Royal & Derngate Theatre, Northampton – until 31 December 2024
Review by Amanda Allen
5*****
What a jolly Christmas romp for all the family this is! Based on the ever popular children’s book by Janet and Alan Ahlberg this enactment of a Christmas eve tale is the perfect introduction to the theatre for small children. The tale is very honest to the original book story, referencing many of the classic children’s tales, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. It takes us through a Christmas eve delivery round of a very special postman delivering his last few letters before a well earned rest on Christmas day.
The small cast of only 6 were individually and collectively brilliant. Bringing together their skills as musicians and actors to tell a wonderful story in such a way as both 5 year olds and 55 year olds could enjoy it. Samuel Morgan-Grahame who played the Jolly Postman was on stage for 99% of the time, riding his bike, (both a normal one and a static one), singing dancing and telling us the tale. He had a wonderful way of connecting with the audience. The ensemble all played there many parts brilliantly, one of my favourites was the slightly manic Goldilocks played by Jess Lobo who, whilst narrating her letter to Baby Bear got faster and faster as well as louder and louder until she just had to stop and sign off!
I particularly loved the clever writing that had adult jokes that would have gone straight over children’s heads. The reference to Humpty Dumpty in the hospital, claiming to be “just another egg on the wall” was particularly clever. Having the Jolly Postman try to reattach poor Humpty’s limbs in all the wrong places was also really funny for children and adults alike. The limbs being passed round the audience before they could be reattached was a great way of keeping young children involved in the story. The dance number following this scene was fabulous! The whole audience joined in clapping along. In fact one of the best things about this show was the subtle inclusion of the audience throughout the show. Not as obviously as in a pantomime but there all along. I loved the fact that in this ever more digital world the joy of a hand written letter is made so obvious to all, there is something truly special about receiving a piece of paper through the post, the fact that someone has taken the trouble to spend time actually writing to you is always a joy and is something that the younger generation will miss out on if we don’t continue to encourage it.
Mention must be made of the set and costume design team, Abby Clarke has done a great job of designing a set that is colourful, fun and easy to work with for the actors yet tells the story. The letters each opening into the home of the recipient was inspired and the tiny toy town scene with the Gingerbread Man was just brilliant! We will all remember the crumbs from the Jolly Postman’s Jammy Dodger biscuit falling on the Gingerbread Man and almost knocking him out! The use of scale to this effect was truly great.
The show ended, as Christmas must for young children, with Santa in his workshop, rescuing the Jolly Postman and returning him to his own comfortable home just in time for Christmas. We even ended up with snow to the delight of old and young alike. I have to say its one of the best family shows I’ve seen in a long time. An altogether wonderful family treat for Christmas, I urge you to book your tickets and go along , I know you won’t be disappointed.