The Bolds

Product Information

Clary has released two large format comedy books: My Life With Fanny The Wonder Dog (1989) and How To Be A Man (1992). Aikuislukijana en paikoin voinut olla rinnastamatta eläinpäähenkilöiden tuntemuksia maahanmuuttoon ja jopa paperittomana elämiseen, mutta meno ei ollut mitenkään osoittelevaa.

The Bolds by Julian Clary (9781783443055/Paperback The Bolds by Julian Clary (9781783443055/Paperback

But disguised within its colourful onstage mayhem, The Bolds is a strong moral tale about what it means to be an alien presence in a foreign land and the sacrifices necessary to blend in with the natives. One day a foolish English couple wander into the bush, and under the intense heat take a dip in a pond. Then, on a trip to a safari park to slake a nostalgia for Africa, they encounter an elderly hyena whom the veterinarians think is too old and unwell and propose to “put to sleep” as a kindness. I loved all the Bold family members, as well as Roberts' cheeky illustrations of them (and Mr Bold's regular cracker jokes - part of his job). Mummy and Daddy hyena, fed up with foraging for food in the tropics, and hoping for a better life for their two offspring, decide to chance life in England.The Bolds plays at Unicorn Theatre until 31 December, including socially distanced and relaxed performances.

The Bolds — Julian Clary

Lee Lyford’s energetic direction keeps the play moving at a pace that quickly papers over its flaws and the genius of its sound design (Dinah Mullen) ensures a stream of laughter, even when the frenzy of joke-telling and screeching laughter loses its lustre. This time, Teddington's wildest family have decided to stay at home and keep their heads down - it isn't always easy hiding tails and fur under clothes, and it's important not to raise suspicion amongst their human neighbours. Some projects feel a tad cynical but The Bolds, based onJulian Clary’s popular series, isn’t a bad bet. They have a pair of children who mostly manage to go to English schools without causing too much alarm. After two hyenas witness a newlywed couple be devoured while on safari, they decide being a person sounds like fun, and they've picked up a fair amount of English listening to tourists all these years, so why not?

Two honeymooners unwittingly go swimming in an African safari camp, yet as a full page illustration depicts, are gobbled up by a large crocodile, "Snap Snap! We know the holiday season is upon us when fairy tales and children’s storybooks run amok as stage adaptations to compete with the manufactured jolly of Yuletide cheer. It’s tricky behaving like a human, but they successfully keep their difference secret until one day Mr McNumpty, their grumpy neighbour finds out, and starts to keep an eye on them and their human friend, Minnie. There’s a particularly fine performance from Sam Pay as Mr McNumpty, the Bolds’ next-door curtain-twitcher. The entire ensemble are brilliant - no one is out of place, but certain stand outs include the twin duo Sam Swann and Mae Munuo - who are full of beans, always include the audience and their chemistry is electric.

The Bolds Go Green – The Bolds The Bolds Go Green – The Bolds

They already knew how to speak English by listening to the various visitors on safari who had passed by.His sharp script is perky, quirky and surprising, provides plenty of opportunity for fun and participation, which has the audience howling with laughter. Based on the first of Julian Clary’s series of books about a family of hyenas living disguised as humans, this is the Unicorn’s Christmas offering and, going by the reaction of the audience of schoolchildren packed the house out I saw it with, it's a good choice.

The Bolds at Unicorn Theatre (Weston Theatre) Theatre review: The Bolds at Unicorn Theatre (Weston Theatre)

Their clothes and belongings left on the river bank enable two enterprising hyenas to take their places. My boy spends hours reading through the joke collection which is superbly interwoven into the storyline. There’s an exciting, action-packed climax, and a very satisfying twist at the end, so all in all this is a very neatly constructed story. Since Mr Bold (David Ahmad) has always been a bit of a joker (after all he’s a laughing hyena), he finds a job writing jokes to go in Christmas crackers while Mrs Bold (Amanda Gordon) runs a stall in the local market.

Since then he has also acted in films, television and stage productions, and was the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 10 in 2012. He’s given us intelligent simplicity with clear lines and big colours, and even a terrific see-through car for the Bolds to drive around in. But that’s a good thing as it gave me a lot to chuckle about reading it aloud (goodness knows a frazzled parent needs a bit of a pick-me-up at bedtime!