OH NO! A FOX!

The fox is in the henhouse. Silly fox, what in tarnation was he thinking?

Sounding like a bunch of gals sitting under hair dryers at the salon in Mayberry, U.S.A., Midge, Pip and Dot are three hens always finding themselves in harm’s way, which befits hens living on Loopy Coop Farm. Here, however, they are in mortal danger: A fox, complete with well-cared-for dentures and squinty eyes, has made his way into the henhouse, and it is up to Rooster Sam to make things safe. Though his talents run toward cowardice and sloth, Rooster Sam is repeatedly successful in spite of himself. Farce usually needs a lot of gears and wheels within wheels to find its climax, but Stoeke, with scant text and a reduced line and palette, carries it delightfully forward, one unexpected, mildly cringe-inducing incident after another. The hens—well, Midge and Pip—have a gratifyingly hysterical edge, while Dot is the problem-solver (if in a good, goofy way).

Midge, Pip and Dot prove that we can all be heroes, as long as a trio of smart hens has our backs covered.