Captain Cauliflower and Marvin the Mischievous Moose

Our young reviewer was asked in advance of this family focused show aimed at ages 4+ how he felt about going to see the performance. He said, and I quote “I’m excited and happy about seeing Captain Cauliflower”. He then went on to say that “Me and my mum do lots of stuff together”, and this event forms part of a Kid Review for Brighton and Hove News and the Brighton Festival and Festival Fringe.

This observant five year old notes on arrival at the Bosco Spiegletent that the venue was “..in a really big tent”, and the show was in fact sold out for this performance.

The team behind this how are Mad Etiquette, award-winning ‘masters of the absurd’ Dan Lees and Neil Frost as The Establishment and other incarnations. Their tongue twistingly named show is an opportunity to join the invincible superhero Captain Cauliflower on an unforgettable adventure, filled with extreme silliness and unquestionable danger.

Starting off with a sleepy man in pyjamas trying and failing to get to sleep but being continuously woken up by series of unwelcome interruptions by Marvin the Mischievous Moose, the soundtrack to this from the start was lots of children giggling. There was much hilarity at antics of these two characters and when asked, the five year old said “I like it!”, which is sterling praise indeed from this world weary child.

This duo who are extensively trained in mime and have a long link with interactive performance and clowning have created a show which is perfectly positioned at its young audience with slapstick antics, silly noises and mime. To shouts of “He’s behind you!” from the audience, our youthful reviewer laughed throughout. I confess in fact that the adult accompaniment for the young reviewer also laughed a lot too.

Everyone in the tent was disarmed by a spot of ukulele action as Captain Cauliflower is born. The latter part of the 60 minute long show combining puppetry, a journey to outer space, and attempt to save the Titanic from the iceberg and some bubbles!

Captain Cauliflower was confronted by an arch nemesis, the black clad (with natty silver cape) Onion Man. But can he beat him? Oh yes he can… oh no he can’t! There was a good amount of audience participation and it kept the audience of all ages absolutely rapt.

This show is a must see. At once utterly shambolic and utterly marvellous, the final verdict was “I loved it! Almost as much as rolling down hills” which is fine praise indeed. A follow up comment was “and I liked the singing”, before rushing out for a meet and greet with the duo themselves.

Five stars for this show. It’s a family must see!

Performances
25 May 2019 12:00 – 13:00

Bosco Spiegel tent