After our theatre visit at Zog And The Flying Doctors this summer, we do not want to miss the chance to catch another play by Freckle Productions based on the children books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: The Baddies at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, Surrey, will be an outstanding half term highlight!
Neighbourhood children have provided us with the picture book from 2022, and its a great, very timely read as a Halloween build-up; spooky but not scary, with wonderful rhymes and engaging illustrations. Having just read it once again on the train, we arrive at the Rose Theatre for a Friday 1pm performance after a packed lunch on the nearby riverside, eager to see what the show is all about. In the busy theatre foyer I spot regretfully too late that the venue’s cafe claims to serve Kingston’s best coffee (I pledge to try it another time), and almost even more excitingly a book swap shelf. Theatres of the world, we need more of these please!
All of us are eager for the show to begin and to stuff our mouths with the loot from last night’s trick and treating – that’s exactly how the family behind us does it as well. Since yesterday, no one amongst us is afraid of the dark anymore, definitely not of the dark in a cosy auditorium. But just in case, stuffed teddies have been brought for comfort because it is still a play about baddies and to quote the promotional poster on the free souvenir programme and on the book’s blurb: “They’re funny… They’re silly… And they’re really, really bad”.
The show starts a bit different than the picture book: A family of mice takes the first scenes, singing cheerful, unexpectedly complex tunes about food and manners, and having the audience in roaring laughter already. Only then the story of a trio of scallywags begins: A troll, a witch and ghost compete boastfully about who can be the worst. Family-friendly haunts with comic relieves assured, of course they all mess up their attempts to steal a girl’s handkerchief. The real star is the witch’s black cat who has no line in the original story but morphs from hand puppet to fully-costumed character with its own solo song. And also the finale is less abrupt and ends instead with a helpful ogre giving back mental and physical confidence to the rascals with the strong message that it is never too late to change, never too late to become good. Just under an hour, no interval interrupts and distracts from the narrative, the laughter or the admiration for puppetry, costumes and stage setting. “This was outstanding”, says mini co-reviewer number one. And mini co-reviewer number two adds: “This was the best show we have ever seen together!”
***** out of 5 stars
The Baddies played in the Rose Theatre until 3 November
directed by Katie Beard, music & lyrics by Joe Stilgoe, adapted by David Greig and Jackie Crichton, set and costume designer Jasmine Swan
The Baddies continue their nationwide tour in February 2025, including a summer residence at London’s Cadogan Hall
Sadie takes the Stage 