CHILDREN’S THEATRE
Written by Alan Brough with Sarah Kriegler, based on book by Alan Brough
Melbourne Comedy Festival
At Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne Wed 14 to Sat 17 April
Fri 16 Apr: 10am,12pm; Sat 17 Apr: 10am,12pm,3pm; Sun 24 April 12pm is a Relaxed Performance
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: **** (4)
This review published only on this blog. KH
Charlie and the War Against the Grannies, written by Alan Brough with Sarah Kriegler, is an action-filled, fun and funny performance and the children were fully engaged and entertained from start to finish.
Charlie (Andy Conaghan) calls himself a digital orphan, meaning his parents are permanently attached to their iPhones and pay him no attention. Funny thought when you consider that we call youngsters digital natives.
Charlie spends his time with his friend, Hils (Anna Francesca Armenia), who wants to join the army and consistently barks orders in army lingo, such as, ‘affirmative’, ‘negative’, at ease’. Charlie translates Hils’ language for us.
When Charlie tries to get a paper round at the local newsagents, he and Hils confront the power of the grannies, who control paper rounds. Charlie and Hils are now engaged in a war against evil grannies determined to eliminate all children.
This is an animated, lively, entertaining, well-written and -directed (Sarah Kriegler) show for small children. The characters are delightfully comical and clearly differentiated while the actors are charming, energetic, committed and engaging.
Brough’s dialogue and lyrics are simple and witty and the kids love the naughty language, such as ‘bum’ and ‘fart’ and ‘monkey wee’.
The music, played by Kit Warhurst and Julia Davis live on stage, draws on diverse styles ranging from rock to Latin and ballad, and band members play secondary characters to great effect.
Shadow puppetry is used to show the characters travelling on their bikes and entering the Secret Granny H.Q. cave, although the transition to shadow screens needs tightening up. Other puppets are manipulated on stage and one giant figure looks and sounds, hilariously, like Ozzie Osbourne and shares his hard rock style.
To avoid thinking of the evil grannies as nice old grandmas, the children dub them Stinkly Wrinklies after trying out names including The Angry Aged and my favourite, Ruthless and Toothless.
We hope that the kids don’t now look askance at their own grannies when they visit, but it was worth the questionable world view to see grannies using their garden shears, pick-up sticks and wheelchairs in the war against the children.
by Kate Herbert
Cast:
Julia Davis as Mrs Cycopolos/Peta/Grannies
Anna Francesca Armenia as Hils
Andy Conaghan as Charlie (Understudy)
Directed By Sarah Kriegler
Design Adrienne Chisholm
Lighting Rachel Burke
Music by Kit Warhurst and Julia Davis
Songs:
(MY NAME IS) CHARLIE
(THAT IS HOW YOU DO A) PAPER ROUND
ME AND MY BIKE
GRANNIES (WARREN'S SONG)
BORING SECRET TUNNEL
THE GRANNY STATE
THE FART SONG
(WE'RE GOING TO GO TO) WAR WITH THE EVIL GRANNIES
WE CAN DO ANYTHING
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