Veslefrikk with fiddle

When I entered the auditorium, ready to watch Veslefrikk with Fela, I expected the actors to include the little ones, and I was not disappointed. They started things off by asking the children if they were sitting comfortably and if they were ready for the play. Then it was unanimous that they were completely ready, all the children had shouted out "yes" they were more than ready for music and excitement. Veslefrikk was portrayed as energetic and the actor, Vetle Springgard, kept in touch with the little ones by talking to them as if they were part of what was happening, and with direct eye contact. Every time Veslefrikk was frightened, the actor was right on the spot, swinging all the joints around in exaggerated but humorous movements so that the children were engaged, which also kept them interested throughout the whole thing. There was a lot of fiddle, guitar, dance and "turn" involved. The reason I put goose eyes is because this was more of a creative way of swinging yourself around than gymnastics is, but every now and then there was also gymnastics involved. When the female actress, Margit Myhr, came out in a costume that covered the stilts she was wearing, Veslefrikk crow dived backwards. This costume also frightened some of the little ones, but they quickly realized that the woman was not dangerous when she said just that in a voice you use to cuddle puppies, which made the little ones laugh away the previous fright. And when Veslefrikk was going to town, he was so sad because it was so lonely, so he said to the little ones: "Then you can dance with me!". The children were completely on board with this, and the four who were chosen laughed like crazy throughout their short career on stage. When I looked over at the children who had been selected, I saw that they seemed even more interested after they had been on stage with the actor. And the children sitting next to them were even more excited, they seemed to be hoping to be picked as the next one up on stage. Through it all, the hall was adorned with beautiful violin and guitar music, played by Erlend Apneseth, who also occasionally joined the play as a character's voice in the background.

By Sandra Aadalen

Photo: Monica-Valsø-Nestvold