Vicky Sparrow reviews a puppet theatre adaptation of Carol Ann Duffy's haunting poem
The Tear Thief is a creepy invisible fairy creature who sneaks around steeling the tears of weeping children. She might sound like the child-catcher, but she is nonetheless the central character in the newest show from those puppetry enthusiasts at the Little Angel Theatre. The production turns a Carol Ann Duffy poem about what happens to the tears of crying children into an imaginative 40-minute piece of puppetry for kids.
From the off, it is The Tear Thief’s beautiful silvery, highly articulated little puppet that steals the show; with her mournful carved face, white feather hair and two puppeteers creating strikingly naturalistic movement. Her mystical first entrance atop a glowing moon makes a truly magical opening to the show.
Unfortunately the magic doesn’t quite sustain itself throughout, and a few cumbersome set changes make the production (as is too often the case with puppetry) a touch clunky. Live cello and viola mixed with voiceover poetry work really well together, while the dialogue of the puppets (vocalised by the puppeteers) remains a little characterless. It is a sweet production, though, and kids will certainly find it fascinating, if not wholly enchanting. No children’s tears in the audience, at least.
Review by Vicky Sparrow
The Tear Thief runs at Little Angel Theatre until 4th November.
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