Gangsta Granny at the Liverpool Empire Review
Reviewed by Jan Mellor
My son is an avid David Walliams reader and so he was really excited (as were all the children as they clambered into the theatre for the 7pm show) to see the book and film, Gangsta Granny, come alive in front of his very eyes (adapted for the the stage by The Birmingham Stage Company). There were several girls dressed as ‘grannies’ in grey curly wigs and the theatre entrance was filled with excitement.
The show started with a very talented youngster playing the part of Ben addressing the audience and explaining how he hated Friday’s and that they were his worst day of the week as he had to visit his granny whilst his parents go ballroom dancing. As each set changed his parents and the rest of the cast playing an array of roles – policemen/lollypop ladies etc. danced and magically dovetailed the scenes together (very clever). Granny’s obsession with everything ‘cabbage’ had the audience groaning and laughing and poor Ben had the sympathy of the whole theatre. All Ben wanted to be was a plumber – what was wrong with that? In establishing that his granny was up to no good and following her as she was dressed as a ninja on a mobile scooter (very funny), Ben realises that his Granny is actually a thief! As she is caught grannie owns up to her life of crime and with the help of two elephants, a bear (who is sent to sleep) and some Russian soldiers Granny retells her exotic and ever-exciting past. With the ‘boo/hiss’ element brought to the stage by the ‘neighbourhood watch’ Mr (nosy) Parker and dancing policemen the first act draws to a finale as Ben comes up with the greatest of all robberies – the crown jewels. “Can’t wait to see how this gets pulled off “- my son stated at the interval.
The second act stared with Granny in hospital and her family around her. She escapes from hospital and has a comical rap with Ben that the audience loved. Ben has to painfully audition for the ballroom championships and this gets the audience involved and cheering. Following the ‘strictly’ set – the heist is underway with the duo dressed in wetsuits and swimming the Thames and the sewers to get to the Tower of London. Of course, the duo are caught – by none other than Her Majesty the Queen but she lets them off (being a granny herself). The duo get safely back to Granny’s flat, Mr Parker is arrested and Ben’s parents realise that he will never be a dancer and lets him focus on plumbing. Granny sadly dies but the story is uplifted by HM the Queen coming out of the TV during her Christmas day speech and ‘getting down’ with the audience.
The remarkable set was transformed easily to rooms, flats, shops and even castles throughout the show and the dancing links by the support cast worked really well. The show brought us a very enjoyable evening which literally transformed a fantastic book/film to a fantastic stage show. The cast of 9 (including the sublime Ben and Granny) worked really hard with excellent choreography, talent and timing. It was a joy to behold and the children who came out of the theatre (still wearing granny wigs) wore smiles a mile wide. If you have young children it’s a must – if you don’t – go anyway and rediscover your inner child!
A superb show. Wonderful!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £13 to £26.75 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Gangsta Granny is at the Liverpool Empire from 19-23 April 2017, for more information or to book tickets visit www.atgtickets.com/liverpool or call the box office on 0844 8713017.
Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1JE | 0844 8713017
