The Alphabet of Awesome Science | Adelaide Fringe 2021 review

Join the science geek and the word nerd on a wild romp through the dictionary for an action-packed science show based on letters of the alphabet.

The Alphabet of Awesome Science

The Alphabet of Awesome Science

Children’s Events / AUS

Rating: Four stars

The Flamingo, Gluttony

Until March 21

When they say “big” words, they mean it. “J is for jocoserious”. No joke. Look it up in the dictionary. It's a mixture of “jocularity” and “serious”, they say, just like their award-winning science show.

This is billed as a children’s show, with an ideal age range of five to 12 years, but in many respects it seems to be pitched more towards the parents.

Note also the warnings: Loud noises, smoke effects, strobe lighting and a chance of rain (“audience members may be splashed with a very small amount of water”.) Some kids love all of that, but my four-year-old was frightened, barely took her fingers out of her ears, climbed into my lap and hid from view.

The almost-eight-year-old liked the Dad jokes and fart gags but said, sadly: “I didn't know any of the words”.

Well neither did I, but I loved learning. Expanding the vocabulary with words never to be seen or heard again, listening intently to the descriptions, noting the alliteration, admiring the scientific accuracy and wishing to watch it over again straight away, or at least read the script.

It's almost too clever. Professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge apparently thrive on trying to “out-geek” each other. Maybe there's a way to bring a few more kids along for the ride?