The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo Seymour Centre to May 30; tickets available but booking fast; www.seymour.usyd.edu.au/boxoffice; check www.cdp.com.au for touring information
The deep dark woods have finally arrived in Australia! (The Gruffalo celebrated his 10th birthday on stage at the Seymour Centre on May 16.) Faithfully following the much-loved, award-winning picture story book, with songs and some delicious asides for grown-ups, The Gruffalo is fun for all the family; particularly those with a sense of humour and the ridiculous and a fondness for call and response and the joys of childhood.
In case you’re not familiar with the book, it’s about an extremely smart Mouse who ventures into the aforementioned deep dark woods and, along the way, turns the tables on Snake, Fox and Owl and finally, the not-so-mythical Gruffalo – her would-be predators – with brains rather than brawn.
The production is the original British one that’s been successfully touring there, and it’s now been brought – by independent producer CDP – to Australia. Original UK director Olivia Jacobs has re-staged it for Oz and now resident director Stephen Colyer takes it on for a monster year-long tour of the country.
-c750x442.jpg)
The Gruffalo features three terrific Australian talents: Tamlyn Henderson as the Big G, among other roles; Stephen Anderson is a ridiculously tally-ho RAF chappie Owl, a munch-mad Fox and a Snake who owes something to Antonio Banderas (and also has the best joke involving the reason why he is called Joaquim). And finally, Crystal Hegedis as the Mouse who will not be anyone’s lunch.
Making Mouse a girl’s role is a relief for those who’d like to see their little girls watching a resourceful heroine for a change. (And no, Hermione in Harry Potter is still a boy’s sidekick) and Crystal Hegedis is intrepid as well as pink-nosed and whiskery. Gruffalo, with all his claws, spikes, warts and other scary bits is enough to send the very young scrambling for parental laps, but not the stuff of nightmares. Recommended for kids of all ages.
