ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO
ERTH Visual and Physical
Written and directed by Scott
Wright. Original development with Steve Howarth and Sharon Kerr. Designed by
Steve Howarth. Sound design Phil Downing. Adelaide Festival of Arts 2016.
Norwood Concert Hall. February 27 – March 6 2016
Reviewed by Peter Wilkins
 |
| Erth's Dinosaur Zoo. Photo by Russell Millard |
Could you coax a child to place
his head in the mouth of a dinosaur. Scott Wright can. Or ask a young girl to
pat the nose of a dinosaur. Scott Wright can. Or maybe ask a brave Dad to hug a
dinosaur. The director of Erth can.
Erth is an awesome interactive
show about all kinds of dinosaurs, found mainly in Australia and America, that
is until sixty five million years ago when an enormous asteroid rained fire
upon the earth and wiped out all living things. But the fascination with
dinosaurs never went away, and Wright and his four puppeteers bring dinosaurs
to life to amaze, surprise, terrify and make young children scream with fearful
delight.
 |
| Scott Wright with Tyrannosaurus Rex Photo by Russell Millard |
Wright is the consummate
puppetmaster. Years of experience have taught him the ways of the child and the
cheeky larrikin within immediately strikes up a gentle, non-threatening rapport
with the young members of the audience.
Occasionally there are the surprises
when a very young child screams with howls of sheer dismay when his mother is
taken onto the stage to be Rankine’s “Mum” and receives an unexpected birthday
present - a carnivore dragonfly like dinosaur that sucks out the brains for
food. Not all well-laid plans go to script. Wright and his company flaunt W.C.
Fields’ advice never to act with children and animals. It is after all the very
lifeblood of this amazingly life-like display of dinosaurs from the young
babies to the towering giants and, of course, the fearsome,
Occasionally there are the surprises
when a very young child screams with howls of sheer dismay when his mother is
taken onto the stage to be Rankine’s “Mum” and receives an unexpected birthday
present - a carnivore dragonfly like dinosaur that sucks out the brains for
food. Not all well-laid plans go to script. Wright and his company flaunt W.C.
Fields’ advice never to act with children and animals. It is after all the very
lifeblood of this amazingly life-like display of dinosaurs from the young
babies to the towering giants and, of course, the fearsome,
roaring T Rex.
 |
| Scott Wright and Sharon Kerr Photo by Russell Millard |
The prehistoric puppets, expertly
handled and manipulated by four adroit puppeteers, and surrounded by inflated
plants of eons ago, fill the wondering eyes with fascination. Wright never lets
his young audience be fooled. Every action is carefully explained to create a
safe environment in which children understand they are active participants in a
show about dinosaurs and not with real ones, although they appear so real and
could well frighten the very young. The show is purposefully advertised for
children five years and over.
While the complex names of many
of the species pass over me, it is obvious that many of the children are
familiar with dinosaurs and are engrossed in a show that can seem to bring the
familiar animals to life.
At the end of the show, the
puppeteers bring the dinosaurs into the foyer, where children can touch them and
be assured again that they are not real, but they are realistic. The one hour
performance has been a riveting, fascinating and educational experience for
young and old alike and many of the young children will be asking parents for
dinosaurs of their own and tickets to Erth’s other Festival production, the
Prehistoric Aquarium.
For this adult, as well as a lesson in the variety of dinosaurs that roamed our earth, their physiology and their eating habits, it is a lesson in the mysteries of our universe, our insignificance within the greater scheme of things and the precious gift of a child to wonder. As the young audience sat wide-eyed, or cried out their enthusiastic responses, I applauded Erth’s talent to excite and educate. If only every young child could share this gentle and special experience. As long as it didn’t lead to an oversupply of dedicated paleontologists!
For this adult, as well as a lesson in the variety of dinosaurs that roamed our earth, their physiology and their eating habits, it is a lesson in the mysteries of our universe, our insignificance within the greater scheme of things and the precious gift of a child to wonder. As the young audience sat wide-eyed, or cried out their enthusiastic responses, I applauded Erth’s talent to excite and educate. If only every young child could share this gentle and special experience. As long as it didn’t lead to an oversupply of dedicated paleontologists!
