CHILDRENS
VIDEO
Travis Edward Pike's Grumpuss «««
(1998) 99 min. $19.95. Otherworld Entertainment.
PPR.
Color Cover. ISBN 1-892900-00-9.
"The Grumpuss" is a rhymed epic fantasy adventure told by Travis Edward
Pike about a creature that is "Not like a dragon/Rather more like a large
surly cat/With tremendous paws and gigantic claws/And jaws that can crush
armor flat!" Staged at England's Blenheim Palace in 1997 with a small
supporting cast and orchestra in a benefit for the Save the Children Foundation,
the rather static presentation consists mainly of Mr. Pike's rhyming delivery
of the story, punctuated only by short scenes of dancing children and dialogue
with a faerie queen. In this case, the also available audio version
($16.95) may be preferable, as it allows the listener's imagination to
work more freely than is possible through the fixed lens of the camera.
For those who do decide to pick up the video, my guess is that 99 straight
minutes would prove too much for elementary age viewers; it's more likely
that children will be able to better grasp the themes of courage, compassion,
and peace if viewed one act at a time. Recommended, with reservations.
Aud: E, I, J, P. (S. Fisher) |