“It is a compelling and bittersweet humorous pretence, especially for all of the parents in the audience.”
“Warhurst and Brough composed the music together and it is a highlight of the production. But it is Julia Davis who really steals the show. She provides a range of wonderful characters and spins through the production like a musical chameleon” – Fiona Hallenan-Barker – 4 Newspapers out of 5
Charlie and the War against the Grannies is based on Alan Brough’s multiple award-winning children’s book of the same name. Brough wrote and the stage version and also stars in it as the ever-fearful charming Charlie. You get the feeling that Brough read a lot of Roald Dahl when he was growing up and also listened to a lot of music. This rock musical for kids takes us on the journey of Charlie and his best friend in their quest to secure a paper round to achieve fame and fortune. Charlie wants to be rich and famous so that his parents will put down their iphones and pay attention to him. It is a compelling and bittersweet humorous pretence, especially for all of the parents in the audience.
Alan Brough gives a lot of silly energy to Charlie and anyone who likes a fart joke (the whole of our audience) will get a good giggle. Brough’s facial expressions capture the terror of the grannies and the bravery required to defeat them. Any lack of polish is absorbed as character traits and he sustains the energy and imagination of the audience beautifully. He is working as part of a stellar ensemble. Anna Francesca Armenia is feisty, funny and the perfect upbeat energetic best friend to fearful Charlie. Her strong vocals harmonise exquisitely with Brough and she gets her time to shine. Kit Warhurst also plays a consistently strong role as the muso in the background, keeping the rhythm and vocally grounding the production. Warhurst and Brough composed the music together and it is a highlight of the production. But it is Julia Davis who really steals the show. She provides a range of wonderful characters and spins through the production like a musical chameleon. Davis relishes in each role from the friendly and courageous newsagent owner to the senior citizen smiling assassin. She is knowingly terrifying at times and even asks the audience at one point “Are you scared yet?” Yes, we sure were.
Some of the larger puppets were genuinely scary for the really little ones in the audience, which is also part of the fun. Puppetry plays a big part in the production and the shadow puppetry is especially effective to enhance the world of the play. Playing shadow puppets with a torch at home can be lots of fun after the performance. There are also two free creative play activities at Sydney Opera House these holidays. We participated in the weaving and bag making of Awakening Evenfall (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/visit-us/bring-the-kids/creative-play-liam-benson.html ) Turning used Sydney Opera House staff uniforms into creative items is a fun way of thinking about sustainability from an early age. Utzon’s World is the other creative play activity where children are able to construct models. Workshops and materials are free, but bookings are required. (https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/Kids-and-Families/2021/utzons-universe.html )
This is a rocks and rock musical comedy for kids, which is a rarity in the theatre, especially an Australian production. It is super fun and super scary. As we left the theatre on opening night there were many squeals of delight at the “grannies” all coming towards the opera house to attend the Australian Ballet. Our youngest audiences delight in these experiences, and with any luck they will still be attending performances when they become grannies.
Does Charlie ever win the war? And does he get his paper round? The show has finished at the Sydney opera House, let’s hope it comes back so you can find out. It will be on in Melbourne from 14-24th April at the Arts Centre.
Age 5+
Non-evil grannies welcome
Fiona Hallenan-Barker, Theatre Now
