"If you are looking for a fantastic, family-friendly show, then you can do no better than this". Jane McGowan was captivated by David Walliams' story telling magic in Gangsta Granny giving the show 5 STARS
In a week when the nation has been celebrating everything Roald Dahl, it’s good to know that his spirit more than lives on in today’s storytellers. Like many of Dahl’s tales, Gangsta Granny by David Walliams exists in a world where the innate goodness of children ultimately triumphs over the self-serving world of the so-called adults.
The story centres on Ben, the only child of two Strictly Come Dancing obsessed parents and his cabbage soup-loving granny. Ben’s parents have big ballroom plans for their son, but he dreams of being a plumber and is never happier than when he is left alone to immerse himself in the pages of his beloved Plumbing Weekly magazine.
But for Ben, what is even worse than the ballroom is his boring Granny’s house where he is forced to spend his Friday nights eating cabbage and playing Scrabble while his parents attend dance class. However, all is not as it seems at Granny’s and one night Ben stumbles upon a jewel-filled tin that reveals his Granny may not be quite as boring as he thought.
The Birmingham Stage Company production is simply stunning. The main four members of the cast - Ashley Cousins as Ben, Benedict Martin as Dad, Gilly Tompkins as Granny and on the night we saw Louise Bailey as Mum – were all spot-on and there is a sensationally sparkly star turn from Umar Malik as Flavio which really brought the audience to life.
The show touches on everything from over-reaching parental ambition to society’s general disregard for the elderly, and all the themes are presented with a very British charm and warmth which manages to avoid the schmaltz and preachiness of many children’s shows.
There’s laughter, tears, crime and cha cha cha all wrapped in a serious amount of sequins! If you are looking for a fantastic, family-friendly show, then you can do no better than this!
Gangsta Granny is moving to the Garrick Theatre over the summer of 2017, for more information visit fromtheboxoffice.com
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