‘Ugh! Children! Out of my sight, immediately!’ After receiving a less than warm welcome, the audience traipse into the theatre under the watchful eye of Mrs Slighcarp. Her objections, coupled with a room filled with smoke, form an eerie atmosphere from the offset and the young audience are immediately engrossed.

Goodies and baddies are easy to spot and the constant criticism from notoriously evil Mrs Slighcarp does not diminish at the front door. She becomes increasingly dastardly throughout the show, wreaking havoc on the household and manipulating Sir Willoughby and Lady Green into giving her full authority over the estate in their absence. At this point, cousins Bonnie and Sylvia immediately understand that action must be taken against such a wicked guardian.

The play, adapted from a novel by Joan Aiken, is well cast and creatively directed. The set is simple and self explanatory. My only real quibble would be the play’s length, and I began to notice a few fidgets nearing the end. This restlessness was clearly anticipated though, as at this point an abundance of calamities occurred, resulting in many a Crash! Bang! Wallop! Conclusion… instantly revitalised children!

This classic good versus evil tale will be a hit with the whole family. After all, who doesn’t love a happy ending?

Kimberley Park