David Walliams’ children’s’ fiction has so far notched up over 17 million global sales and even the programme talked about his work as a ‘brand’. You can’t really argue with that, not that any of his young devoted readers wanted to after seeing the latest theatrical production of his work. The highly talented and versatile Birmingham Stage Company presented a sure footed, slick and lively crowd pleaser, based on all the right ingredients.

Adapter and director Neal Foster has had great success with writing and directing many of the recent Horrible Histories and his well-honed skills are finely brought to bear by sprinkling some good old fashioned stagecraft mixed with fantasy, and all with a family audience in mind.

The plot is a simple one; a young boy is bored having to spend nights away at Granny’s consuming a variety of cabbage based dishes, the tedium punctuated only by playing Scrabble and waiting for the inevitable very audible farting. This soon gives way to growing sense of wonder when real life is presented as not all it seems.  Children love a fantasy world which can escape from the hum drum and familiar routine and Ashley Cousins as Ben perfectly encapsulates the growing excitement and the delicious thrill of keeping a secret. He never becomes too cool and never loses his childhood wonder.

Louise Bailey’s Granny is a stereotypical old lady who loves her cardigans and Murray Mints, but suddenly reveals a hidden past as – you guessed it- a Gangsta Granny international jewel thief.

Rachel Stanley and Benedict Martin as Ben’s parents perfectly capture the obsessive Ballroom dancing fans who want to wean him away from his dream of becoming a plumber while the latter plays the real villain as the nosy-parker neighbour with balletic aplomb.

The production doesn’t stray into uncomfortable waters; there is no smut or innuendo familiar in Walliams’ other work and there is a deeper more coherent narrative thread which moves into overdrive in the Second Act with an audacious attempt to steal the Crown Jewels.  A glitzy Strictly Come Dancing sequence features Devesh Kishore as the flirtatious professional dancer Flavio and only serves to get the audience more on Ben’s side.

Jacqueline Trousdale’s colourful and beautifully detailed set is expertly and seamlessly unfolded by the cast throughout and props are handled with aplomb.  There are dancing policemen, choreographed elephants and chasing bears although the highlight again features the mundane with Granny’s mobility scooter getting as big a laugh as any.

Families can safely approach the show knowing that fans of Walliams’ books will not be disappointed and that sheer theatricality will win through.  There is even a poignant piece of reality when the final scenes touch on mortality. The all singing and dancing finale is testament to the great choreography and staging. Children bounced in the aisles and later onto the streets outside and the only people arguing with that were parents trying to get them home to bed.    ★★★★☆    Bryan Mason   1^st June 2017