Kids in London - Lord of the Flies

I took my ten year old daughter (although advised that it was for 11+ years) and my 16 year son to see this Pilot Theatre production at Richmond Theatre tonight (although it is touring the UK and will appear at The Arts Depot in London on 2-6 December and The Unicorn Theatre on on the Southbank on 25 Feb - 2 Mar).

As this Golding classic is currently on the GCSE syllabus the theatre was filled with older school kids. But that added to the atmosphere.

The story, for those who haven't read the book, is that a plane crash strands a group of school boys on an island where the lack of adults and rules means that their instincts take over.

The play started with the cast singing (just like a male voice choir) and my first reaction was "Oh no not like Sweeney Todd!". However, the serene singing was quickly replaced with a dramatic plane crash simulation.

Then we meet main character Ralph. Who removed his shirt to reveal a six pack that would not look out of place on Men's Health magazine. This made it a little bit hard to imagine him as a young lad but very entertaining (and a mite distracting) for the girls in the audience. Then we meet the suitably flabby character Piggy - whose accent sets him apart from the posher boys. Then Roger arrives and a conch shell is discovered that becomes the instrument by which the choir prefect/leader-in-waiting Jack and his line up of choir boys are summoned. There are some well deserved chuckles when the twins speak simultaneously. Piggy suggests that they have rules and a meeting and a discussion ensues where the leadership battle starts and we hear the immortal lines "Don't you want rules?" and "But is it a good rule?". And so the scene is set.

They manage to make a fire. Some of the boys go hunting for a pig with spears. Then the blood lust gets them, the fragile camaradie breaks down into tribal war and the "games" and their consequences become more serious. Special mention must go to the actor who plays Simon - whilst his "mad" scene tested credibility a bit his final scene (with an incredible fall) was really skilled.

The first act lasts for an hour, then there is a 20 minute interval and then the final act takes 45 minutes - but it's all so engrossing that it is over in a flash. Be warned that there are flashing lights in the production and younger/sensitive kids may be scared by some of the hunting scenes and violence. And those with very young kids might be interested to know that "The Tiger who came to tea" might be a better alternative later in the year. But my ten year old loved it, my 16 year old grudgingly admitted that it was good and I will remember it - for all the right reasons - for a long while.