Puppetry with a fruity twist

There was obviously something wrong with The Cake with a Merry Filling when a young boy sitting in the back row burst into tears and demanded to leave about 15 minutes into the show.

I blame it on Mr Clown. Did he not know that bursting balloons has never gone down well with children in birthday parties? Some of the younger audience was terrified by the time the third balloon let off a loud bang after it was stung by Mr Bumble Bee and Mr Cactus.

To make matters worse, the clown pretended to cry. Now, does Mr Clown not know that crying is contagious among children? Thankfully, the boy was quickly whisked out of the ear shot of others before they also began to sob.

Apart from that minor hiccup, the Moscow Puppet Theatre's The Cake with a Merry Filling, part of the International Arts Carnival, delighted children and parents alike.

Mr Clown, like many clowns, looked amusing with his frizzy orange hair and bright green and yellow baggy outfit.

What added to the fun was that this clown, also the host of the 100-minute show, spoke mostly in Russian.