The 78-Storey Treehouse l Adelaide Review
Whether you are familiar with the ‘Treehouse’ series of books or not, you are sure to enjoy seeing ‘The 78-Storey Treehouse’ come to life on stage at the Dunstan Playhouse.
Review by Jo Parkinson
CDP Kids presents this wild, outrageous and hilarious story in a jam-packed hour that keeps everyone entertained from start to finish. The 78-Storey Treehouse is a play by Richard Tulloch and is an adaptation of the book of the same name. The show begins by introducing main characters and best friends, Andy and Terry. Together, they have built and live in a Treehouse. The two friends love to write books about the adventures they have. Andy is the author and leader of the two, whilst Terry is the bumbling, shy illustrator that dreams up crazy inventions for the tree.
The plot tells of a Hollywood movie producer named Mr. Bigshot, who wants to make a new blockbuster using Terry as the star. Instead of casting Andy in the movie as well, he is replaced by a cheeky monkey named ‘Mel Gibbon’. This starts a conflict between the two friends, as Andy feels left out and jealous and thinks he should have the part of the narrator. Neighbour Jill arrives to offer advice but ends up being swept up in the excitement of the movie making, leaving poor Andy feeling even more alone.
However, don’t be fooled into thinking this is a serious story! Andy then spots two ‘spy cows’ who are plotting some secret movie making of their own, and it’s up to him to save the day and warn Terry that his movie is being copied.
Adults can expect the unexpected with this show, while kids familiar with the book will follow along and enjoy the familiarity of the characters and story. From cat-catapults, high security chip storage facilities, turbo tortoises and combining machines, there are so many cool and crazy ideas that appeal to the imaginations of kids. There is some slap-stick style comedy, upbeat music and good use of dance and movement throughout, not to mention a few fart jokes to get the laughs! The set was colourful and cleverly designed and costumes were simple yet effective.
Our highlights were the intergalactic neon light battle scene, as well as the song and dance numbers… those catchy tunes are sure to be stuck in your head long after you’ve left the theatre! Another thing we loved was seeing the large number of boys attending the show. We know boys can sometimes be a little reluctant to go to the theatre, but this is the perfect show to introduce them if they have never been before.
We recommend this performance for children aged between 6 and 12. So, if you have kids that have read these fabulous books by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, this is a show not to be missed!
The 78-Storey Treehouse is playing at the Dunstan Playhouse in Adelaide from until 21 January 2024.
The 78-Storey Treehouse Live on Stage | Adelaide Festival Centre | 17-21 Jan 2024
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Adelaide Festival Centre website
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: supplied
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