Camden New Journal - Theatre: ANANSI TRADES PLACES

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The Review - THEATRE by ANGELA COBBINAH
Published: 27 December 2007

A new triumph for the spider

ANANSI TRADES PLACES
Shaw Theatre

THE Anansi stories originated in Ghana, made their way to the Caribbean 400 years ago, then travelled on a banana boat to England in the 1950s. Anansi’s definitely a survivor, then.
Blessed with numerous forms, most notably the guise of a giant spider, Anansi bears the title of King of All Stories and the reputation of a cunning trickster (a sort of celestial dirty rotten scoundrel) in West
African lore.
But all is not well with the spider man – today’s youngsters are more interested in playing their Nintendo Wiis than reading about his antics and he needs all his ingenuity to stay ahead of the game.
So begins Anansi’s latest adventures, compliments of the Talawa Theatre. Writer Trish Cooke’s delightful tale sees the wily trickster swap lives with an earthling so that he may leave Story World and take care of business. Geoff Aymer – the other half of comedy duo Aymer and Powell – plays the lead with the cheeky charm one has come to expect of our anti-hero.
From then on it’s family show all the way – catchy reggae and rap songs, nifty choreography, including dance of the moment, “Soulja”, and gags a plenty.
Kids will love Shyko Amos’s Omari, the apparently streetwise youth who gets caught up in Anansi web, as well as the haughty Mrs Tiger (Malinda Parris) from Lagos, while parents will recognise themselves in exasperated Mum and Dad (Susan Lawson-Reynolds, Dermot Daly). By the time, the theatre lights go back on again, it is mission accomplished – Anansi’s place in storyville is assured.
Until January 5
0870 033 2600

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