David Walliams’ Awful Auntie is brought to spectacular life by Birmingham Stage Company.
Awful Auntie is now playing at The Alexandra Theatre.
Comedian, talent judge, actor and hugely successful children’s author David Walliams and Birmingham Stage Company bring a superb and colourful adaptation Walliams’ Awful Auntie to the city to brighten up the dark and wet autumn evenings.
Award-winning Birmingham Stage Company, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, was founded by Neal Foster, with Sir Derek Jacobi and the late Paul Schofield as patrons. The company has staged works by British authors and holds the record for producing more Roald Dahl stories than any other theatre company in the world.
Walliams’ books evoke the subversive and riotous material of Road Dahl who invented zany words to go along with his equally zany tales. Walliams taps into everyday situations which he mischievously turns into wicked and witty scenarios where children outwit adults and win the day against all the odds.
Awful Auntie is a deliciously subversive family show that brims with adventure and mischief, and the Birmingham audience at The Alexandra Theatre absolutely loved every minute of this sparkling show.
The award-winning Birmingham Stage Company has collaborated with Walliams previously and produced entertaining and cheeky productions such as Demon Dentist, Billionaire Boy, and Gangsta Granny.
Awful Auntie follows the adventures of a young girl named Stella who is the sole survivor of a mysterious car accident in which both of her parents were tragically killed. The orphaned girl ends up being cared for by her wicked and scheming Aunt Alberta who has her eyes set on taking over Stella’s inheritance.
Despite dealing with a dark subtext that touches upon grief and loss, the story celebrates friendship and standing up to bullies. The plucky young heroine has to navigate through a perilous web of lies before she can discover the truth.
Director and adaptor Neal Foster, who has received Olivier Award nominations for two earlier adaptations of Walliams’ books, has crafted a stage show that does full justice to the themes of the book. Foster ensures the material appeals both to children and parents, and his direction of the show keeps the audience engaged and riveted. The pace of the show is fast moving and full of tension and slapstick comedy.
Foster dives into the book and brings forth the irreverent comedy - both physical antics and naughty verbal gymnastics - which are enthusiastically performed by the cast who have immense fun with the melodramatic elements of the show.
Annie Cordoni invests the character of the waif-life Stella with real vigour and strength as she battles against the horrid Auntie Alberta.
Soot - the intrepid ghost of Saxby Hall - who helps Stella on her quest to find the truth and escape the clutches of Auntie Alberta, is played by Matthew Allen who brings an elfish energy to the role, and during the climax there is a poetic scene that pulls at the heartstrings which Allen delivers with a delicate touch. He shares a beautiful chemistry with Cordoni which acts as a lovely counterbalance to the hideous Auntie Alberta.
Director Neal Foster proves he is as multi-talented as David Walliams by taking on the title role of the show. The details he brings to the larger-than-life role of wicked Auntie Alberta had the audience booing and hissing in the aisles. One minute funny, the next minute menacing, Foster is magnetic and hilarious.
Special mention goes to Emily Essery for the animated Wagner the owl. This is the kind of magic that can only be fully appreciated in a theatre during a live show where lighting, props, effects and sound activate the imagination of the audience in a truly unique manner.
Jacqueline Trousdale’s set designs for Saxby Hall and the surrounding estate are immersive and really inventive. She weaves a spell across the stage with rotating sets that are bold and bright - yet mysterious - and the scene changes are really inventive and smooth.
Trousdale not only does a sterling job on the sets but she also weaves perfection in the costume design which helps to blend each character into the show without the need for too much exposition.
Awful Auntie is a charming and feel-good family show full of mischief and delights.
Verdict: ★★★★★
Awful Auntie is now playing at The Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham until Saturday 19th October
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