REVIEW: The Magic Bookmark – The Other Kings, Wishaw

There’s much to enjoy in Petite Pantos’ production The Magic Bookmark. A family friendly storytelling session with an uplifting message.

Larger than life librarian Mama G spends her days spreading a love for literature and sending out a motivational message of hope and empathy to all, but Evil Book Worm has other plans. Jealous of Mama G’s positivity and kindness they empty every book from the shelves. But Mama G is given a chance to save the day. Can she solve some riddles and find three books that will convince Evil Book Worm that reading can make the world a better place? Mama G, with the help of the talking Magic Bookmark, takes up the challenge.

The show blends every pantomime trope in the book: boos and hisses, “it’s behind you”, “oh, no it isn’t” and “oh, yes it is” with sing-a-long songs and actions, dance routines, plenty of audience interaction and most importantly – storytelling.

There’s a confusion as to the age range the content is aimed at. The books chosen as inspiration: Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty, The Lipstick by Laura Dockrill and Mama G’s own book Oh, Yes I Am are a mixed bag. The intention appears to be to spread a message of care and kindness, bravery and strength and loving yourself and while the others are pleasant tales, only Mama G’s own story successfully conveys this. With a wealth of modern children’s literature out there, there are much better choices available with a clearer message, something needed for an audience who can’t make inferences yet and who see the world rather more literally.

Mama G is an engaging lead, using her extensive panto experience to keep the audience on side and in the cavernous venue this is no mean feat. The production would however benefit from a more intimate staging, a library setting with the young audience members gathered in front on cushions possibly, the adults at the back. The production plays out in front a giant screen with Evil Book Worm (Katie Pritchard) appearing in pre-recorded sequences and Magic Bookmark as a puppet with pre-recorded vocals from Julie Yammanee. When telling the tales, Mama G reads the stories from small copies of the book referring to the illustrations, but it is impossible to see these from the seating, it might have been judicious to use the giant screen to elicit more reaction from the audience. There are timing issues too, with rushed delivery meaning delays in reaction from the pre-recorded elements. The addition of local stage school performers is clever though, as their enthusiastic responses make up for lapses in interaction from the audience even when some of the young performers looked a little ill-at-ease.

There are so many engaging individual elements in The Magic Bookmark but there are as many issues to be ironed out before it lands at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. More intimacy, better use of the giant screen and a clearer message from the books being read being the fundamental changes needed to fulfil its potential.