CityLife

George's Marvellous Medicine

George's Marvellous Medicine
Opera House
June 29, 2010

Only a grumpy granny could fail to enjoy Birmingham Stage Company’s latest adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic George’s Marvellous Medicine.

The company, renowned for its larger than life children’s shows, such as Horrible Histories, has a special relationship with Dahl’s work, having staged more of his stories than any theatre company around the world.

David Wood’s imaginative adaptation coupled with Jacqueline Trousdale’s surreal and vibrant design, brings Dahl’s extraordinary world to life, inviting the audience, pantomime style, to join the characters in their remarkable journey.

The young hero, George, (played by likable Clark Devlin) has the children on side from the off. It is half-term and all he wants to do is read his book about a wizard boy.

Unfortunately for George, his parents have other plans. Living on a farm, there are plenty of cows to be milked and chickens to be fed, as well as bathrooms and bedrooms to be cleaned.

As if his fun wasn’t being spoiled enough, grandma arrives. George fantasizes about having a wonderful grandma, who gives him compliments, presents and plays computer games. Sadly, he has a grouchy grandma, who downs her gin in one and has him running after her every whim at the ring of a bell.

To cure his grandma of her terrifying temper, George decides to swap her medicine with one of his own making. With the audience egging him on to add more outrageous ingredients, he mixes a – now, don’t try this at home – weird and wonderful concoction to give to her.

Magic and mayhem ensues. Erika Poole is hilariously horrid as grandma, who grows before our eyes until she’s burst through the roof. And she’s not the only one who gets transformed.

It looks to be a truly marvellous medicine and when George’s parents, played by Alison Fitzjohn and Morgan Philpott, join him in trying to recreate it, the whole theatre erupts.

George has everyone shouting out, trying to help him remember the right mix. Will they get it? One thing is for sure. This show has all the right ingredients for a fun-filled family night out.

» George’s Marvellous Medicine is at The Opera House until July 3, 2010. Tickets are available from £14.75 to £19. To book or for more information, visit manchesteroperahouse.org.uk.

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