The Man Who Planted Trees is a story by Jean Giono about one man making a huge difference to the lives of thousands through planting enough trees to change a climate. This two-handed production sold out in Edinburgh 2008 and is doing a short, sweet run in Brighton 2009 which started today with the showing I attended.They tell the story beautifully, with great clarity and charisma, using puppets as the characters that Jean, the protagonist, meets on his journeys. The show is well balanced, with energy and slapstick humour for the youngsters and some language-based wit for the adults. I laughed out loud a few times, but the story is not there solely for its humour. The message it sends out is one of generosity and selflessness and lifelong commitment to your values.The space doesn't lend itself well to the show, with the roads surrounding the Spiegeltent providing a backdrop of undesirable sound effects which occasionally break your concentration. I was unlucky enough for the mirrored surface on the back wall of the space to reflect bright light into my eyes, but that should be easily fixed. The story is heartwarming and really does have a message worth heeding. It kept my attention but didn't quite transport me to another place. Perhaps a slightly more intimate space would be better, but with help from scented air and a water spray, the Puppet State Theatre company presents a show that entertains all ages without compromise.
