Adapted by producer/director Tim Bray, two idiosyncratic children’s literary icons come to life in a series of alternating stories, in which Grandma McGarvey, from the books by Jenny Hessel, embarks on her wacky adventures, including springboard diving, treasure hunting and bungee jumping, while Joy Watson’s Grandpa obsesses not only about his slippers but also his cardie and a long lost pair of shorts. (Forgive me if I seem to be giving all the highlights away, but I assume you’re reading this on some wee person’s behalf. Promise not to tell!)

Although the promotional poster for the show suggests that Grandma McGarvey is the mainstay of the show, with Grandpa’s Slippers as a supplement, I say Grandpa (Sydney Jackson) and his slippers steal the show. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, however my 5-year-old son did, saying the Grandma McGarvey stories were like ‘the movie bits in between the [Grandpa] stories’.

The repetitive dialogue in Grandpa’s stories appeals to the kids, who respond in peals of recognition more and more as the show unfolds. Grandma McGarvey’s stories are told by a singing narrator, which somehow makes the action less immediate and therefore less engaging. And the ‘narrated’ transitions between stories of Grandpa’s dilemmas and Grandma McGarvey’s enterprises are perhaps a bit condescending to the school-aged kids and confusing to the tiny ones. Rather than fuse the scenes together, they make the show as a whole seem cluttered.

However, I can’t fault Julie Collis’ Grandma McGarvey, whose physical energy on the stage is delightfully eccentric and engaging, augmented by a versatile yet simply constructed set adding visual depth to her adventures without detracting from the colourful character.

Sitting in front of the stage in the far corner, a major asset to the success of the show would have to be Robbie Ellis’ talents on the keyboard (and Christine White’s composition), setting the mood and providing seamless musical sound effects to boldly punctuate the actions of Grandpa and Grandmas, et al, with their suspense, mayhem and slapstick.

I’d recommend the show for a roughly 2-7 age group and, needless to say, if your sprogs know the books they’ll probably love being able to recognise their favourite stories brought to life. My boy’s favourite scene was Grandma McGarvey and the ‘Treasure Hunt’, for that very reason.

I have to admit somewhat sheepishly, that I’m one of those neglectful Kiwi parents who hasn’t read either of these ever-popular authors to my poor deprived child – and I didn’t quite make it to the library in time to do my homework.

But if, like me, you don’t know the books, these are some likeable, distinctly Kiwi characters, fleshed out by sturdy performances and a quirky sense of humour. Coming in at just under an hour, the show’s a good length for the youngsters and by no means tedious for their chauffeurs.

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