Mess! At G-Live, Guildford.A marvellously messy, creative whirlwind of a family show which delighted both young audience members and their less-than-tidy adults!

 

Upon entering the studio space at G-Live, we were greeted with a well-ordered bedroom with neat stacks of toys and a beautifully made bed. Two performers with rubber gloves and dusters in hand came to inspect our cleanliness – giving me a quick shoeshine whilst praising the babe-in-arms next to me for their perfectly clean feet! However, this tidy routine could not last long with the gleeful arrival of Princess Olive, a young troll, who revels in making as much mess as possible!

 

This charming children’s production centres around the antics of Princess Olive as she journeys to find the Tidy Up Troll to help clean her room before The Troll Queen’s special party. Along the way she meets a cast of adorable characters including a loveable bear and a cheeky AeroCrane which are skilfully brought to life through beautiful storytelling and innovative puppetry design. At the heart of Mess! are the two talented performers who bring these colourful characters to life, slipping seamlessly from one to the next with playful ease.

 

The brilliantly simple yet unique set design surprises and delights as blocks, sheets, and household objects become the trees of the forest, the Huge Mountains to climb or a boat on the Smelly Sea. Each item is inventively repurposed, creating a visually stimulating environment that sparks the imagination and provides a perfect backdrop to the whimsy of chaos that unfolds.

 

The story is interwoven with catchy songs and infused with humour and warmth, keeping the audience captivated throughout. I particularly enjoyed glancing along my row to see a matching set of open mouths and wide-eyes from the children watching. Whilst Olive’s friends do help to teach her the importance of tidying up, we all are reminded that you cannot learn to be a champion tidier, without first making a marvellous mess!

 

Mess! is a rare gem of a show which captures the hearts and imaginations of all –guaranteed fun for the whole family this Easter.

 

Independent Review by Georgina Periam.