My Goddaughter, Esme, in Year 6 absolutely loved seeing Awful Auntie, the stage adaptation of David Walliams’ biggest selling children’s book of 2014 at Richmond Theatre this week and has written her review below:-
I am a huge fan of David Williams and have read all his books, so when I was given the opportunity to not only go and see the play, Awful Auntie, but to review it, I was beyond ecstatic. I had also seen Gangsta Granny at Richmond Theatre and loved it. It was exciting when David Walliams himself pulled up outside the theatre in a vintage Rolls Royce and spent lots of time signing autographs:-
I loved Aunt Alberta (expertly played by Timothy Speyer), he really brought the stage alive wearing purple checked tweed and a red wig. The same can be said for Gibbon (Richard James), the clumsy and crazy elderly butler. It was so clever how they used him to move props on/off stage in a hilarious way. The set was also brilliantly designed by Jacqueline Trousdale, it revolves to allow the characters to chase each other in and out of rooms, up and down chimneys, and all around the house.
When only child, Lady Stella Saxby played by Georgina Leonidas, awakes from a 3 month coma, she finds out that her parents both died in a mysterious car “accident”. Stella is left alone with her Aunt Alberta and her Great Bavarian Mountain Owl, Wagner. Wagner, a puppet, is cleverly brought to life by Roberta Bellekom. Stella befriends Soot – a ghost urchin that helps her to defeat her Aunt who desperately wants the deeds to Saxby Hall so she can turn it into a stuffed owl museum!
Although this is a tremendous production, certain scenes may not suitable for younger children. Some include an electrocution scene and a motorbike chase. With lots of twists and surprises, Awful Auntie is perfect for a family trip out. I loved it!!!
Esme
Year 6
04/11/17
