International Children’s Festival:The Man who Planted Trees.
by the Puppet State Theatre from Scotland 
A work of the same name, by the award winning creator of animated films Frédéric BACK is at the origin of this performance that was based on the life of Elzéard Bouffier, a shepherd from the south of France, as told by French novellist Jean Giono. Giono is known for his novels dealing with the agricultural world of the south of France where poor farmers are often in disputes with neighbours, fighting over land but mostly over water because certain areas of the south are so arid. The lack of water brings many individuals to despair. (You might have seen Manon des Sources for example or the whole series of Giono’s films that were very good indeed). Here the performance from the Puppet State Theatre from Scotland, brings together among other things a slick puppet performance involving some good ventriloquist techniques by the manipulator of the puppet who is called “DOG”. He is a would be actor and self conscious performer who has to get his nose into everything. A regular little smart aleck of the kind we used to see on the Ed Sullivan show, or the Casino circuit, who delighted the adults with racy jokes, Here his vocabularly has calmed down and it is very suitable for children. I’m sorry they never told us the name of the actor who spoke for him because his repartees and quick answers brought gales of laughter from the whole house.