not least, Lady Ga… oops, Lady Co Co the Ladybird injects some diva-infused humour.
Seamless Music
This being a musical, songs and choreographed dances make up a good portion of the show. The main character, Criminy the Grasshopper, plays the ukulele ‘live’ for the smaller numbers. For some song segments, his ukulele playing flows smoothly into and out of pre-recorded music, serenading the audience with a seamless stream of music.
Beautiful Set, Creative Props
The set is a majestic and straightforward depiction of nature’s visual cues of seasonal change. For kids living in all-year sunny Singapore who may not have experienced all of the four seasons, the set allows them to be awed by the beauty of nature while learning useful lessons.
I was particularly impressed by the use of decorated umbrellas to simulate flowers blooming in spring. It was like watching a time-lapse video of flowers opening up to display their full beauty.
The Ant and The Grasshopper Review Summary
From the set to the songs and the script, everything works together to paint a positive story. The new dimensions added by I Theatre to this gem of the past make The Ant and The Grasshopper a very apt choice for young minds.
The Ant and The Grasshopper will be playing till 19 March 2017 at the SOTA Drama Theatre. Recommended for 3 year olds and up.
Tickets are available from SISTIC.
