Review: Vasthy & Friends: Sing, Dance, Play!
📹 Review based on a recorded performance
Vasthy & Friends: Sing, Dance, Play! is a fun and interactive musical with songs, dancing, fun and laughter for families. The show recently performed during the Edinburgh Fringe at Gilded Balloon Patter House with a 60-minute runtime; however, as I was unable to attend, I am reviewing a shorter recording of the production provided by the team.
The performance begins with Tony setting the expectations for the show, explaining to the children and parents that it will consist of songs and dancing and encouraging everyone to clap along, laugh and respond wherever they would like to. This sets a very inviting atmosphere for children who perhaps are a little more shy and allows everyone to get involved from the beginning.
After a brief intro video full of colour and a song introducing the show's host, Vasthy comes onto the stage with so much energy that it's easy to see how children would be engaged from the beginning. Her bubbly personality, combined with the bubbles being blown onto the stage around her, brings a wonderful sense of excitement and wonder to kick off the show.
Throughout the performance, Vasthy introduces the audience to her friends, both onstage with her — Tony, Nohely and Lindsey — and via a screen projection at the back of the stage. The use of the screen adds another level of fun and engagement for the young audience. From songs about spelling names, animals and emotions to learning about different cultures and languages, including Haiti and Mexico, the performance covers a wide variety of topics, but each is introduced in a fun and educational way.
The audience for this particular performance were very young, so instead of asking the children what they wanted to be when they grew up, the performers adapted the question and asked the adults what they wanted to be when they were children instead. It's a brief moment, but it shows the team's ability to adapt the performance to the audience in front of them.
As I don't have children myself, it's difficult to say for sure how engaging this would be for a young audience, but my observation from watching the recording is that Vasthy & Friends is a fun and inclusive piece of entertainment for children of all ages. The team encourage participation without putting any pressure on anyone to be involved if they don't want to, creating a very relaxed setting where children can wander about, colour and come onto the stage if they wish.
During one particular song, musical instruments were handed out so the children could get involved in making music alongside the team onstage. Moments like this make the performance feel less like something they are simply watching and more like something they are actively part of.
Vasthy is dressed in bright colours and the projections on the screen behind are also bright, which I'm sure would be engaging for young children. Another clip I was provided with of an older audience also confirmed just how engaging and fun the dancing along with the team can be. Each of the songs performed is catchy, with a good rhythm that anyone, including adults, can get involved in.
The performance ends with a dance party, where everyone is encouraged to join the team onstage and dance along, which is a lovely way to end the performance. It feels like a perfect end to a show that has encouraged the audience to sing, dance and participate throughout.
The four cast members on stage really brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the performance, engaging directly with the children (and adults) and making sure they were safe and enjoying themselves. The stage is also low enough for the children to safely make their way up and dance along with the performers, giving them the opportunity to be part of the action while allowing parents some time to relax and enjoy themselves.
Overall, Vasthy & Friends: Sing, Dance, Play! is a fun, inclusive and interactive show for families with young children to attend. With its catchy songs, colourful visuals, and relaxed approach to audience participation, it creates an environment where children can get involved at their own pace while having plenty of fun along the way.
