Erin Harrington reviews The Messy Magic Adventure, presented by Rollicking Entertainment for the World Busters Festival at Altiora, Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, Monday 27 January, 2025.
In The Messy Magic Adventure, presented as part of this year’s World Buskers Festival, we join cheerful, clown-like cleaners Spray and Wipe on what appears (at first) to be a routine job. After warming up the capacity audience at Altiora, at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, the pair find themselves at a very messy magician’s house. Spray (Lizzie Tollemache), done up in red, is a responsible, rules-oriented skeptic who just wants to get the job done. Wipe (David Ladderman), in bright blue, is a mischievous and distractable goof with a penchant for ‘accidentally’ mishearing basic instructions. They have been hired to complete some mundane chores, but there’s also a large, inviting yet forbidden magic box in the centre of the stage just begging to be opened, and a magic book (voiced by Greg Cooper) offering dire warnings. When the magic escapes (as it must) the pair need to figure out what to do. Do they try to put it back in the box, or do they embrace the magical carnage?
The narrative arc involves a some charming role reversal that plays beautifully with the young audience. Conscientious Spray lets newfound magical powers go to her head, and loose unit Wipe must step up and accept a bit of responsibility. The audience are brought along for the ride thanks to a lot of well-considered participatory elements, and some stellar work by young volunteers. Everything leads to an unexpected but satisfying conclusion.
I saw the first version of this show nine years ago, also at the World Buskers Festival, and it was very good. Through various iterations (including several sequels) everything has been tweaked to perfection. The 50-minute show rips along at a cracking pace. Tollemache and Ladderman put years’ worth of international experience as theatre creators and circus artists to good use. The pair deftly combine nifty effects, slapstick, slick character work, and sharp scripting. The show is simply but beautifully designed, from the cute red and blue costumes and set pieces, to some well-appointed sound effects. Cleverly staged magic tricks have the crowd gasping and whooping. I’m also a sucker for any show that has a splash zone.
As someone who loves theatre for the young I particularly appreciate the show’s carefully balanced dual address. There’s no condescension or pandering to either end of the audience, just lots of quick wit and joyful, high-energy tomfoolery that stays true to the characters and the scenario. My companion and I are nearly crying with laughter by the end, and the kids around us squeal and cheer. The venue also offers space to those caregivers who need a bit of room for prams or a quick wander.
Creating shows for young audiences that are both effective and artistically robust is very difficult. You can tell from the audience’s response, and the long line of kids waiting to meet Spray and Wipe after the show, that The Messy Magic Adventure is a magical masterclass in family entertainment.
The Messy Magic Adventure runs until Saturday 1 February, 2025. Info and tickets here.
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