The Trial of Dennis the Menace

[Digifiend]

What? The Trial of Dennis the Menace
Where? The Southbank Centre, London: Purcell Room
Who? By Caroline Bird with original music by Matt Rogers
Friday 17 February 2012 - Wednesday 22 February 2012
Find out more about this exciting new show at http://bit.ly/TrialOfDennisArticle

[Jon]

Thanks for this Digifiend. My tickets arrived today!

[Jon]

I saw this today - very well written and including many classic Beano jokes (such as Minnie only liking green jelly babies) which I felt paid great attention to detail. A highlight was Dennis, Minnie, Danny and Roger rapping at the end and listing pretty much every single Beano strip there's ever been, many of which would have been lost on the target audience (I don't suppose many of the kids remember Hairy Dan or Kat and Kanary). I suppose it was for the Beano geeks like us!

Highly recommended if you can get tickets, it runs until this Wednesday (22nd).

[big bad bri]

how much is tickets to get in or can you even pay on the door?

[Digifiend]

Wow, I'd like to see a transcript of that rap!

Anyway, it's £12 for adults, £6 for children, and it says concessions are half price so that would be £6 as well.

http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/ ... nace-62237

Hmm, Bumber prize... I think they mean bumper. Apparently by signing the Free Dennis petition, you can win a subscription to the Beano, a Comic Maker Kit, and a signed copy of the Beano-Dandy gift book. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freedennis/

[Jonny Whizz]

A highlight was Dennis, Minnie, Danny and Roger rapping at the end and listing pretty much every single Beano strip there's ever been, many of which would have been lost on the target audience (I don't suppose many of the kids remember Hairy Dan or Kat and Kanary). I suppose it was for the Beano geeks like us!

I think there's a decent chance that the kids may know of Kat and Kanary, as they featured in the Retro Beano pages in the comic a few weeks ago. I agree that Hairy Dan was a bit of an obscure one - he did appear in Ball Boy's strip in the 65th birthday issue (#3185, 2nd August 2003), but as that's eight and a half years ago now there's a much smaller chance of children seeing that story and being aware of his existence.

[TwoHeadedBoy]

I've got NO chance of getting to London before it's over, but to anyone who DID go, I'd like to know... What was it??

Was it people in costumes? And if so, did they have big Frank Sidebottom-like heads or just make-up and wigs?

I'll be looking on YouTube, wonder if it'll tour?

[swirlythingy]

Was it people in costumes? And if so, did they have big Frank Sidebottom-like heads or just make-up and wigs?

The Guardian has an "audio slideshow" for anyone wanting to see some photos.

Disappointingly, or perhaps thankfully, it seems to be just a group of (sometimes very old, and not always of the right gender!) adults prancing about in costumes. Sadly, the selection of photos is extremely limited - about four characters dominate the whole thing, Minnie only shows up once two minutes in, and Roger is completely absent. Moderately illuminating for those of us too terrified to go, though.

I steered well clear of this, because I thought (remembering certain aspects of Beanoland at Chessington) the cringe factor would probably be unbearable. From the photos, it doesn't look as bad as I imagined it.

[WizzKid97]

The Guardian has an "audio slideshow" for anyone wanting to see some photos.

Looks awful - no offence Caroline Bird.

It looks like random adults in weird costumes really and the general feel of it is incredibly poor. I'm glad I didn't go to see it...

Still, it was an attempt at a new style for the Beano - should they do it again? I don't know, I don't know what it's like. But still, it broadens the horizon for the Beano and gets more kids interested in comics - so hey, I guess it's good in a way!

[TwoHeadedBoy]

Thanks for the link there, it looks... Strange?

Is that Danny played by a girl? And Smiffy's tie looks a bit too long (nitpicking there!). Looks like Cuthbert Cringeworthy has a big role! And Minnie looks a bit too plump to be Minnie (not wanting to be cruel there). Looks like it could've been interesting though, can't've been any different to the Peanuts or Doug stage shows I've been to see.

[Digifiend]

A lot of the cast are badly off model. Danny doesn't wear his hat slanted, and yes, that looks like a female actor to me. Minnie definitely looks too fat (she's even wearing something underneath that baggy striped jumper), again, the hat isn't in the right position, and the hairstyle is wrong (I couldn't even see a bow in her hair). Smiffy's hair was the wrong colour and too long (actor could've used a bald cap), and Cuthbert is missing his tie. Is that meant to be the headmaster next to him? Since when does he wear a striped top? It should be a blue suit with a bow tie. He also looks too slim.

Yeah, major fail by the costume department.

[Lew Stringer]

A lot of the cast are badly off model. Danny doesn't wear his hat slanted, and yes, that looks like a female actor to me. Minnie definitely looks too fat (she's even wearing something underneath that baggy striped jumper), again, the hat isn't in the right position, and the hairstyle is wrong (I couldn't even see a bow in her hair). Smiffy's hair was the wrong colour and too long (actor could've used a bald cap), and Cuthbert is missing his tie. Is that meant to be the headmaster next to him? Since when does he wear a striped top? It should be a blue suit with a bow tie. He also looks too slim.

Yeah, major fail by the costume department.

It's a loose interpretation of the imagery. It's not intended to be on model. That's the fun of theatre.

Personally I think it looks like great fun and hope it manages to tour or at least appear in a venue where I can get to see it.

[Jon]

As someone who did go, I can confirm it was enjoyable and went down well with the children in the audience.

[Peter Gray]

I don't mind seeing girls in shorts.. (Danny)

Anyway it looks like a lot of fun from the photos..