BWW Reviews: POTTED POTTER, Garrick Theatre, March 24 2013

It would be oh so easy to dismiss Potted Potter (at the Garrick Theatre until 21 April) as a bit of Covent Garden street-theatre brought indoors and given a few extra props and a slightly larger budget. The condensing of classics into pantomimeish parody is a staple of the "Roll-up, Roll-up" shows where so many performers learn the er...magic of physical comedy. What sets this show apart from a 2.30pm slot in a Fringe venue at Edinburgh is the quality of the acting and the interplay with the audience.

Dan Clarkson and Jeff Turner are a classic double act: one tall, one short; one silly, one serious; one extrovert, one introvert - both seemingly very familiar with the work of Eric and Ernie, Syd and Eddie, Tommy and Bobby. They do get through all seven Potter books, but JK Rowling's journey from the inventive wit of Philosopher's Stone to the grim grind of Deathly Hallows is really little more than a set of jumping off points for clowning, sight gags and audience participation of the gentlest kind.

The kids love it, revelling in recognising favourite characters and set-pieces from the books and loving the asides about Narnia, The Lord of the Rings and Twilight. The grown-ups can get through the more obvious gags and borrowings from panto - they got through HP Five, HP Six and HP Seven after all - and enjoy some real laughs with the ad libs, the in-jokes and the brilliant manipulation of two kids brought up on stage and handled with warmth, charm and no little skill.

Unlike the books, Potted Potter doesn't drag things out, and 70 minutes does for seven volumes. It's not going to push back the boundaries of comedy, but it's a great family show with something for everyone from five to seventy-five.