wCan Ho blame a 10-year-old for wanting a variety of parents in David Baddiel's musical? They named him Barry. On top of that, they are cash strapped and his father accidentally bought a DVD parody of the James Bond movie, not the real one for his son who was obsessed with 007.
How much worse will that be? What's worse, on the eve of his 11th birthday, when Barry goes lonely in his bedroom and falls into a parallel universe where he can choose his parents. The parent agency (TPA) operates on a system computerized by a man who looks suspicious like Barry's grandfather, who is wealthy, fit, cool, but still wanting parents. I'll pass through.
Based on Baddiel's children's book, this is a sweet search production that explores childhood complaints. Under Tim Jackson's direction, John Bowser's set crack opens and there is energy and colour on stage to reflect a glorious, unstable world of dreams.
But Badiel's book here is flatfoot, like a dad of humor. There is Niknok instead of Tiktok and Destiny for Zoom. Whether refined or complicated enough for the crossover charm, the joke is clear. Cool parents dressed as (very old) hippies and eat mungu beans, while mothers have several cats and more.
And while the central idea is good, Barry's alternative universe crosses Dorothy's Oz at Alice's rabbit hole and Willie Wonka's chocolate factory, but is not imagination and charming, and booking action It doesn't seem like an omniscient narrator. .
But the biggest disappointment is the song (the lyrics are written by Badiel, with music and additional lyrics by Dan Gilles Sels). The opening number Barry is strong, but the song features simple and swaying lyrics.
The appeal of the production comes from lively performances from Ossian Salter, who plays Barry, especially on the opening night, and his two sisters, played by Kazumin Boller and Natasha Kayabiyab. The latter is an interesting piece, talking only with the hashtags of ordinary worlds, and taking on the eerie, twin-like quality in Barry's dreams. You want a sibling musical featuring them, not his faceless parents.
There are also some spark moments. Trampoline exercise routine that fits your parents. Songs, TPA Inc, and ads for parents who want to be chosen by their children. It ended with affection as I heard a loud lesson about the “perfect” parent's ideas. This will please young audiences.
