Every trip to the theatre comes with a heightened sense of anticipation and never more so than with ‘children’s’ theatre. The kids have high expectations, which are usually countered by their ability to suspend disbelief, while their parents are nervous that their half-pints will cry /shout /need to use the toilet /shout something inappropriate — it’s a stressful experience. Unless the show you’re seeing is a Tim Bray Production. 

This holiday’s offering is the Kiwi classic, The Little Yellow Digger. Master Nearly-Four cannot have been more excited if Santa had turned up at our door in Thomas the Tank Engine to tell him a newly discovered dinosaur had been named after him. I am nervous. More fool me.

We come in, sit down (note I also have Master Seven Months with me) and wait for the theatre seats to fill. Fortunately there is plenty to look at thanks to Rachael Walker’s set design – road signs, foam, and orange cones – all things kids love. And after the Gala Opening costume parade it is game on.

The three actors who make up the construction team – Douglas (Laura Sanderson), Bob (Jared Kirkwood) and Mr. Lackey (Jason Wu) – have to be on from the moment they march on-stage. They link the five beloved Little Yellow Digger stories with newly created roles that you won’t find in the books. And while some of the dialogue will go right over the heads of the younger audience, their parents will be appreciative.

That said, there were a few points where I’m not sure where the script is going; there’s a place where one part is repeated three times. I initially think someone has made a mistake and another cast member has decided to jump back and try it again. That’s not the case and I suspect a touch of tweaking will put that right. It keep NZ Sign Language Interpreter Kelly Hodgins on her toes.

As well as the construction team, Sanderson, Kirkwood and Wu also play every other key character, be it a whale, hippo, elephant, camel or council worker. While they’re all terrific, there’s no question that Jason Wu steals the show and injects extra humour through physical comedy. From now on my hippo impersonations will be based on his. (Workers Adam Burrell and Pippiajna Tui Jane’s fleeting appearances on stage are mint: watch for them.)

Yes, there’s music and song (it wouldn’t be a Tim Bray Production without it). Two of the stories are sung (very well indeed) and accompanied on keyboard or guitar by Kristie Addison. Combined with stripped-back and symbolic lighting by Michael Craven, the whole theatre experience asks just enough of the audience and rewards them hugely for showing up and buying in. 

I’m fairly certain that it is the combination of tight writing by Director Tim Bray, the simple and effective costuming and staging, terrific live music and lighting, and the cheeky props (that is not meant to be cocoa in the flask, I’m sure) that means the toughest critic I know was seriously impressed. Master Nearly-Four’s exact words were, “Mummy, that was a big show. Can I see it again?” Next time I shan’t be as worried.

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