The Creakers
Review by Katie Anna
⭐⭐⭐
Ever wondered what you’d do if you woke up and all the adults had disappeared? The kids of Whiffington hadn’t – until one morning that’s exactly what happens!
We are taken on a journey of mayhem, mystery, and musical moments, exploring important themes like reducing and reusing waste to keep our oceans clean. While Tom Fletcher tackles many more issues in his book, it never detracts from the fun to become preachy or pompous - instead it is integral to our investment in the characters and their quest so we understand how important their mission is!
Miranda Larson’s script was the overall weakest link - slightly slow and sluggish at points, and too childish or cheesy at others. While this is frustrating for any audience, it is even more disappointing in a production designed for young people as it alienates a whole spectrum of the demographic. The older ‘tweens’ sit through a rather lengthy act one until we start to see some age-appropriate and relatable development in the characters after the interval. By this point the younger ones may have lost interest due to the running time being equal to that of a commercial west end show, or they have found it too scary.
Another department unable to strike the right balance was the sound department, with a design not only subpar, but strange. It's as if the size of the auditorium was overlooked and the acoustics regularly drown out the singers, meaning we could appreciate their incredible harmony work without actually understanding all the lyrics. This is a shame as Fletcher has written some great songs that are not platformed as solidly as they should be.
A saving grace during these numbers is the choreography, highlighting the dancers brilliant ability while adding flare and dynamism to boot. Intelligent blocking meant that the top talent was showcased throughout, predominantly the 4 titular Creakers. These creatures are brought to life with palpable energy under the direction of Tom Jackson Greaves.
This show has everything it needs to be a roaring success, however unfortunately misses the mark on one too many occasions.