AN OUTDOOR SHOW PACKED WITH FUN, HUMOUR AND A HEART-WARMING MESSAGE, THIS BRAND NEW ADAPTATION OF MR STINK WITH SOME AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS SUITABLE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY TOGETHER.
I had been looking forward to seeing Heartbreak Productions perform David Walliams' Mr Stink since Iona Legge-Bourke first told me the date and I can tell you now I wasn't disappointed.
On the morning of Saturday 4 July the cast and crew arrived, together with their stage, costumes and props, for the setting up of what was was to be a hugely enjoyable and entertaining performance on the lawn at Penmyarth House.
When everything was ready they retired to the Rod Room which was their Green Room for the day to enjoy some food and drink before entertaining the crowds in the sun. I had a chance to chat to them before the performance and they all appeared to be very lovely and normal, with no hint of any stinkage. This all changed!
On a perfectly average afternoon, two restless souls unite on a bench in an average English town (or Wales!) – one of them the lonely 12 year old Chloe and the other an incredibly smelly homeless man. Oh, and let’s not forget his loyal dog, the Duchess.
Before the main performance started the cast mingled as the audience arrived, Mr Stink shuffled stinkily round with the Duchess, whilst Chloe and Annabelle played with the youngster on the lawn. Some guests came with chairs, some with picnic rugs, lots with snacks and heaps of children brought their parents and grandparents along. There was happy chatter and plenty of smiles as everyone found their places and then settled down to watch the show.
And what a show! There was singing, dancing, clapping, gasps, knowing looks and I know I had "hay fever" a few times so I'm sure I wasn't the only one! It's always a gamble trying to do anything outside but apart from one blast of wind the weather was perfect.
Regular readers of David Walliams' will know what I mean when I say "David Walliams writes a fun, yet warm and gentle story around a message that leaves the children happy and the adults thoughtful".
Thank you
Harry and Iona Legge-Bourke
Heartbreak Productions for a glorious production of Mr Stink at Glanusk
Glanusk for providing such a stunning venue
Harry Legge-Bourke for the house rules and health and safety talk
Sugarloaf Catering for providing gourmet street food
Black Dragon Bars for drinks throughout the performance
Estate Photographer Daniel Moncur-Sime for the stunning photos
Book-ish for selling tickets and bringing along the Book Bus
the Glanusk Team for their hard work and dedication which made this event and others run smoothly
and Iona Legge-Bourke (centre)
for her outstanding planning of events and for booking the optimum weather on Saturday!