Erin and Lacey
(3 Reviews)

THE 13-STOREY TREEHOUSE IS A WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION INTO CHILDREN'S THEATRE

Review by Erin.

When I first heard that The 13-Storey Treehouse was coming to the Opera House, it was an immediate must-see. I knew I had to take my little brother with me to experience this performance, because I remember reading the Treehouse book collection when I was younger, and being completely immersed in Andy and Terry’s13-StoreyTreehouse, which holds a bowling alley, marshmallow machine, secret underground laboratory, and much more! So I expected the stage adaptation would be the same; adapted by Richard Tulloch (The book of everything, Bananas in Pyjamas) and directed by Julian Louis (Love for One Night, Railway Wonderland, Dreamland), the show brings Andy and Terry to life, and will continue to enchant children all over the UK.

The show begins with Andy and Terry mixing up the dates of their stage show, and having to completely make up a show on the spot! With the help of stage manager Val, they use their imagination and the very expensive and high-tech 2D-3D converter to go on some seriously crazy adventures! With plenty of bananas, seamonkeys and a ‘super finger’, this show is perfect for the younger audience!

If you are thinking of getting your kids into theatre, this is a great introduction. Featuring classic fart and snot jokes, anyone is sure to crack a laugh whilst watching. Andy and Terry were bright and hilarious characters that encouraged the use of imagination to create all sorts of things, and the flow of the show on a whole mimicked the way a child would use their own imagination - giving in animate objects superhuman ability, and quickly rushing onto the next matter-at-hand. I loved the structure of the show, and whilst the beginning was more slow-paced, we as the audience were quickly rushed into fun-filled adventures.

These twas minimal, with stage scaffolding to give the illusion of a ‘stage on a stage’, a basic prop box, and a small cluttered desk downstage left. However, lots of props are soon revealed to help take on the storytelling, even featuring some shadow puppeting by the skillful Ryan Dulieu (Murder is Forever, Agent Anna, The Golden Hour). Dulieu played Andy well, and was enthusiastic in his role. He bounced around the stage with heaps of energy, and the same goes for Edwin Beats (The Lost sock, Jesus Christ Superstar, Billy Elliot), who delivered his lines with conviction and engaged the children in the audience with witty jokes. Ellie Wootton (The Griegol, Hole, The Road That Wasn't There), who played Val, was outstanding in her own rights. She took on multiple different characters for Andy and Terry’s show, bringing a new accent and new personality with each one. And I have to say, I was quite surprised in the first place when I realised the whole cast was Australian!

I would also like to make the point that the show was extremely interactive with the audience. The cast frequently broke the fourth wall - in fact, it was practically non-existent! Dulieu, Beats and Wootton were asking the audience questions, initiating responses, and prompting laughter from the children. The way they interacted was almost personal in a sense, and ensured everyone leaving had a great time!

Me and my 11 year old brother loved this show, and I highly recommend you go and watch it for yourself. It is a wonderful introduction into children's theatre, and I know if my brother, who is very picky about the shows he likes, said he would go back and watch again, I know all children aged 6-12 would love it too. It is on stage from Thursday 15^th - Sunday 18th August, and really encourages imagination, even when you get a little bit older.

WE SCORE THE 13-STOREY TREEHOUSE...

CHARLIE COOK'S FAVOURITE BOOK IS A WONDERFUL SHOW TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY TO THIS SUMMER

Nearly 2 decades after the book was published, Charlie Cook's Favourite Book is finally being brought to life at The Lowry, by Pierre Hanson-Johnson (In the night garden), Freya Stephenson (Stranger Sings!, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Georgie Samuels (stage debut). This book has been read and loved by many children across the country, and we’re sure the stage adaptation will be the same. In a quick summary, Charlie is a bookworm, and has a love for pirate books especially. But, his sister isn't so keen. Follow Charlie on his adventure into a variety of different worlds, trying to convince his sister that books are exciting and fun to read. 

Today, we are coming to watch the show, ready for a fun-filled experience, and to see the show from 2 different perspectives. One of us is going into this having never read the book before, whereas on the other hand, the other could recite the book by heart as a child. We knew we would enjoy this show, and we hope others will too.

Charlie, Izzy and their Mum took us on many adventures, and it felt like we were a part of the show. You could hear the children in the audience laughing along whilst they were playing hide and seek, and trying to point out to the seeker where their counterparts were hidden, which brought about an immense feeling of togetherness throughout the audience. Another moment we enjoyed, was a moment of puppetry, where the actors made a frog come to life, using a book. It was nice to see Barb Jungr (singer/songwriter- Every grain of sand, Waterloo sunset, Who do you love) and Samantha Lane (The smartest giant in town, The singing mermaid, Only fools and horses- The musical.) including all of the fun stories from the book, but they also created new ideas and really made the adaptation their own.

Charlie, played by Pierre Hanson-Johnson, enchanted the audience with his outgoing personality and wide range of facial expressions. With these skills, he presented himself as Charlie in a way where it felt like we were watching a child use his imagination to explore. Accompanied by Freya Stephenson, who played Izzy, Charlie’s sister who dislikes books, but learns that they have potential to be fun, Stephenson was confident in her role. Her extensive range of skills, from using different voices to her master puppeteering, showed her commitment to the show and it was hard to take our eyes off her. We also feel we need to commemorate Georgie Samuels for her brilliant stage debut. She had a warm and welcoming stage presence and knew what she was doing. For her first production, she was extraordinary, and it is clear she is a talented singer, showing off her voice in all the songs.

Whilst the show began in a simple living room, we were thrown into bright and colourful stories, and taken all over the world, created using the staging around. Books turned into animals, shelves turned into doorways and tables turned into cakes. The way the set was placed was smart and easy for the performers to use. It was wonderful to see how much the kids enjoyed the show. Their eyes were glued to the stage, and many of them were leaning forward, clinging to the seats in front of them, ready for the next surprise. We would definitely recommend the show- it is a must watch. 

Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book is a great show to take your kids to see. It is an interactive and entertaining watch, allowing children to explore different worlds and experience the feeling of reading through the performer’s storytelling. Whilst the actual stories may have been placed before us, there was lots of room for imagination to grow. The songs were light and cheerful, and enjoyable for everyone, not just children. The puppets were brilliant and tied everything together, and the show is available to watch from 23rd July- 4th August. 

WE SCORE CHARLIE COOK'S FAVOURITE BOOK...

YOU'LL BE LEFT QUESTIONING YOUR OWN BELIEFS AND DUMBFOUNDED AT THE TWIST

At first, having very minimal knowledge of the play, 2:22 A Ghost Story, we recognise that the show’s name immediately pulls you in, as there can be many different interpretations of the title. One of them is that ‘2:22’ could possibly be a time of day, where ghosts and ghouls may appear. Haunted houses are at the forefront of modern psychological thriller/horror movies and shows, and Jenny believes that she and her husband Sam are now living in one. However, Sam disagrees and thinks she’s imagining things. How could their new home be haunted? Jenny feels a presence and argues with Sam’s old friend Lauren and her new partner Ben on the unknown side of death. Is there always a scientific explanation for everything, or do ghosts really exist, haunting houses and terrifying the living? 

We are watching this show from 2 completely different perspectives. One of us adores horror and the thrill of scares, but on the other hand, one of us is more of a rom-com fan. Luckily, this show seems to cover all bases, with the appeal of humour pulling us in. 

At first, the set comes across as homely and appears to be a regular, run-of-the-mill house that any young couple may live in. The walls haven’t been painted, which is normal when you move into a new house, but they jar with the well placed furniture putting you at unease. And then, as you pay more attention to the rest of the set, your eyes are drawn to the finer details. Take the clock, for example. It ticks faster than a regular clock, timing through days within minutes, and paired with the fast electro-synth music, you feel rushed, and tension begins to build. As if anything could happen. 

The staging is open, leaving much space for your imagination to wander when the play begins suddenly. Fiona Wade (Emmerdale, Waterloo Road, Grange Hill) begins alone on stage, painting the walls, at 2:22. At first, it piques curiosity. What is she doing up so late? Silence takes over, and the audience complies.  You could hear a pin drop. Tension and fear of the unknown fill the room. We soon find out about Jenny’s ghostly encounters. Footsteps around her baby’s cradle every night, at the exact same time. But her husband Sam, played by George Rainsford (Casualty, Wish You Were Dead, The Three Musketeers), is sceptical. Science is the only answer. There is always a logical explanation for everything. Wade and Rainsford mesh perfectly together in these roles, their lines bouncing off each other so naturally it was as if the show were alive. Jenny, being a nervous and clearly concerned mother about the state of her home, paces back and forth, rushes her words, but stays confident in her belief in a ghost. Wade portrays this beautifully, and although her character may be rushed, and raises her voice, Wade’s diction stays perfect, ensuring the audience can understand her every word, and grip onto the story like a lifeline.

Rainsford’s character is extremely enthusiastic and bubbly, but acts like a know it all when it comes to the facts. Completely confident in his belief that ghosts aren’t real, Sam clashes with Ben, a firm believer in ghosts, and even considers himself a spiritualist. At first, Sam’s wit seems charming, but unfolds into arrogance and stubbornness throughout the play.  Rainsford’s performance is unmatched, and it is clear that he’s put a lot of thought and effort behind his character.

Going back to Ben, portrayed by Jay McGuiness (The Wanted, Strictly Come Dancing, Big!), who sides with Jenny through the show. Whilst his habit of smoking takes him out of the room and into the garden on multiple occasions, his presence fills the room. His humour and comedic timing are an excellent relief to sudden jump scares, and McGuiness is clearly comfortable in his role, with a thick London accent rolling off the tongue. He performs well with co-star Vera Chok (Hollyoaks, Twelfth Night, Chimerica), who plays Lauren, Ben’s girlfriend and old friend of Sam’s. Lauren is presented as quite a mysterious character. There’s definitely more to her than meets the eye, and while she may have had a supernatural experience in younger years, she really only sides with Jenny and Ben to prove a point to Sam. Chok’s ability to depict a variety of emotions is outstanding, and she fits her role phenomenally. Not to mention her American accent - remarkable on all fronts.

Easily, one of the main focus points is humour. Whilst the show may be seen at first glance as a psychological thriller, the jokes from all members of the cast had the audience burst out in laughter on multiple occasions. However, on the other end of the spectrum, the audience could be left gripping their seats, terrified for the next move. Many moments hit the audience at full force, and when the stage blacked out, everyone, including us, would be left in the unknown. We would desperately try to fill the gaps, talking and sharing our opinions with neighbours, wanting to figure everything out. Watching the show, there was an immense feeling of togetherness. Shows like this are incredible, because they connect everyone in the room, and friends are easily made from the experience. 

This show deserves all the love and support it can get, because Matthew Dunster, Isabel Marr and Danny Robins have completely and utterly outdone themselves. 2:22 A Ghost Story is a one-of-a-kind show, and we urge everyone to get a ticket whilst they still can. From meeting the cast earlier in the day, it was clear that everyone knew what they were doing and were immensely enthusiastic about their roles. From the set to the music, to the cast, everything was cohesive and worked together just right. The cast and crew are an extraordinary team, working with each other to create this mind-blowing show! It’s at the Lowry until the 15^th June, so you only have 2:22 weeks left to get a seat! Coming out of the show, you’ll be left questioning your own beliefs and dumbfounded at the twist. You MUST experience this for yourself.