The Creakers by Tom Fletcher, Theatre Royal Plymouth until 2 November 2024,

2☆☆. Review: Cormac Richards.

“Thoroughly disappointing.”

 

Tom Fletcher’s stock is immensely high; musician, composer, author…. McFly is still going after over twenty years and his children’s novels routinely hit the top of the bestseller lists. It is difficult not to admire the man. A major show of one of his books has hit the stage at Theatre Royal Plymouth. It is likely to be a hit.

The Creakers is the tale of things that live under children’s beds and when one day all the kids of Whiffington wake to find all the adults have disappeared, then Lucy, the central character, decides to try and find out what has happened. The story has the themes of sustainability, recycling, smart disposal of rubbish, friendship, family and individuality running through it.

It is always unfortunate when technical problems affect a show. The reviews on this site have often mentioned the cardinal theatrical sin of not being able to hear words; at the performance reviewed (Press Night) this was significant and the Theatre issued a notice to reviewers post-performance in this regard citing “a significant error with our sound programming system”. Setting that aside, it wasn’t the only sound issue. Older actors often bemoan the lack of voice training of young performers and the constant reliance on a microphone in dialogue; clarity of speech is also overlooked. Yes, this reviewer couldn’t hear most of the words of the songs, but when dialogue is so quiet or muffled into oblivion, frustration turns to anger. This show made me angry.

The overarching feeling is that this is a show in development – maybe it isn’t, but if it is, then the audience should be told. Some aspects of the interestingly designed set seemed unfinished or unimaginative; the television, the slot machine, the net to catch the Creakers. Lucy’s journey to the Creakers’ lair feels like ideas had run out and something which could have been full of interest and peril was left utterly bland.

Some of the lighting was excellent, but it was a shame the wire for Lucy was so very obvious. The show is billed as “magical” – it just wasn’t. The voice of Fletcher before the start of the show warns of it being scary; it is as about as scary as a walk through a sun-drenched, meadow full of daisies  – children like a bit of danger, a bit of threat – there is none.

The very many characters (probably too many) are difficult to get to know as you miss so much of the narrative. Eloise Davies is just too underpowered, vocally and physically, throughout, to really engage with the audience while Iona Fraser displays plenty of attitude as Ella. The stand-out performance of the show is Ally Kennard as Norman, the friendless scout; his voice is clear and crisp though even his singing vocals were compromised – it is significant that this character wins over the audience more than any other; witness the reaction to the awarding of a badge to him at the end. The cast work very hard and of this there is no doubt; the Creakers, when they eventually appear are fun (though inaudible) and the puppeteering is well handled.

Ryan Dawson-Laight has produced some outstanding costumes; wonderfully exaggerated versions of the real things; he appears to have got into a child’s head to design them and they work perfectly.

The music is fine, but there are no real stand-out songs. Miranda Larson’s book is caught up with too many characters to enable the development of them all throughout the story and so there is a disconnect with the audience. At 2 hours and 40 minutes (including an interval) this is far too long and something needs to give; restlessness was very noticeable in the young audience.

Tom Jackson Greaves production has some great qualities, but there are important ones which need addressing; there is no tension and little drama in the piece, the arc to the show is too shallow to really engage emotions and it just plods along without significant momentum.

The technical issues notwithstanding, this is a show with some super ideas and possibilities, but what has been delivered is thoroughly disappointing and in need of a great deal of remedial work. Because Fletcher is such a hit with children, the show will succeed despite the matters highlighted, but it could be so, so much better.

 

Cast

Rakesh Boury – Larry

Matthew Caputo – Mario/Buzz/Grunt

Eloise Davies – Lucy

Iona Fraser – Ella

Kim Healey – Betty/Cassie/Barf

David-Michael Johnson – Mayor/Bulge

Ally Kennard – Norman

Ed Larkin – William/Mr Grubb/Squelch

Anu Ogunmefun – Mrs Cobblesmith/Buddy/Scratch

Verity Power – Mrs McNab/Brenda/Belch

Edwin Ray – Piers Snoregan/Toby/Guff

Timo Tatzber – Daniel/Max/Sniff

Liam Dean – Onstage Swing

Alisha Capon – Onstage Swing

 

Creatives

Music & Lyrics – Tom Fletcher

Book – Miranda Larson

Director & Choreographer – Tom Jackson Greaves

Set Design – Andrew Exeter

Costume Design – Ryan Dawson-Laight

Lighting Design – Rory Beaton

Sound Design – Alexandra Faye Braithwaite

Musical Director – Natalie Pound

Puppet Design – Lyndie Wright