The Pixie and the Pudding. Photo: Ellie Kurttz

THE Pixie and the Pudding is a delightful caper, cleverly adapted from a Scandinavian folk tale by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane, and brought vividly to life with some playful puppets, original music and a good pinch of fairy magic.

A kindly farmer takes us through the seasons on his farm. All his animals have names and happy lives and his annual crops are bountiful. The key to the farm’s productivity, it seems, is that he always remembers to leave a delicious pudding out for the pixies every Christmas Eve.

But the poor farmer is too old to keep this up and has to leave his beloved home to a new owner. The trouble is when Charlie and her single dad move in from the city, he refuses to follow the previous farmer’s advice and make a Christmas pudding for the pixies.

Soon the cockerel refuses to crow, Bella the pig refuses to eat, Poppet the chicken won’t lay any eggs, Dolly the cow has no milk and Molly the sheep-herding dog is nowhere to be found. Charlie’s dad is taught a valuable lesson in humility and the importance of believing in magic.

Lyndie Wright’s puppets are a joy, especially the egg-laying Poppet and shaggy Molly. It’s deftly performed by Ashleigh Cheadle and Samuel Dutton who share the puppetry and take on the human roles. Dutton is spot on as the old farmer and Charlie’s hapless dad but, although the songs are catchy, his voice occasionally feels rather flat.

There could have been more interactive play with the young audience – they were clearly itching to join in – and the ending is not as jubilant (or as silly) as it could have been. Nevertheless, there’s much to admire in this fun, family show for ages 4-11.

littleangeltheatre.com
Until January 29