Pirate Gran – review
posted on APRIL 16, 2014 by ANNA SAVVA in OFF WEST END, REVIEWS
Our Rating: 5 stars
ON tour throughout the UK until the end of May, Pirate Gran is the latest kids’ production from the award winning Scamp Theatre, following on from their previous success with the adaption of the children’s modern classic Stickman.
Based on the books by Geraldine Durrant and Rose Forshall, Pirate Gran is a wonderfully colourful and imaginative family show, full of gentle humour and swashbuckling charm.
With Gran’s candyfloss hair and cosy living room set, you’d never know you were about to embark on a spirited adventure on the high seas.
When Gran’s three pirate friends pay a visit the set is cleverly transformed into a ship as the crew set sail on the Black Barnacle to Palm Tree Island to take part in the Pirate Games. Gran’s coffee table conceals a steering wheel, the sail is a table cloth and her house plant amusingly shape shifts into a palm tree. There’s sea shanties aplenty along the way, and gentle audience interaction when the Games kick off and gran has to bake a cannon ball to take part. There’s even some pantomime “he’s behind you” moments when the children are asked to help Gran find her pet crocodile Nippie.
This is a show with a lot of chuckles. Kids really loved it, as did everyone else – the theatre was packed with all ages from 0-80. With a 50 minute running time the action never tires along the way. It’s quite a simply joy to watch.
The key to Scamp Theatre’s success is their excellent choice of cast. The on stage dynamics between the four actors is great; Gran (played by Pauline Goldsmith) possesses a gentle Scottish brogue, making her on the right side of twee and all the more cosy for it. Her gentle singing voice and pirate lullabies used to sooth the pirates’ deepest fears is really lovely, and centre to anchoring down the show’s emotional heart.
Peta Maurice makes a nimble, wonderfully comical and expressive Faint Hearted Jack. Jack Maurice’s Cut-Throat Malone brims with good humour and rather steals the show when he puppeteers Nippie the crocodile and reaches some impressive falsetto notes.
Martyn Dempsey plays Fingers O’Malley, the loveable baritone voiced friendly giant pirate who is actually a bit of a scaredy cat. When they all come together at the end to take part in a rhythmic gymnastics skit, the physical humour is so joyful it can’t fail to bring a smile to your face. Other pirate games include blunderbuss parrot-poppin’ (using Gran’s colour duster collection as stand in), and a ditzy surreal kitchen scene where Gran casually knocks a few sea creatures into a big cooking pot. Not very PC, but providing a good dose of slapstick that is a lot of fun.
When at the end of the show Gran wins Gold at the Pirate Games the show reveals itself as one with a tender message: “If you face your fears life will be a lot more fun.” A great thing to take away no matter what your age.
This a deeply imaginative and warmhearted production, which comes together rather nicely.
posted on APRIL 16, 2014 by ANNA SAVVA in OFF WEST END, REVIEWS
Our Rating: 5 stars
ON tour throughout the UK until the end of May, Pirate Gran is the latest kids’ production from the award winning Scamp Theatre, following on from their previous success with the adaption of the children’s modern classic Stickman.
Based on the books by Geraldine Durrant and Rose Forshall, Pirate Gran is a wonderfully colourful and imaginative family show, full of gentle humour and swashbuckling charm.
With Gran’s candyfloss hair and cosy living room set, you’d never know you were about to embark on a spirited adventure on the high seas.
When Gran’s three pirate friends pay a visit the set is cleverly transformed into a ship as the crew set sail on the Black Barnacle to Palm Tree Island to take part in the Pirate Games. Gran’s coffee table conceals a steering wheel, the sail is a table cloth and her house plant amusingly shape shifts into a palm tree. There’s sea shanties aplenty along the way, and gentle audience interaction when the Games kick off and gran has to bake a cannon ball to take part. There’s even some pantomime “he’s behind you” moments when the children are asked to help Gran find her pet crocodile Nippie.
This is a show with a lot of chuckles. Kids really loved it, as did everyone else – the theatre was packed with all ages from 0-80. With a 50 minute running time the action never tires along the way. It’s quite a simply joy to watch.
The key to Scamp Theatre’s success is their excellent choice of cast. The on stage dynamics between the four actors is great; Gran (played by Pauline Goldsmith) possesses a gentle Scottish brogue, making her on the right side of twee and all the more cosy for it. Her gentle singing voice and pirate lullabies used to sooth the pirates’ deepest fears is really lovely, and centre to anchoring down the show’s emotional heart.
Peta Maurice makes a nimble, wonderfully comical and expressive Faint Hearted Jack. Jack Maurice’s Cut-Throat Malone brims with good humour and rather steals the show when he puppeteers Nippie the crocodile and reaches some impressive falsetto notes.
Martyn Dempsey plays Fingers O’Malley, the loveable baritone voiced friendly giant pirate who is actually a bit of a scaredy cat. When they all come together at the end to take part in a rhythmic gymnastics skit, the physical humour is so joyful it can’t fail to bring a smile to your face. Other pirate games include blunderbuss parrot-poppin’ (using Gran’s colour duster collection as stand in), and a ditzy surreal kitchen scene where Gran casually knocks a few sea creatures into a big cooking pot. Not very PC, but providing a good dose of slapstick that is a lot of fun.
When at the end of the show Gran wins Gold at the Pirate Games the show reveals itself as one with a tender message: “If you face your fears life will be a lot more fun.” A great thing to take away no matter what your age.
This a deeply imaginative and warmhearted production, which comes together rather nicely.