Oli Fuller
As the storm approaches, young Hope is forced to brave the rain alone. This fun family show from Bon Appétit Theatre begins with two sets of welly boots being excellently puppeteered by Hsin Huei Hung
and Mien Mien Chang. They bring a real sense of humanity to the inanimate objects and undeniably proving that anything can be a puppet. The two sets of welly boots quickly fall in love, and a third, smaller, yellow set of welly boots appears. As mother wellies is laid to rest, and father wellies goes away, we meet the owner of the yellow welly boots, Hope.
The rest of the story follows Hopes adventures, overcoming her fear of the storm and waiting for her fathers eventual return. In her adventures she meets multiple beautifully designed companions who come with an array of fun noises. This show was charming and beautiful, with artistry that is bound to inspire young minds. Li Zhi Sun’s design of the puppets and the space that surrounds them created an immersion which pulled me into the heart of the storm, and paired playfully with the excellent choreography by Hsin Huei Hung. From rain clouds tickling my hair as they passed, to Hopes father returning through the audience, I never felt like I had been left out in the rain.
Where this production truly soars, however, was the sound design. With music composition by Shr Yau Juo, foley by Yen Just Chen and sound design by Tian Qi Chen, this show creates a wordless tale, presenting us the tale of Hopes adventure through live foley. As boots stomped bowls of rocks where mixed, thunder tubes shaken and drums crashed. This was beautiful to watch, and I found myself at times far away from the show, lost in the magic of the foley. The partnership of all this artistry created a family show perfect for your child or your inner child.
Where the storm began to die out was the plot, with such a beautiful opening I was disappointed to find that while my neurodivergent brain was satisfied with the shapes and colours, the plot had lost me entirely. As well as this, I found moments of the thunder and rain became overstimulating, with lights and sound that rang too close to the heart of the storm.
As I left the theatre I was greeted by stickers and temporary tattoos with adorable designs that completely won me over. Unlike other fringe shows I’ve seen, these felt completely like a part of the experience, a little drop of rain I could take home with me. This show felt like a warm hug on a rainy day, it was sweet, playful and charming. I’m sure that this display of talent, both from the performers on the stage and the artists behind the scenes, will go on to inspire a future generation of young designers and theatre makers like myself.
Recommended Drink: A sweet and refreshing homemade lemonade to tide you through the storm.
Performances of Little Drops of Rain have now concluded at Prague Fringe 2025.
Image Credit: Lucas Chih-Peng Kao
Freddie Haberfellner
Mike Dorey
Miriam Trujillo
