Horrible Histories - The Grand Theatre, Blackpool - 29/04/08
Isn't it so annoying when someone comes up with an idea which should have been staring us all in the face for years. With the same simplicity as inventing a water proof torch or a Tupperware dish, former actor, drama lecturer and theatre director Terry Deary has cornered the market in making that dreary old thing called history very entertaining andd very horrible.
Whilst other mortals may have thought of Miserable Maths or Forgettable Physics, Deary combines a deceptive amount of research, a fair degree of wit and - in these stage versions of his massive selling books - an eye for seat-shaking 3D "boggle vision."
It's one thing kids being told just how horrible our ancestors were and seeing silhouette decapitations, quite another to have cannon balls seemingly hurtle towards them in the stalls and circle.
With the alliteration of a poet in the Terrible Tudors we hear about the "horrendous Henries", "evil Elizabeth", "executing enemies" and are asked to decide whether 1485 was "terrible or tasteful".
Why were witches so badly done to, and how come Henry VIII just couldn't settle on a spouse? Would Greensleeves have topped the charts today and why where we so cruel to criminals?
Director Neal Foster makes sure his cast of four work their socks off with a byte-sized view of history which makes the Reduced Shakespeare Company seem like verbose slackers.
Academics may flinch at a singalong analysing the merits or divorce, beheading and death but if it makes whole generations of youngsters take their historical medicine with a smile on their face, who's grumbling?
The Terrible Tudors and The Vile Victorians alternate until Saturday, May 3.
Robin Duke
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