As Papa Say, writer and solo performer Anthony Audain has three messages in Tales of Foreign Lands and People: embrace differences; don't prejudge; and work together.

The morals are made in three folklorish stories — all originating on a never-named tropical-island — using song, verse, drumming and pantomime.

This sparsely staged production suffers from a failure to launch. Story is primarily to blame. In one tale, we meet three brothers and the blind women they pester. A little girl who shines shoes with tamarin paste, brown sugar and butter also drives a lacklustre plot in another story. An orphaned boy in a poor fishing village headlines the final myth.

Sadly, none of the short tales have enough sparkle or a strong directional plot line to keep young audiences engaged for the duration.

Pacing also hits some speed bumps in each of the 20-minute-or-so stories. Audain is a skilled and likeable performer who would be better served with sharper material.