The Twits

Published Monday 3 December 2007 at 10:40 by Robin Duke

Mr and Mrs Twit might be mucky, mean spirited, mischievous and mercenary but they are also really quite likeable too - aren’t they? Probably only Roald Dahl could make such a revolting pair of misfits into comic characters on a hiding to nowhere.

Monkey-napping the Muggle-Wumps and degrading them into enslaved circus attractions might not be politically correct, but you try telling the children not to find this interpretation by an over the top Derek Elwood (as Mr Twit) and an almost mumsy Katrina Beckford (Mrs Twit) irresistibly naughty. Elwood even gets away with occasional ad-libbed adult moments along the way.

Robin Belfield’s direction wastes not a moment and manages to involve the audience whenever possible with panto style singalongs and even some subtle moral decision making.

The set is colourful and circus styled, while puppeteer Amanda Wilkins’ Roly Poly Bird appears to be a distant relation of Rod Hull’s Emu.

Ruth Rogers and Tom Wainwright are suitably anthropomorphic as the unfortunately incarcerated primates.

Completing the hard working cast is Philip Buck as the Narrator, in what will be a financial godsend to this otherwise cash-strapped and soon to be cut back theatre.