George's Marvellous Medicine

Review by: Paul Towers, 13 December 2017

George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl, adapted by David Wood

A Made at Curve co-production with Rose Theatre, Kingston

Curve, 9 December to 14 January 2018

“bloody marvellous!”

As the dark rain of a miserable December turned to snow what better way to spend an evening than in the company of Roald Dahl’s bonkers world of childish lunacy. Curve’s annual treat for young and old.

George’s Marvellous Medicine is typical Dahl, gross, funny, rebellious and ideal fodder for children from 4 to 104.

George and his family live on a farm surrounded by chickens, pigs and cows. Their peaceful idyll is shattered by the arrival of  Grandma, George’s mother’s mother, a harridan of the first degree. She is selfish, demanding and ugly both inside and out. George daydreams about what it would be like if she were nice and resolves to make a magic potion to improve her temperament. However it goes wrong and she ends up 10 feet tall. One of the chickens sips some of the potion and starts laying huge eggs. This could be the making of the family. Suffice to say all does not go to plan and they end up back where they started but without annoying Grandma.

Directed by Julia Thomas this is a rumbustious production set in a tangle of  junk and props, everything an imaginative boy needs for a magical adventure.

Throw into the mix puppetry, remote control chickens and sundry illusions and you have 90 minutes of sheer escapism all done up with songs and dances.

Preston Nyman as George makes a great job of involving the audience, much to the delight of one 4 year old about 4 rows back! The small cast was fleshed out by Justin Wilman as George’s dad, Catherine Morris as his mum, Chandri Mistry as the chicken (I know, you have to see it to get it) and Lisa Howard as horrible Grandma.

Tonight had a very good percentage of under 15’s. So good to see them introduced to live theatre so early. The show runs right into the new year and is bloody marvellous for all the family.
First published on Western Gazette