The Crow’s Tale was charming, imaginative, and delightful

Posted on 2nd March 2020

This was the third visit to the Corn Hall for London based String Theatre, presenting their most ambitious production yet – a charming tale based on a Lenni Lenape Native American legend. The story of a rainbow coloured crow who saved his fellow animals by travelling to the sun, was charming, imaginative, and delightful from beginning to end.

There was something quite magical about the way the puppeteers gathered the fox, the hair and the goat, gambolling in the summer sun before winter. In an age of Peppa Pig and Spongebob, you might have wondered whether wooden marionettes with a limited range of movements could hold the attention of young children, and there was an inevitable hubbub during the performance. Yet it was the puppets the kids were chattering about, squealing with delight at the caterpillar’s tiny movements, or cooing at the hare lovingly stroking the fox. Jack Frost, high up above, raining down real snow, won gasps, while the crow earned cheers for his bravery.

It was hard to know whether to be amazed by the technical virtuosity of the two puppeteers, impressed by the beautifully crafted puppets, or wowed by the stunning stagecraft. In the end, I was simply swept away by an enchanting story, lovingly told.