They are taken aback when they see a witch soaring down towards them, and then the narrative switches, with the cast no longer campers instead they are relating the tale from the book.
It puts a distance between the expectation being sold and what is actually delivered.Ī further change is that here the story is framed within a tale of hikers planning to camp out under the moon. Clearly, having some of the illustrated characters played by humans is going to cause difficulties, but there are several puppets in the show which are made quite visually different from the book. There’s a nice set design which is not dissimilar, and the witch’s costume hints at it, but that’s really as close as it gets.
It’s surprising therefore that this adaptation of Room on the Broom doesn’t adopt the distinctive visual aesthetic of the source material to any great extent. If they go to Peppa Pig they would want to recognise her and the family as they appear on the telly, or in books. If they go to see the Moomins they might anticipate seeing identifiable white hippo-esque creatures on the stage. But if you’re expecting to see a page to stage version of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Room on the Broom – the best-selling book, known for its punchy format and distinctive aesthetic – this adaptation might not be quite the one.Īn audience wanting to see a children’s classic on the stage probably comes with certain expectations. It really is a good, fun day out for the kids. The lighting is delightful, and there are some imaginative slow motion effects. There’s a strong, likeable cast: the characters are all well-rounded and beautifully enacted. The music and original songs are splendidly catchy, really playing the crowd, getting the audience singing and clapping along. It’s a polished piece of work for ages 3+, and there’s loads to like about the show: full of fun, silliness and laughter, it’s not too scary for tinies, but still excitingly surprising in places.
Tall Stories bring enormous energy and colour to the Lyric Theatre with this lively and enjoyable stage production. A delightful, magical musical that’s great fun as it is, but perhaps not quite what it says on the tin.
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