Aliens Love Underpants at the Grove Theatre Dunstable Review
Aliens Love Underpants
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
17-19 July 2015
Reviewed by Zoey Caldwell
In my house we love books, our children have so many and reading together is such an important time of days together. We were therefore excited to be chosen to review Aliens Love Underpants. This is a children’s book written by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort and is one in a series of “Love Underpants” books.
This stage show has been adapted and directed by Adam Bampton-Smith and brought to the stage by Big Wooden Horse and Nick Brooke Ltd.
I am going to be honest when the show first began I thought…WHAT??? I wasn’t sure where the 4 cast members were going with the pretence that the show had been cancelled, and after watching the whole show not entirely sure that they need it.
The stage set is so simple and yet effective, it really hides a lot within its 4 moveable panels. The cast of 4 are the main characters and then there is one other that comes on to help with the shifting of the set and changes to be made.
The cast are all really good at what they do. They portray each character with such vigour that your mood can not help but be lifted. My children are 4 and 9½, I was slightly afraid that my eldest would not like it, that it may be a little too small for this Minecraft mad boy. I need not have worried, I looked over at him several times throughout the performance and he had a big smile on his face. My youngest just sat with an open mouth for most of it. He sat still and did not take his eyes from the stage! In my eyes that proves to be a triumph to all involved in this show.
We loved the starlit sky, the silliness of the characters but unanimously we loved the puppetry of the Aliens. By a long shot they were the favourite part of the show. They are bright, colourful, cheeky, fun and mischievous. How else could you describe the stealing of underpants!
The Pants R Us scene was also fun with the cow girl shop assistant and who would know that the shop would be linked to the Pantagon, stockists of all sort of pants, colours, patterns, pictured, bows and spots. Then there is the amazing fact that they stock pants for octopus! Yes who knew??
The humour within the script is entirely based on the children, there is no hidden humour that is often found in the latest children’s movies from Pixar and Disney but that is totally fine. Watching my children enjoying a stage show makes me happy. It is taking entertainment right back to the basics before technology took over. 5 actors, a stage, several costume changes and a very small set. It was fantastic and it entertained my brood so I am happy about that… I will have to think twice before hanging out the underwear next time though.
The Grove Theatre in Dunstable, Bedfordshire is a very clean intimate venue where no seat is a bad one. They have a bar and box office in the foyer and smart friendly staff. It is situated opposite a park and has BBC Three Counties and a Wetherspoon pub on the same strip. It doesn’t have its own parking but there is a sports centre and bowling alley nearby that you can park in or a larger Asda car park opposite.
I would give the show a 5 out of 5- thanks to all involved.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost £12.50 (plus £1.50 booking fee).
Aliens Love Underpants is at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable until 19 July 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 01582 602080.
Grove Theatre, Grove Park, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4GP | 01582 602080
