CITY FARM Adelaide Showgrounds Until 18 Mar 2012 Review by Celeste Villani From sowing the seeds to milking the cows, farming is one occupation that requires much passion and hard work. But when city boy Jed wins a farm on the internet, he buys machines that do all these things for him – but is lying back whilst black smog drifts through the air really all that it seems? Set in 2030, Nic Kreig, Ashton Malcolm and Jesse Butler highlight issues related to environmental destruction, commercialisation and technological advancement. The air is so polluted humans must wear gas masks and many characters are unfamiliar with the world outside their computer screens. Written by Lisa Waite (who also directs) and her talented cast, the team prove that they are incredibly capable of engaging teachers and students alike. The audience is fascinated and entertained by the story, yet still laugh and enjoy the whimsical characters. Each actor plays more than one character which is performed in a way that does not confuse the children. Jesse Butler masters the multi-character task and is hilarious as a guitar-playing cow, shifty salesman and humanized computer. Using his guitar he also provides much needed background music and sound effects, adding an extra dimension to the already fantastic show. Nic Krieg’s portrayal of central character Jed and a mad scientist-like MC keeps the audience entertained, and his facial expressions are absolutely priceless. However, the shows standout is Ashton Malcolm who plays Melaleuca the tree. She interacts with the cast well, is humorous and disseminates the show’s moral to the young audience successfully. The colourful 2D set is effectively designed and leaves many children asking questions about how it was put together after the show. Props are effectively attached to the back of the set which ensured that the show ran smoothly and without any hitches. Although this 2030 is somewhat unrealistic, Lisa Waite and her army of talent clearly tell children what they may not understand in the media – that our environment is suffering. A must-see for all South Australian primary schools students. Rating 5 stars (out of 5)