By Tim Saunders
Sheer magical entertainment is in store in Awful Auntie, which is on tour until November.
I hoped it would be good but this production by Birmingham Stage Company at Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, far exceeds expectations. This is how theatre should be. Top notch actors and actresses are complimented by exquisite set design. There’s so much to captivate. It has been adapted for stage by Neal Foster, who also plays a very convincing Aunt Alberta as well as a police inspector with a big nose. It’s tough to make children laugh but he does it so well. There’s much humour throughout and I find myself transported back to my childhood, thoroughly enjoying the experience.
For me the strength of a show is gauged by whether it holds the attention of my eight year old son, Henry. And this two hour production certainly does. Although we read the book by David Walliams prior to watching it I don’t think that is what makes Henry want to keep watching, wide-eyed. It’s the fun that is had throughout this show.
Each character is strong and likeable. Gibbon, the bumbling butler (Zain Abrahams) is a delight to watch, bringing a touch of Dick Emery to the role. Soot (Matthew Allen) introduces cockney rhyming slang while Aunt Alberta can’t spell, which makes little ears prick up.
We’re impressed with how many lines have been remembered, too. This is a superbly polished production.
Puppets add another angle of interest, from Wagner the owl through to little versions of Stella Saxby, Aunt Alberta and even the Rolls Royce, which successfully overcome challenges presented by the story.
The set is another major achievement. All the rooms of Saxby Hall are created in a central sort of hub on wheels, which is beautifully decorated. It’s a work of art and the way it has been designed makes scene changes easy. It seems to be electrically operated at the touch of a button. A very slick operation.
I can’t forget the lighting either. A lot of thought has gone into this with such things as shadows cast by the light of the moon. It all helps to make a very convincing set.
Despite the pretty grim plot of greed and murder and the devastating consequences on a child – not yet 13 – I find myself smiling and laughing throughout. Thank goodness good prevails in the end.
“It’s the best show I’ve ever seen,” says Henry. Well, there you go, you can’t do better than that. Well done everyone. This is what theatre is all about.
The Everyman Theatre is a glorious old theatre, too, built in 1891 and designed by famed theatre architect Frank Matcham complete with a magnificent interior that captivates my family and I as we gaze up at the painted ceilings during the interval. There’s such detail and grandeur that makes going to the theatre a real occasion.
You must see this show.
