“Mr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say he stinked, then he stinked as well…”
I always wondered who would fill the great big gapping hole left by Roald Dahl. The mischief and silliness I could get up to within the pages of his books was often the highlight of my evenings as growing up. Who could have predicted that one of the comedians from Little Britain would be his natural successor. David Walliams has a bevy of children’s books under his belt now, continuing where Dahl left off. Recently one of these books, Mr Stink, has been adapted for the stage. Of course we had to go when we heard it was being performed at the Sydney Opera House.
David Walliams, like Dahl, knows perfectly how to counterbalance the confronting, dark and disturbing aspects of life with humour. He weaves firm social justice messages throughout his stories without being patronising. Mr Stink is no exception. The play starts with an introduction to the very unhappy schoolgirl, Chloe Crumb. She’s a dreamer, often bullied at school, who has given up reaching the same highs as sister Annabel or meeting the expectations of her wannabe politician mother, Janet Crumb.
Its by chance that young Chloe Crumb meets Mr Stink and his dog Duchess at park bench. Despite her inability to breathe through her nose when she is around him due to his putrid smell, Chloe promises Mr Stink sausages the next day and so begins their story.
Master R, almost 10, felt that he might be a little too old for a play about Mr Stink but was overwhelmingly a fan by the end. The entire family laughed out loud throughout the story, clutching our stomachs at certain parts. Miss N is still curious how they got the smell to waft around Mr Stink throughout the performance (you visually see a hazy smoke continuously rise around him) and I’m still a little amazed that the man who played such eccentric characters in Little Britain has woven such magic for children. Mind blown!
Helpful hint: Watch out for Raj! I still giggle each time I think of him and his TMNT stationary set!
Mr Stink will be performed at the Sydney Opera House until 24 April. Tickets are available directly from the Sydney Opera House Box Office here.
We were guests of Sydney Opera House but under no obligation to provide a review. All opinions are our own.