Philip Pullman's enchanting tale, 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter', has been reimagined for the stage in a spectacularly inventive production that will captivate children aged six to 12. Lee Lyford's adaptation is a visual feast, bursting with imagination and cleverness.
At its core, the story follows Lila, a young firework-maker-in-training who dreams of joining her father in his craft. However, when he's tricked into revealing the secret to his winning formula, Lila sets out on an epic journey to retrieve it from the clutches of a fiery fiend atop a volcano.
The production is a masterclass in set design, with Anisha Fields' simple framework transformed by Lyford and team into a jungle, river, and even the sides of a volcano. Puppetry is another standout feature, with Maia Kirkman-Richards' designs and direction bringing to life lovable characters like Hamlet, the king's vociferous white elephant.
The cast of five tackles a daunting task with aplomb, delivering impressive performances in multiple roles. Standout turns come from Rose-Marie Christian as various incarnations of Lila, each one delightfully distinct. Even the usually tough-to-please seven-year-old audience member was won over by Jules Chan's cheeky Chulak and Jude Christian's hilarious adaptation.
If the production has a flaw, it's that some plot threads could be more clearly established, particularly in regards to the final lessons on love and risk-taking. However, for young viewers, the excitement of the story will likely overshadow any narrative missteps.
After the show, Artie was practically bubbling with enthusiasm, eager to try his hand at creating fireworks himself. He even attempted some impressive mouth noises, à la the actors, and was beaming with pride about his future firework-making ambitions. In an age where children's entertainment often prioritizes spectacle over substance, 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter' is a breath of fresh air – an enchanting tale that will leave young audiences spellbound and inspired.
At its core, the story follows Lila, a young firework-maker-in-training who dreams of joining her father in his craft. However, when he's tricked into revealing the secret to his winning formula, Lila sets out on an epic journey to retrieve it from the clutches of a fiery fiend atop a volcano.
The production is a masterclass in set design, with Anisha Fields' simple framework transformed by Lyford and team into a jungle, river, and even the sides of a volcano. Puppetry is another standout feature, with Maia Kirkman-Richards' designs and direction bringing to life lovable characters like Hamlet, the king's vociferous white elephant.
The cast of five tackles a daunting task with aplomb, delivering impressive performances in multiple roles. Standout turns come from Rose-Marie Christian as various incarnations of Lila, each one delightfully distinct. Even the usually tough-to-please seven-year-old audience member was won over by Jules Chan's cheeky Chulak and Jude Christian's hilarious adaptation.
If the production has a flaw, it's that some plot threads could be more clearly established, particularly in regards to the final lessons on love and risk-taking. However, for young viewers, the excitement of the story will likely overshadow any narrative missteps.
After the show, Artie was practically bubbling with enthusiasm, eager to try his hand at creating fireworks himself. He even attempted some impressive mouth noises, à la the actors, and was beaming with pride about his future firework-making ambitions. In an age where children's entertainment often prioritizes spectacle over substance, 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter' is a breath of fresh air – an enchanting tale that will leave young audiences spellbound and inspired.
they did an amazing job with the set design & puppetry 
Lila's journey is so epic & the cast is talented 
cant wait for kids to see it & be inspired to create their own fireworks 
! The puppetry is pure magic 
and the set design is mind-blowing, it's like stepping into a whole new world 
. I think what really stands out though is how the production doesn't dumb down the story for young viewers – it's still got heart and depth 
. And that's exactly what we need more of in kids' entertainment right now! It's not just about the visuals or spectacle, but also about creating a sense of wonder and awe 
and the puppetry is super cute. But what really gets me is how it balances action and heart – not always easy to do with kids' shows. Maybe some of the plot threads could be tightened up a bit, but honestly, who's gonna notice when they're having that much fun?
the only thing that bugged me a bit was when it got a lil too dark in the 2nd act, but overall its a really fun & imaginative show 
Anisha Fields' simple framework was clearly transformed into an epic adventure and the cast of five did an amazing job delivering those multiple roles 
Rose-Marie Christian's Lila incarnations were so delightful and fun to imagine 
). This 'Firework-Maker's Daughter' business might just inspire a whole new generation of young creatives... and who knows? Maybe we'll see a few future firework-makers in the making 
. And the cast, oh man they're talented, I'm not surprised the little one in the audience was won over 
i mean dont get me wrong lila sounds like a cool main character but the storyline is so predictable who tries to steal some firework formula from someone ? that's not even a bad idea for a kid movie lol
I just saw this stage production and OMG it was SO COOL!!! 
And the puppetry? Mind blown 
i love how they got 5 actors to play multiple roles it shows their versatility as performers. but i gotta say, some plot points could be clearer for a more cohesive story. still, its great that kids got to enjoy an enchanting tale with lots of excitement and imagination 
and rose-marie christian as lila in different forms was amazing, i loved how she changed up her expressions and mannerisms each time. 
. And that production? All them firework explosions and whatnot? Just makin' sure the kids are too distracted to think critically, you feel me? 
) was completely entranced and couldn't stop talking about it afterwards – that's gotta count for something!
. The cast of five is impressive, especially Rose-Marie Christian's different incarnations of Lila – I love how she makes each one delightfully distinct 
. Only issue is that some plot threads are a bit murky, but who needs nuance when you have fireworks