The secret diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4

‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 and three quarters' is based on the book and play by Sue Townsend. It is presented by the Stirling Theatre, Morris Place, Innaloo until July 25^th. All shows at 8pm, with a matinee at 2.00 pm on Sunday 19^th.

         Amateur poet, Adrian Mole (Sam Tye) records in his diary his ‘adult’ though at times misguided view of what is going on the world around him. His parents, slob father, George (Leon Ousby) and passionate mother, Pauline (Sonja Bishopp) are going through a rough spell. When Adrian’s hero, Grandma (Heather Stewart) arrives, can she save the day? What are the neighbours Mr (Daniel Minutillo) and Mrs Lucas (Janelle Hammond) really like?

          Adrian’s school allocates Bert (Paul Anderson) a communistic, old age pensioner for Adrian to visit and for whom to do shopping. However, Adrian has only one person in his sights, the yuppie, but delectable, Pandora (Mahalia Bowles) ‘who will need to wear a bra soon!’ Nevertheless, is she already in love with Nigel (Ian Griffin)?

This is an extremely funny play, with a myriad of chuckles. The catchy music is by UK composers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley. It is performed by Stirling’s musical director, June Clark, with almost a laugh in the notes. The cast’s singing was on key, though at times a little quiet in delivery (a notch down on the music playback would help), but the cast covered solos, duets and counter harmonies with aplomb.

The story required several very different scenes, which, with good planning and set design by Kevan Hook, allowed the small team of ASMs to make the changes in an amazingly short time. To help hide the number of changes employed, the director has Adrian telling a short tale at each change as a distraction.

The lighting design is very good, but the operating a little dodgy – take a deep breath and wait for the cue.

The costumes brought a smile to the faces, especially the luscious Doreen Slater (Celeste Underhill).

For all of us who are over 35 yrs old and remember the Adrian Mole books, I was worried in case the wry and impish humour of this phenomenon of the 80’s, would be lost - as it was in the TV series of 1985 - to an uninteresting blandness. However, with director Ailsa Travers at the helm, I should have had no fear; she squeezes every ounce of mirth from the situations of domestic upheaval. This strong cast also includes Brendan Ellis, Steve Anderson and Kerry Mulligan.  

Never work with kids or animals! Well the members of this cast had to, and what a wonderful job they did. Pixie, the dog, even managed to give the correct expressions!

Now for lead Sam Tye. What can one say? Sam has total stage presence, he sang, soft-shoe shuffled, had a large portion of the two and a half hour show on stage, yet maintained perfect pace, his diction and projection were excellent, comedic delivery wonderful – at thirteen years, what a talent.

This is a really feel good, bundle of laughs for all of the family. It will be a sell-out.