A review round-up for David Walliams’ Billionaire Boy at the NST City, Southampton.
The adaptation of David Walliams book Billionaire Boy, at the NST City, Southampton has been well received by the critics who have complimented the adaptation for being fantastically funny, warm and hugely enjoyable.
The Christmas Musical adaption by Jon Brittain is a story about one of the wealthiest children in the land. The production is directed by Luke Sheppard, with music by Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler.
Casting includes Ryan Heenan (Joe Spud), Avita Jay (Sapphire/Raj), Eleanor Kane (Lauren).
Billionaire Boy runs at the NST City, Southampton until 6 January 2019.
Read a round-up of reviews below.
Guardian ★★★
“Jon Brittain’s musical adaptation of David Walliams’s tale of Joe Spud, the richest boy in the country, has plenty to sing about”
“Children in the audience were so rapt they even clamoured for the lettuce leaves Raj (Avita Jay) throws them instead of sweets.”
Clare Brennan, Guardian
The Times ★★★★ [paywall]
“An imaginative, irreverent adaptation of David Walliams’s book captures the story’s fun and its heart”
“Good news for Robbie Williams: musical adaptations of David Walliams books can put a tap in your toe, a smile on your face and a tear in your eye.”
Dominic Maxwell, The Times
Telegraph ★★★★
“a hugely enjoyable take on David Walliams’s so-so novella”
“I could have done without shopkeeper Raj’s End of Pier stand-up routines, and the meta-theatre references are a clumsy substitute for Walliams’s wink-wink confidences in the reader.”
Claire Allfree, Telegraph
Financial Times ★★★★ [paywall]
“David Walliams’s Billionaire Boy is a warm, witty musical”
“This isn’t a glittering blockbuster, it’s a holiday-time cavort. And, as one of the late Nicolas Roeg’s film characters remarks, I like a bit of a cavort.”
Ian Shuttleworth, FT
The Stage ★★★★
“irreverent, funny new hit British musical”
“Irreverent, fantastically funny and hit-heavy new musical based on David Walliams’ monster-selling novel”
“Walliams’ ever-so-slightly savage humour and his penchant for meaty, monosyllabic surnames – Grub, Spud, Spite – mark him out as a natural successor to Roald Dahl.”
Tim Bano, The Stage
Date: 2 December 2018
Written by: Simon Raven
Tags: Billionaire Boy, David Walliams, review round-up, reviews round-up