Sydney Reviews

In 1969 children's literature would be changed for ever with the publishing of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a book that has delighted generations with its playful portrayal of a caterpillar going through its life cycle from egg to butterfly with many a meal on the way. The book is strikingly illustrated with Carle's trademark painted collages and there is timeless beauty within its pages.

The magic of the book has now been brought gloriously to the stage by Jonathan Rockefeller, who combines the caterpillar’s famous tale with 3 other beloved Carle stories, and brings them to life with the use of 75 puppets. The show opens with the story of The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse and it works as an introduction to the style of illustrations that Carle is now famous for. The puppets are true to Carle's originals. They have that quality that makes you almost believe that you could create them yourself if only you have the time. Yet you would never dare as you instinctively recognise their genius. The white background of the set makes the colours of the puppets appear striking and vivid; as they are revealed one by one they are absolute delight.

The following two stories told brought more colour and lighting to the overall stage and immersed you in the tale being told. Mister Seahorse and The Very Lonely Firefly were spectacular in their puppetry and set design. Both stories were true to the books however on the stage they seemed drag in length and they lost some of their audience towards the end. Small people began to lose their focus and question; Where was The Hungry Caterpillar?

When the star of the show did arrive as an egg on a leaf this piece of theatre really came into its own. It was as if nearly 50 years ago Eric Carle wrote this book for the stage. Metaphorically the book is the caterpillar and it has been munching its way through best sellers lists and awards all this time before emerging as a theatrical butterfly. It is the loyalty the staging and puppet designers have to Carle's original illustrations and story that make this so successful. There is nothing new, no twist, no turn, no surprises. You are told exactly the story you have read a thousand times as a child and as a parent and its superb. You love it because of its familiarity.

When I asked one 3 year old what she thought of the show she beamed at me and said 'I lufed it'. When asked which part she smiled and said "none of it" and then went on to tell me the entire show in details. She might have got "none" and "all" confused but there was no mistaking the intention behind her ecstatic smile, shining eyes and energetic retelling of how much she did indeed luf the show.


JWR Productions Australia & Michael Sieders present
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
created by Jonathan Rockefeller | based on Eric Carle’s Books

Director Naomi Edwards

Venue: Riverside Theatre Parramatta NSW
Dates: 26 – 28 April 2016
Tickets: $18 – $90
Bookings: www.hungrycaterpillarshow.com