The World's Worst Babysitter - Melbourne Fringe

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Sun 23 Sep 2018 - Sun 30 Sep 2018

Are you racking your brains what to do these spring holidays whilst secretly wishing you could hire a babysitter and run away? There's the anticipation of 'I'm bored' every five to ten minutes and the parental guilt to spend time with them when grasping their attention away from a technological device is like extracting honey from a bee.

Well, I've got the perfect solution, why not run away with the kids to The Melba - Spiegeltent and be babysat together. Lauren Bok may be the self-professed worst babysitter but from the looks of the happy smiles on the children's faces this avo at 3.30pm, she is the best solution for you.



The tent space, colourful with filtered stained glass light, was lit up. The incessant giggles of kids aged 2 or 3 to over 11 made it a warm atmosphere on a cold sunny day. The Kids Anticipation had been cultivated by magical props and choc tops purchased at the venue's kiosk. At an age of semi scepticism, they entered, ready for fun. Their razor-sharp minds well in tune, they were ready to question any affront to their logic. They didn't have to wait long to be challenged. Lauren Bok could make any shred of reason topsy-turvy.



Lauren has an energetic presence that commands the room. The pre-show empty stage featured one suitcase of props and a blackboard of rules. It made clear that her personality would weave the world of the performance. The vibrancy she infused into a Saturday avo time-slot was in itself a lesson that perhaps only the worst and not the best babysitter could teach - when you have to improvise, you have the greatest time.



3.30pm is often the most challenging to fill in holiday time lag. Kids get grumpy and parents might, just might, retreat unfindable into a back room. Lauren's performance engages families in rediscovering the joy of imagination.

At first, the crowd was a bit timid but Lauren's strength of personality and skilled characterisation is irresistible. Soon parents were using their hand to call for pizza and kids were creating characters for imaginary roles.

This would be the perfect act to take any kid mad for drama who loves to be front and centre. The audience engagement makes and defines the show. Lauren as Ring Leader gives great value for the babysitting experience. She is Mary Poppins antithesis, teaching modern parents and children the valuable lesson - all you really need is your imagination to be entertained.

Come to this show ready to be a central component of it, Lauren is front and ready to take you on a journey, you only have to follow. The show has a great full circle structure that leaves you with the sense you have been whirled around in a washing machine emerging fresh and inspired. The thought jumble shakes up the kids' fervour and leaves the parents with lots of ideas for how they could make any afternoon fly by.

The venue is a space kids love - you could tell many kids knew the ropes and had been before. Lauren is a great actress. She really makes imaginary situations real and her quick mind inserts canny humour and life reference that entertains the parents as well as the kids.

Lauren has limited shows this coming week and Sunday of the weekend, since no grand final Saturday needs colouring in.

Don't miss out on The World's Worst Babysitter - She may turn traditional rules upside down but when it comes to entertaining children they need upturning. You and your child will leave firmly convinced she is the best.

#adventure
#collingwood
#comedy
#family
#performing_arts
#theatre
#september
!date 23/09/2018 -- 30/09/2018
%wnmelbourne