© Heidrun Lohr
Today was a momentous day because it marked the first time my children and I have stepped foot inside a theatre in a very long time. The Concourse in Chatswood is hosting a Covid-safe, socially distanced run of Room on the Broom this school holidays and I am beyond thrilled we were among the audience.
The enchanting tale of a hapless witch and her fiercely loyal feline companion springs off the pages of Julia Donaldson’s classic children’s book and onto the stage in this hilarious musical adaptation. Taking the beloved rhythmic lines from the book, the story is extended with improvisations and original musical numbers for 55 minutes of pure entertainment.
The quartet of actors shared both a wonderful dynamic and chemistry, truly bringing the characters of the dog, frog and bird to life as they each step into the story and join the witch and her cat on their journey to the back of beyond. Intent on meeting a dragon, the story builds beautifully to the point when the witch’s broomstick - overloaded with all her extra passengers - snaps in two, sending her directly into the hungry dragon’s path.
© Heidrun Lohr
Played with humour and utter charisma, his entrance was an undoubted highlight for me. A potentially scary moment for young children, the script allowed for a brief suggestion of the dragon’s intimidating presence before transforming him into a comedic tool designed to amplify the audience’s enjoyment even more. My 5 year old and 8 year old certainly responded with gusto, finding the dragon’s song and swagger to be highly amusing. They further jumped at the chance to interact with the performance when at various points during the play the actors engaged the youngsters in the theatre by talking directly to them.
We also encountered a wonderful, unscripted piece of improv when one of the puppeteers voicing both the southern drawl of the frog and that of the dog briefly mixed up his characters. I doubt any of the children watching even noticed as he remained totally collected and his segue flowed naturally into the vibe of the production. That was another little highlight for me. As a former drama student, one of the key things I always remember is to stay in character and never let the audience know you’ve faltered.
© Heidrun Lohr
Having the opportunity to be back in the world of live theatre was just the most incredible feeling and with two further performances scheduled for Friday (9 October) at 10am and 12pm respectively, if you’re free and can scoop some tickets, do it!! Prices start from $36 for A Reserve, $41 for premium and groups of 6 or more is $29/ticket.
Expect to have your temperature taken by a Covid marshall before entering the theatre and seating is well spaced to account for social distancing measures.
There is underground parking at The Concourse, entry to the carpark is on Ferguson Lane. Up to 1.5 hours parking is $4 on weekdays. For more info visit https://theconcourse.com.au/visit/parking/.