BIRMINGHAM Stage Company have brought the premiere of Demon Dentist by David Walliams to Darlington Hippodrome. They are probably the best theatre company with productions for schools and families and on the first night the children were enthralled throughout.
Alfie, Sam Varley, lives with his father, James Mitchell, who is mainly confined to a wheelchair after suffering from lung disease through his work in a mine. Alfie’s mother has passed away and Alfie is the main carer. Alfie hasn’t been to the dentist for 6 years and has been hiding the letters, when the new social worker – Winnie, Misha Malcolm, insists on taking him to the new dentist, – Miss Root, Emily Harrigan.
Unusual events have been happening with the tooth fairy, instead of money they’ve been finding bats wings, toads and other ghastly items under their pillows. Alfie and his friend Gabz, Georgia Grant-Anderson, have a feeling that something is quite right about the dentist. Raj, Zain Abrahams, the local shopkeeper and Alfie set up a plan to find out what’s been happening leading to danger before the eventual happy ending.
One of the highlights with Birmingham Stage Company is the set, designed by Jacqueline Trousdale, it swiftly changes between scenes with an ingeniously constructed set. The entire cast are excellent, brilliantly choreographed, Paul Chantry and Rae Piper, but my favourite had to be Emily Harrigan creating a delightfully evil Miss Root.
This production is perfect for families of all ages and is now my favourite David Walliams story.
Runs until Sunday 11th September.
