Review: Swallows and Amazons, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, Tuesday, April 3

by Mary Louis

Deft and imaginative handling of Arthur Ransome's tale of jolly sailing japes ensured Swallows and Amazons at the Marlowe Theatre was a joy for all ages.

The Bristol Old Vic musical play, set in 1929, was masterfully imbued with life and a sense of fun so that it ultimately enraptured its contemporary audience, rapidly gathering pace from a slow start.

The Walker children, the terribly British and middle class Swallows, were Richard Holt (John), Katie Moore (Susan), Akiya Henry (Titty) and Stewart Wright (Roger).

They were offset by northern wild cat sisters Nancy and Peggy Blackett, played by Celia Adams and Sophie Waller.

These adults gave vivacious and convincing performances as children, especially strapping six footer Stewart as young Roger, aged seven.

We loved Akiya Henry. She had an immense stage presence and was a delight as tomboy Titty for piratical shenanigans in a children's outdoor idyll.

Other players helped bring the performance credibly alive, switching seamlessly between adult parts, playing musical instruments and handling minimalistic but highly effective props.

Cormorants made, seemingly, out of black dustbin sacks and shears and a pooing, a coloured feather duster parrot with secateur beak, for example were wonderfully convincing and fun.

How we revelled in the climax.

The audience united, hurling foam rocks at the stage, shouting for Captain Flint to walk the plank and passing model Swallow and Amazon dinghies back into the auditorium.

This show deserved to be a sellout. Everyone left feeling young and smiling.