Windsor Theatre Royal – until 22 February 2020
Reviewed by Carly Burlinge
3.5***
Billionaire Boy is written by David Walliams and directed by Neal Foster it’s about a boy called Joe (Matthew Gordon) who’s dad (Jason Furnival) becomes rich by making his millions from toilet paper. One side dry and the other moist, revolutionising wiping bottoms forever with his company “Bum Fresh“.
Although they have all the money in the world, Joe is still very unhappy and all his father can do instead of spending time with him in which he is craving, is to throw money at him. In his pursuit for happiness he leaves his posh school to enrol into the local comprehensive where nobody knows his background, or just how rich he is! Hoping to find a friendship and hoping to put behind him his unhappy unfulfilled life. It soon becomes apparent that no matter how much money you have it doesn’t always make you smile or make you happy.
Joe who seems quite jolly and enthusiastic but deep down is sad and looking for a friendship in which he finds in Bob (Davy Bell) who comes across quite nervous at times, seems to over think as well as over talk. He has many gestures but plays the part well, they play best friends, both give a strong performance and show a good connection throughout with each other.
Dad (Jason Furnival) a salt of the earth character believing that anything could be brought with money he played an effective and convincing part.
Raj (Aosaf Afzal) played a very excited, loud and over chatty character at all times, trying to sell his shop products. Any question you have, he’s there all day, if there’s a problem, he around to answer it. You’ll definitely know about all his special offers and promotions. He was very funny to watch and had the audience laughing on many occasions.
Sapphire (Rosie Coles) plays a very over the top, no class, demanding, ditsy, money grabbing girlfriend she plays it well and is very focused.
Mrs Trafe (Emma Matthews) who was loud, inventive and over enthusiastic with her food, such as the blu tack special, she loves to be in the lime light and had the audience clapping away.
All actors brought the characters to life with some great costumes thrown in. The show offered some very enjoyable songs where the audience clapped and joined it giving the show a good sense of liveliness throughout.
The set was done extremely well using lots of boxes as well as toilet rolls in order to set the scenes, simply by opening them up and turning them into many different props. For instance a set of boxes opened turned into the local shop and for the class room a few boxes that turn into a cupboard of teachers supplies and a desk then turning the area into a class room. All very effective and gave many opportunities for different areas to be used for different scenes.
All in all a good lively, imaginative, enjoyable show for all to watch.