"Splash" at the Methodist Chapel

"Splash!", by Craig Hawes with additional music and lyrics by Naomi Newman, is loosely based on the story of Noah's Ark, and does indeed go with a tremendous "Splash!".

This may not be a strictly Biblical interpretation of the story of the Flood, but it is very good fun, full of the sort of jokes that make you laugh and groan at the same time and at a pace which keeps the audience on its toes. The staging and costumes are fantastic and the whole thing is performed with great verve and vigour by the young cast, ably supported by the choir and excellent piano and guitar backing.

Preston and Polly Parrot own an umbrella shop. When Preston receives information that it will rain for forty days, he tries to save the other animals by persuading them to join him on his boat – so they are naturally suspicious that this is an underhand ploy to sell more umbrellas. Then he comes up with the brilliant idea of giving away free voyages on the luxury cruise ship, the Ark.....

The ship's crew are the seagulls, assisted by a penguin called Malcolm who has to clean up after the elephants (on what turns out to be the "poop" deck), and a cat called Pierre (an amorous chef with an "iffy" French accent). The passengers include pairs of giraffes, armadillos, kangaroos (with even "iffier" Oz accents), hippos, monkeys, lions, dodos, bunnies (who reproduce on stage!), mice, and a horde of lemmings.

...and there are the pie-rats who try to kidnap Polly and take over the Ark, whereupon Preston Parrot utters the immortal cry "Polly Gone!".

Of course, all ends happily and when the Ark finally grounds on Ararat (itself the source of the pun which gets the biggest groan of the evening), there is a joyful celebration dance with a surprise appearance from a Mr and Mrs Kong.

If you are not lucky enough to have a ticket for "Splash!" already, you won't be able to buy one, but you should try to beg, borrow or steal one and look forward to a really entertaining show.

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