EMIL AND THE DETECTIVES

Weymouth Pavilion

SETTING up a dramatic production and staging it in front of a audience is no easy task for anyone but when the cast consists of more than 40 youngsters, you have a job on your hands.

Top marks then to members of the Weymouth Drama Club’s Junior section for staging this dramatised production of the well known German novel set in 1929 Berlin in which schoolboy Emil is travelling to visit his grandmother and is robbed of a large amount of cash while on a train.

Upon his arrival in Berlin, he is quickly befriended by a whole bunch of assorted children who set out to identify and capture the thief.

This theatrical version of the novel is written by Carl Miller and is full of action and adventure as the young detectives seek out their prey in a production that moves swiftly from street scenes to cafes, trains, buses and hotels, all done with imagination and ingenuity.

The atmosphere of the times is nicely captured by Ed Hintze in precorded background musical accompaniment throughout as the scenes change while the youngsters manage the mood of the plot with skill and energy.

Jacqui Trent’s direction is full of neat ideas in a production that keeps the audience on its toes and gives the young actors a chance to shine.

Leading the pack is Aiden Curtis in the demanding role of Emil who is onstage during the whole production while Oscar Rangdale is just perfect as the street wise urchin who leads the pack of detectives.

As the stranger on the train, Tom Stevens is suitably mysterious while Megan Crowder is just the opposite as a chatty girl along with Tobias Clifton as the cute junior member of the cast.

While it is impossible to name everyone in such a large cast, mention must go to Oliver Steel as the bright boy in the bunch, Sophie Ridyard as Emil’s mother, Poppy Hardwicke as his grandmother and Luke Britton as the journalist who is looking for a good story, well done to all of them.

There is a further performance today. (Saturday 29th Oct)

MARION COX