As my excited two year old and I entered the Lyric Theatre, I discovered The Tiger Who Came to Tea was not just one of our favourite books. The enchanting book by Judith Kerr may have been published way back in 1968 when even I was small, but the teenage usher looked as full of anticipation as us as he directed us to our seats. When I purchased a (rather overpriced) tiger on a stick from him, he was smiling as if he himself were the tiger who got the tea.
The brief book had been cleverly spun out to create a show that was part musical and part panto. The hour-long performance kept all little ones firmly in their seat – no mean feat considering they were almost all under five. Although it is partly a modern interpretation of the classic book, I loved the fact that the perhaps non PC elements of the story hadn't been changed in any way.
Sophie's daddy goes out to work in his hat and suit as she and her mummy stay at home seemingly waiting for him to return to his supper that will be waiting on the table. Yet, rather than this grating, there is something rather soothing about this old fashioned tale, that had been livened up with some sing along sections and some classic panto bantering.
I think, like me, some parents must have been a little concerned that their little one would be frightened of the on-stage tiger. Yet, the costume had been done so well that he couldn't have looked more friendly. Complete with smiling eyes and frilly stripes, my two year old announced on several occasions: 'I want to stroke his bottom,' which was surely the best kind of endorsement.
He and I sat spellbound throughout the performance, which beautifully managed to stay true to the original story while creating some very special on-stage magic.
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