Rose theatre, Kingston George's Marvellous Medicine
Manuel Harlan

George’s Marvellous Medicine

5
Reviewer's Rating

This play of Roald Dahl’s book is really funny and much of the time it was the adults who were laughing the loudest. The story is about the magic medicine that the boy George makes for his mean and rude granny who has come to stay, and when she drinks it she explodes into the sky and her arms grow really long and it is all really, really amusing. On the set there is a lopsided shed, a bubble producing milking machine and a flowery wall-papered toilet, and even growing and shrinking moving chickens, steaming medicine pots and a tall tower on which Granny gets stuck.

George (played by Preston Nyman) is so excited to tell his story and his infectious enthusiasm works perfectly with the excellent space and seating arrangements of the Rose Theatre, with some people sitting on the floor just in front of the stage, and others on seats further back and upstairs, but all with excellent views of the stage. When George tries to remake the medicine drink that worked so well on Granny, all the audience help him remember the ingredients he has forgotten and it was clear that the children had remembered his recipe the best. But, the medicine he remakes just isn’t the same when he and his Mum and Dad try it on the farmyard animals. The chickens were so funny.

Rose theatre, Kingston George's Marvellous MedicinePhotography credit - Manuel Harlan (2)

All the actors and actresses brought the story to life – from Justin Wildman who played George’s Dad and also played a whole range of musical instruments perfectly, to Lisa Howard’s fabulous portrayal of Grandma, making her first appearance on stage on her electric blue mobility scooter, wearing sparkly pink trainers and her bouffant hair carefully coiffed. She is a fantastic character and it was so funny when her arms grew so long and she shoots up in the air. Chandni Mistry’s chicken was also very, very funny.
We loved this play so much and so did our Mum and definitely recommend it to anyone, grown-ups and children, although probably best for age 4 and up.