Crazy Caterpillars, butterflies and flowers

Clown doctors Victoria Abbott and Thomas LaHood . Photo/supplied

You can't be slug when you're playing a caterpillar, especially in front of an audience of children, according to actress Victoria Abbott.

"There's no faking it with kids. If you're not having fun on stage they can feel it."
Luckily the Baycourt production of Caterpillars is great fun to play.

"It's actually delightful. It gets a bit sweaty, but it's like being a kid again and the kids in the audience really respond to the fact we are having fun up there."

Abbott and Thomas LaHood, who also plays in Caterpillars, have plenty of experience making kids happy as they are both clown doctors. This differs from ordinary clowns as they specialise in the psychology of helping kids, who may be in great pain or anxiety, laugh and forget their worries.

While not acting, Abbott can be found at Starship children's hospital in Auckland, where her skills as a clown doctor are put to good use.

She says kids are always generous with their appreciation of comedy and Caterpillars is bound to be no exception as it is an old-fashioned physical type of comedy. The show only has two actors and they play all the parts, introducing the audience to the beauteous world of swaying flowers, flitting butterflies and of the two caterpillars with their clumsy lycra-clad puppeteers.

The caterpillars are lazy consumers with high expectations but low motivation. They are born into a belief that no matter how ugly their behaviour, ultimately they will turn into beautiful airborne creatures - but if life is a cycle, it's just not going fast enough!

Baycourt manager Megan Peacock Coyle is thrilled to have secured the award-winning children's play for the school holidays.

"We want to give Tauranga families the chance to experience professional, high-quality children's theatre at an affordable price," she says.

Caterpillars originally premiered at the Hippalot Children's Festival in Hameenlinna,
Finland, with New Zealander Thomas Monckton performing. This time he takes the helm as the director, with LaHood and Abbott taking on the acting roles.

What: Caterpillars
Where: Baycourt
When: Tuesday July 14, at 10am and 1pm.
Tickets: Tickets from Baycourt Box Office, www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 842 538.