Law & Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/07/2011 (4819 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

School of Contemporary Dancers (Kids Venue), to Saturday

You have to give this large-cast comedy (14 actors playing 23 characters) points for trying. It’s not every day a show that attempts to mix the very verbal and adult police procedural genre with nursery-rhyme characters. Possibly because the two just don’t mix.

Yes, there were some good jokes: The Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe doesn’t want to be investigated by Child and Family Services. Little Boy “blue” is depressed. And there were some standout performances: Jeff Scott Wahl as the wisecracking Bronx detective “Punnish Sir” (for his constant puns) and Garrett Hnatiuk as a drawling Southern Simple Simon were fun to watch. But several actors had trouble projecting — a real killer when it comes to exposition. And some scenes badly needed editing.

The ultimate result was a play that was too wordy for little kids, and too childish for adults. The verdict: irreconcilable differences.

— Janice Sawka

 

From the official Fringe Festival program:

‘The Inspector and the Punnish Sir (he’s always scrambling for egg puns!) have been called to investigate Humpty Dumpty’s crime scene. Fowl play is suspected!

With so many puns and plot twists, the yolk’s on you if you think this hilarious tongue-in-cheek comedy is only for young children.

From the director of CINDERELLA! CINDERELLA! (2009 Kids Venue Best of Fest)

Recommended For: Especially for Kids (12 & Under)

Length: 60 MIN

Tickets: $8

Discount Tickets: $5 for Kids (12 & under), Fringe volunteers

Babes in arms permitted.