George's Marvellous Medicine - Altrincham Garrick

WHILE I’m not one of those irritating people who witter on about ‘the good old days’, it was really refreshing to see children completely immersed in a form of entertainment that wasn’t screen based.

And big kids like me enjoyed it, too.

I been reviewing theatre for 30 years and this was the first time I’d ever seen - well, I’m not going to spoil the surprise for you.

This production is also a triumph for the director/designer Sean Duvall for has designed a set that smacks of fairytale charm and a talented team of puppeteers who successfully transport the audience to a world in which anything is possible.

Poor George - played by an engaging Andy Withers - has his school holiday ruined when his grouchy old grandma comes to stay at his family’s farm.

She really is a grump, snarling her orders at George and his oh so patient parents, played by Michael Gallagher and Christine Perry.

Withers is an engaging and likeable George and instantly won over the youngsters in the audience as he hatches a plan to put the old battle axe well and truly in her place.

The panto season may be eight months away but this show has that well known staple ingredient of the panto. Audience participation.

But take comfort folks - the jokes are an awful lot better.

Hannah Collman, far, far, far younger than the role she is playing, is really good value as Grandma, perfectly capturing her mannerisms and with a voice that could, quite easily, curdle milk.

The world may be a bad place at the moment so what better than 90 minutes of good, clean fun to whisk us away from these unprecedented times?

Until April 24. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677 or www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk. Star rating - 3.5 out of 5.

Photo - Martin Ogden.