The pool is a lot cooler – as is the weather. A child with his hair in three striking plaits giggles as Sjaak leads him in the pool. The Child is making mince meat out of an orange straw that he has securely viced between his teeth. There is a lot more space in today’s performance and the whole thing feels calmer. I notice the use of a Jacuzzi pipe that bubbles up beneath a floating mat on which the children lie. The characters also feel more defined Sjaaks ‘Oeey ooeey ooooh’ is the staple Umbrella man call whilst bubbles teases with ‘Pish – pop – shhhhhhhh’ and Gong has her adorable ‘Hel-lo’ whilst matching her syllables on a little baby floating Gamelino.
Another addition is the water flicking where the surface of the pool is attacked with the fingertips as if it were a giant Subuteo table. The dancing in the water song now has a ‘rapido’ section where it is speeded-up. All the additions are a hit and one child makes his feelings known with whoops and jumps. The jumps become pronounced as Umbrella man lifts the child high up into the air. There is definitely a clearer contrast between the high energy moments and more relaxed moments making the show a delightful varied landscape.
When the children get out of the pool they are wrapped in huge fluffy towels but it is clear that many of them do not want to get out – and who can blame them.
