REVIEW: Travels with My Aunt at The Spring Arts Centre in Havant

Since Humdrum announced this production at The Spring, a musical adaptation has been scheduled as part of Chichester Festival Theatre’s new season and a touring production will be also be visiting Winchester.

So what makes Graham Greene’s novel so ripe for the stage? Well it’s a story that for all its whimsy we can all relate to on some level, finding ourselves stuck in our existence and longing for adventure.

Giles Harvegal’s adaptation, in the capable hands of director Caz Gilmore, takes a novel approach (all five actors are playing Henry Pulling as he plays the other characters) and really makes it work.

Jeanette Broad makes for a marvellously dotty Aunt Augusta, seemingly whimsical but with a will of iron and a lax interpretation of the law. All the actors playing Henry get a chance to shine.

Mike Palmer’s spaced-out backpacker and Ben Counter’s booming African are particular delights with Peter Colley’s hotel receptionist the most wonderfully odd creation.

The scene-stealer here though is John Moore, who shows a picture is worth a thousand words.

This is a bonkers, but extremely charming production.

MATT MERRITT