Review: The Wonders Of The Ancient Deep Are Resurrected in ERTH'S PREHISTORIC AQUARIUM For Sydney School Holidays

Saturday 23rd September 2017, 1:30pm, The Studio, Sydney Opera House

Renowned for taking puppetry to the next level, the creative people at Erth Visual and Physical Inc have bought their latest work PREHISTORIC AQUARIUM to the Sydney Opera House. Their informative and inventive school holiday program sees children interacting with science and nature as ancient aquatic lifeforms come to life in realistic three dimensions before their eyes.

The premise of the work is that the rich and somewhat dim Drew, head to toe in yellow suit, wants to reveal his latest investment, a Jurassic park goes aquatic style facility. Accompanied by the perky but precise scientist Katherine, Drew gives a brief history of Earth and the establishment of life that populated the oceans, starting with the Dickinsonia Rex. As The introduction to the creatures progresses it turns out that Drew didn't have the funds to finance the requested multiple tanks to house the creatures from different times in history and there is chaos as the tank gives way and the Studio Theatre is "flooded", allowing the sweet juvenile Plesiosaurs to swim up to the crowd, along with a variety of other creatures from the deep. Drew's recklessness has also led to a more sinister creature being kept in the same collection and naturally a fight for territory ensues but order is eventually restored.

Whilst PREHISTORIC AQUARIUM is a children's show, listed as suitable for children 5 and up, though there were smaller children in the audience, Erth don't dumb down the science, using the correct scientific names. The science is simplified to ensure easy understanding but it is still correct, or at least it is correct after Katherine takes over from Drew. Whilst the "tank" still remains intact, the scientific drawings and names of the creatures being viewed are projected onto the tank walls, allowing another avenue for learning.

The puppetry is amazing in its accuracy and complexity to have giant creatures swim over the audience. Erth also has the audience involved, from volunteers from the audience becoming part of the show and sending creatures out into the audience for the little hands to examine the illuminated pods and pass on. The detail in the creations is amazing with subtle movements of flippers feathering water accounted for as the Plesiosaurs swim and little tilts of the head as they survey the humans below, all operated from a rig of wires operated by the puppeteer wearing the gantry supporting the creature. Some creatures are illuminated from within highlighting their transparent skin and others are of a more solid construction whilst the largest are filled with air but still manipulated to move realistically.

For anyone that wants their children to develop a sense of wonder and interest in the world, its past and of science this is a must see production. With a few storylines running through the work, it combines learning with entertainment and a message that we all need to live together with the other inhabitants of Earth and that we need to care for them too.

ERTH PREHISTORIC AQUARIUM

The Studio, Sydney Opera House

23 September - 8 October 2017

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