This looked like an interesting production, and I liked the sound of the plot, basically bad children made to dig holes until they became good. I was a bit worried it might just be intended for children though, and I was originally gong to a matinee performance, until I realised coachloads of schoolchildren were attending. Luckily I got a last minute front row seat for the Friday evening performance.
Now the play is written by Louis Sachar, based on his own best selling book, and there was a film version by Disney as well a few years ago. However, both these had passed me by so I was coming into the show completely fresh. The story is about a boy called Stanley who gets sent to a camp for troubled youths, for stealing a pair of trainers. At the camp he is made to dig holes everyday, with a new group of friends. Alongside this tale we also get a look into the past and the story of Stanley's great grandfather and his adventures in the Old West. Back in the present we learn the Warden of the camp is far too interested in what the boys may be digging up in their holes.
The sets are very good, sand everywhere, and props galore. You can even smell the onions and feel the warmth from the flames. I really liked the way the made the prison truck really come alive, despite it actually being just a few chairs. It really does seem like they are digging holes as well. Set designers must have really enjoyed working on this production. There are puppets snakes and lizards, which are also very well done. I kept thinking throughout the show how I would love to take a yellow spotted lizard home with me.
We have a great ensemble cast of twelve in this production. They are all great actors and were all lovely people when I met them after the show. The main group play the troubled youths. There's James Backway, who takes the lead as Stanley, along with Harold Addo as the supposedly short-sighted X-Ray. Leona Allen gives a very emotional performance as Zero, Joelle Brabban is very upbeat and funny as Magnet and Henry Mettle is simply hilarious as Armpit. They all have some great lines and are as funny as they are good. The rest of the cat play various roles. Rhona Croker brilliantly plays the Warden, whose line 'Excuse me?' I heard being quoted down the road outside by children and parents alike. John Elkington is great as the mean Mr. Sir and Elizabeth Twells is electric as 'Kissin Kate' Barlow. Ashley Gayle plays a number of great character roles but his onion seller is probably the most memorable. Matthew Romain has a number of roles of well including Stanley's Great Grandfather and the evil Trout Walker. Grace Davey plays a variety of roles including Linda Walker and Jeremy Cobb plays various roles and does a lot of the fantastic puppet work.
I mentioned at the start that was worried it may have just been for kids, but I have to say I loved it. It was funny, moving but more than anything just a great story. The whole production was very good, almost like a movie being played out on the stage for you. I've always been a big fan of 1980's adventure movies like The Goonies, and this was very close to those. A great adventure story, with a mystery to solve along the way, and bad guys trying to get their hands on the prize first. Who wouldn't like to see that?
The show is currently on tour around the UK and is well worth seeing. There were a lot of families in the audience and the children all seemed to enjoy themselves as well.
Please check their website for further dates and information : https://www.holesonstage.co.uk/
Comments