Chocolate Cake at Polka Theatre. Todd Heppenstall (Brother), Aminita Francis (Teacher, Mum) & Mark Houston (Michael). Credit Ellie KurttzChocolate cake… yum, who does not love chocolate cake! This 50-minute production of Chocolate Cake is absolutely delightful, it tickled all of my senses. Well done Polka Theatre.
From the moment it starts, it captivates the young audience, making a number of them feel very special. Even though the play is aimed at four-year-olds and above, I believe it would capture the attention of much younger children too. There is something for all ages, descending bubbles that children reach out to touch, wiggling of bottoms that cause a bit of a giggle and some expected references – ‘When I was a boy, I had a favourite treat. It was when my mum made… Chocolate Cake!’
There is quite a bit of audience engagement. “Who is the queen of Holland?” is asked and to that, the response back is “Queen Juliana is a fat banana”. My little 6-year-old boy who is sitting next to me is sent into a frenzy of laughter. The audience is cheering on the winner of a bake-off, who wears a pointy gold crown with a delicate pink ribbon wrapped around the edge of it, whilst she holds an ice cream shaped trophy.
The cast’s performance is really good, it is almost as though the play is written for them. Mark Houston plays Michael exceptionally well, he acts from the heart and you almost forget that he is an adult playing a child. Todd Heppenstall who mainly plays the role of the brother acts out tantrums and sulky moments very well too. He does this without taking any of the limelight off Michael, the main character. Aminita Francis who plays Mum (and Miss Goodall) puts a smile on my face when she starts to sing – such a beautiful voice and such a lovely character.
The music is very catchy and the lyrics too are fun. The stage set is very creative, and the set is adapted for the different scenes with a slight tweak here and there – which is very impressive. The set is brought to life by the colourful lighting, almost turning the atmosphere into a warm comforting feeling, like you’d feel after eating chocolate cake.
I’m really not sure what more one could cram into a 50-minute production. This is an awesome play that has given my little boy and I that moment of pure satisfaction of indulging in pure rich scrumptious Chocolate Cake! As Michael Rosen says ‘A deliciously tasty show’.
Review by Shaidi Ramsurrun
Follow the adventures of two brothers and the night-time disappearance of a chocolate cake in this scrumptious new musical adaptation by the creators of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and How to Hide a Lion from Michael Rosen’s beloved poem Chocolate Cake, which has just been published as a picture book.
Adapted by Peter Glanville and Barb Jungr
Music and songs by Barb Jungr
Running time 50 minutes
Michael Rosen’s Chocolate Cake
23 Mar – 13 May 2018
https://polkatheatre.com/