Mother Goose – February 2023

Who? – Ambassador Theatre Group

What? – Mother Goose

Where? – Chichester Festival Theatre

When? – 7 – 11 February 2023

What’s the show about? The show is about a mother called Caroline Goose, her husband Vic and son Jack, who all look after a group of animals including a cricket, a tortoise and a cat.

Then Cilla Quack come along – she’s a goose from Gooseland. She finds her way into the family and she helps them with paying the bills by laying golden eggs. The golden eggs help to pay off the evil energy company and all is going to plan.

However, Mother Goose gets tempted into a life of fame and fortune by Malignia in return for Cilla who is sent back to Gooseland.

Caroline Goose gets everything she ever wanted, but leaves her family and friends behind. Eventually she realises her mistake and tries to right her wrongs. This means she has to go on a mission to Gooseland to save Cilla and win back her family and friends.

What was really good about it? I enjoyed lots of it. The bit that I liked the most was the songs and the way that they were performed. I knew a few of the songs because they were famous songs that just had some of the words changed.

I also enjoyed the funny parts and laughed a lot but then again it’s a panto so I kind of expected some laughs. There were some parts that I didn’t understand but my dad laughed at which I didn’t understand as well. Interval meant ice cream! Yippee!

It was nice that it started at 5pm rather than 7:30pm, so when we got home I wasn’t too tired.

What could be better?  I think that there wasn’t much I didn’t enjoy or think that could be better.

What my dad thinks? Mother Goose is packed full of laughs for everyone. Quite a few were more for the adults but they sailed merrily over the heads of our children, so we all had a great time. The singing, particularly from a few of the ensemble, was very impressive. It was a privilege to see Sir Ian McKellen on stage again, and I hope he didn’t hurt himself too much when he took a tumble.

Star Rating –  🧡💛💚💙💜

Pinocchio – December 2022

Who? – Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company

What? – Pinocchio

Where? – The Drum – Theatre Royal Plymouth

When? – 24 November 2022 – 14 January 2023

What’s the show about? The story of Pinoccio was told with actors and puppets. This show is about a family who, through a bedtime story, recreate the story of the father’s childhood. Throughout his life, he turns from a wooden puppet to a real boy, which was his childhood dream.

It was the first show I’d seen in Plymouth. It was a nice, big theatre but we were in The Drum which is the smaller one. There was still plenty of space.

What was really good about it? As with Stick Man about a year ago now, the reuse of the table, chairs, wardrobe and the rest of the props and the fact that only three actors played all of the parts was indescribable and inspiring.

I really liked that there were 3 different generations of the same family and I really enjoyed the grandfather when he kept playing the accordion.

It was really funny when they told lies because their noses grew. When they told really big lies the nose grew a lot and when they told silly little lies, the nose just grew a bit. The funny, silly lies were like, ‘the sky is green’ and ‘I’ve had dinner with an elephant.’

What could be better?  I think that it was sometimes hard to tell what tense they were performing in seeing as they switched through them so quickly. I found that a little bit confusing.

What my cousins thinks? 

The musical aspects that ran through the entire performance brought the narrative and storyline to life. It was understandable, fun to watch and join in with, and the energy that came across was infectious. Molly (age 17 and three quarters)

It was really good. Pinocchio was really fun watching. I was excited to watch Pinocchio because Auntie Jess told me about it. I was really wanting to watch Pinocchio’s nose grow. It was phenomenally funny. Annie (age 6 and three quarters)

Star Rating – ❤❤❤❤

Wind in the Willows – December 2022

Who? – Chichester Festival Youth Theatre

What? – Wind in the Willows

Where? – Chichester Festival Theatre

When? – 17–31 December

It’s now been a year since I started writing reviews and I’m back at Chichester Festival Theatre for another one of their Christmas shows. You can find all of my other reviews here.

What’s the show about? Based on the Kenneth Grahame book bythe same name, Wind in the Willows is a show performed by the children of Chichester Festival Youth Theatre.

The story is set near a river and is about a mole and a rat who instantly become friends. Ratty takes Moley on his rowing boat on the river and teaches her all about the wild wood, the other animals and just the world in general.

One particular animal Moley was told about was Toad. Toad is funny and silly and gets into a bit too much trouble. The story is all about Toad’s crazy adventures and how his friends try and help him. Together, his friends help save Toad and Toad Hall (Toad’s home,) from the evil weasels.

Ratty is sensible and clever, Mole is inquisitive and kind and Badger is wise and friendly.

What was really good about it? I really enjoyed the duck song because the costumes were clever, the dancing was good and the song was catchy.

The boat, car and barge were cleverly made out of recycled materials. The barge was a Sprite bottle, the rowing boat a sardine tin and the car was an old bottle.

I liked all the characters but Toad was probably my favourite considering how funny he was.

Before the show, we went for dinner at my favourite Chichester pub, The Bell Inn. I had fish fingers, a sausage, a chicken nugget, broccoli, carrots and maybe a small squirt of tomato ketchup. It was perfect.

What could be better? I think more songs would be better as I really liked all of them.

This time I did get an ice cream at the interval, though. Yippee!

What my dad thinks? On more than one occasion I forgot that I was watching a youth theatre performance. The whole thing was just so well put together. I particularly enjoyed the ensemble singing.

Star Rating – ❤❤❤❤

SIX – November 2022

Who? – A Kenny Wax, Global Musicians and Lucy Moss production

What? – Six the Musical

Where? – Chichester Festival Theatre

When? – 22–27 November

What’s the show about? This show is about the six queens under the reign of Henry VIII. It’s more of a concert. Each song tells the story of each queen’s life with the king. The musical is basically a competition for who had the worst life as queen. Eventually, they decide they are all special in their own way.

What was really good about it? I really enjoyed the format of how there was 1 group song, then each queen got to tell their life story as queen through performance, then a big finale. I also liked the dancing with the music, I think they had to practice extremely hard, considering the level of perfection. In fact, I think I loved it all. I didn’t want the show to stop.

What could be better? I’m not sure if there was anything wrong. Maybe that there was no interval meaning no ice cream but that was because of how short it was.

What my dad thinks? It was great. It’s the second time I’ve seen the tour show and I loved it on both occasions. The soundtrack is brilliant and performed impeccably by the musicians and actors. Also, the show has a great message and is packed with historical content.

Star Rating – ❤❤❤❤❤

THE RASCALLY DINER – July 2022

Who? LAS Theatre

What? The Rascally Diner

Where? Oaklands Park – Outside Chichester Festival Theatre

When? 16th July 2022

What’s the show about? The Rascally Diner is based on the book The Rascally Cake by Jeanne Willis and Korky Paul. It’s about a disgusting chef who makes a grotesque cake out of ingredients including snot and a cow pat. He tells everyone to eat disgusting things. They think the cake is evil and trying to eat Rufus Skumskins O’Parsley (the chef) so we helped them look out for the cake by doing the Cake Check. In the end though, the cake was quite nice and wanted to help Rufus Skumskins O’Parsley to cook nicer, healthier food.

What was really good about it? I really thought that the show was extremely funny and that I would definitely never want or try to eat those disgusting things even once.

It was really clever the way the set was designed because the cake sprouted out of it all over the place.

My favourite bit was when we got to join in with the Cake Check and bang our pans together. I also liked it when the big cake came out and scared Rufus Skumskins O’Parsley.

What could be better? My sister went up to the front in the show and it would have been better if they made her really eat some of the food made from rats!

What my dad thinks? “The Rascally Diner is a joyous bit of silly nonsense, packed with gross jokes about the most disgusting foods you could possibly imagine. There was a good amount of audience participation as well, which kept the children engaged and active.”

Star Rating – ❤❤❤❤

THE LION KING – July 2022

Who? Year 6 at St James – Emsworth

What? The Lion King

Where? St James CofE Primary – Emsworth

When? 14th – 15th July 2022

What’s the show about? This show is based on the Disney film The Lion King. It’s the story of Simba the lion and how he becomes king. At the start we see Simba when he’s a young cub and his dad is teaching him all about the circle of life. When his dad dies, Simba takes the blame and runs away so his evil uncle (Scar) becomes king.

A few years later, after he’s met some new friends (Pumbaa and Timon) he returns to the Pridelands and faces Scar to take the throne back.

What was really good about it? I really liked the music and the way the children acted. The people I found the most funny were Zazu and Pumbaa. They were great because Zazu said few funny things and I think Pumbaa was funny because of the way he used his acting and voice.

What could be better? I wish I had said I would be in it. I’ll have to do it next year.

What my dad thinks? “This was a fantastic school production. The singing, acting, set, costumes and make-up were all exceptionally good and must have been the result of some phenomenal teamwork from the staff and pupils. Bravo.”

Star Rating – ❤❤❤❤❤