Great Gran’s Great Games, Pavilion Theatre, Brighton, November 6 (From The Argus)

Great Gran’s Great Games, Pavilion Theatre, Brighton, November 6

11:12am Monday 7th November 2011 in The Critic By Maxwell Cooter

There’s supposed to be a rapport between the very young and the very old but when Ollie’s great-grandmother, Olive, comes to stay with his family to recover from a fall, there’s little indication of any family love.

How the pair overcome their initial hostility and connect with each other was the theme of this charming play from the Pied Piper Theatre Company.

It’s aimed at children but there’s a deeper element to the piece that raises it above run-of-the-mill. There are interesting parallels between the two. Ollie’s feeling distraught because he has moved house and hasn’t made friends at his new school. His great-grandmother is feeling equally distraught at her helplessness and her ever-advancing years. Gradually, they see each other’s point of view, a process helped greatly by Olive revealing her hidden sporting talent.

It sounds like it could be mawkish but Mike Kenny’s script lay off the saccharine and director Tina Williams kept things chugging along briskly. There were some inspirational uses of props, including an office chair, and we also got to learn the importance of singing God Save The Queen while underwater.

Jules Craig brought a touch of wry humour to Olive, while reminding us of the pains of growing old. Dudley Rees, with the task of impersonating a small boy, hit the right mix of obstinacy, curiosity and peevishness.

Pied Piper took some important themes and delivered an entertaining and delightful drama. The young audience on Sunday was delighted but there was plenty for parents to think about too.