‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for a… rat. Yes, Napoleon the rat has escaped again and Joe (Andy Umerah) needs to track him down. Little does he know he’ll quickly be on a extra pressing treasure hunt to assist save the Cracker household residence! Joe lives at a pet store, together with his mum (Amy Loughton) and sister Maia (Sera Mustafa). This yr his mum is being compelled to promote their residence, the place the household have lived for generations, to make ends meet. When Great Grandma Cath (Erika Poole)…
Rating
Excellent
A joyfully feelgood festive present that may make the entire household smile. In true Polka model, it finds pleasant magic within the bizarre.
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for a… rat. Yes, Napoleon the rat has escaped again and Joe (Andy Umerah) needs to track him down. Little does he know he’ll quickly be on a extra pressing treasure hunt to assist save the Cracker household residence!
Joe lives at a pet store, together with his mum (Amy Loughton) and sister Maia (Sera Mustafa). This yr his mum is being compelled to promote their residence, the place the household have lived for generations, to make ends meet. When Great Grandma Cath (Erika Poole) reveals the legend of diamonds which might be mysteriously lacking in the home he determines to search out them and save the day.
From the second the play begins the viewers are excited, engaged in recognizing Napoleon and anticipating the enjoyable to return. Liz Cooke’s splendidly detailed set is cleverly designed, with secret compartments right here there and in all places to always shock us as Napoleon pops up. The home is a bit run down as a result of the Crackers are in need of money, however conventional flying geese on the wall and groovy bits of wallpaper inform of generations passed by; of the great previous days shared by household.
This is a prime forged, every of them bringing beaming smiles and shedloads of charisma that immediately creates a feelgood ambiance. Umerah is an excellent, glowing storyteller, a pure entertainer who simply has the viewers within the palm of his hand from the second he steps on stage. Of course, each Cracker should include Dad jokes, and he delivers them to the children with partaking model. He’s assured, cheeky, and a virtuoso in viewers interplay, but nonetheless has a pleasant innocence and interesting allure that underscores the sentiment of the story.
Mustafa’s Maia performs an excellent foil to Joe, with masterful sibling squabbling and teenage tantrums, whereas Loughton is splendidly entertaining as their mum, sporadically emitting stunning and completely ridiculous animal noises below stress. Poole’s eccentric ninja grandma is comically animated, energised by her relationship together with her grandson within the quest to search out the diamonds.
The finest laughs are, nonetheless, from the fabulous Phil Yarrow, who is very humorous each because the cute sports activities trainer, Mike, and the nasty Mr Dribble. His farcical slapstick and visible comedy are merely masterful, making the viewers shriek with laughter every time he hits the ground or walks right into a wall. This man has astonishing timing and precision; it’s fairly exceptional and totally hilarious!
Crackers is a completely gleeful manufacturing, and an absolute antidote to austerity. In an age the place many exhibits are stupidly costly and include an extra of bells and whistles, that is superbly old-school Polka, focussing as an alternative on the worth of creativeness, excellent storytelling and bodily comedy to create magic out of the bizarre: in reality, they actually put the whistle down the bathroom. And it’s sensitively well timed: many households are slicing again this Christmas, so to place love, caring and collaboration on the core of the story feels completely proper.
If you’re in search of a light-hearted, festive present this yr that provides nice enjoyable for the entire household, this manufacturing is simply excellent.
Written by Charlie Way
Directed by Nicky Allpress
Set and Costume Designer – Liz Cooke
Lighting Designer – Anna Reddyhoff
Sound Designer – Anna Short
Puppet Designer and Maker – Michael Fowkes
Movement Director – Dave Hearn
Crackers performs at Polka Theatre till 15 January. Further info and bookings may be discovered right here.