Review: Angus, Thongs & Even More Snogging *****

West Yorkshire Playhouse

The last time director Ryan McBryde’s work was seen in his hometown of Leeds, we predicted that Bat Boy would transfer to the West End. It did. It would come as little surprise if this belter of a show didn’t follow that example.

A brilliant, exuberantly youthful cast, a script that pushes all the right buttons and a directorial hand that borrows from the best (there are hints of the Marx Brothers, the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Kneehigh and even Inspector Clouseau here) should combine for a mega-hit. Based on the popular books by Louise Rennison, and adapted for the stage by Rennison and Mark Catley, this is a story about the coming of age of a teenage girl. Which means it will only appeal to teenage girls – about as much as Adrian Mole’s diaries only appeal to those who are 13 and 3/4.

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Georgia, played with the consummate stage presence of someone much more experienced than Naomi Petersen, is a teenage girl who is baffled by boys. This means she is baffled by the main focus of her life.

A tale with the heart, bite and ultimate warmth of a similar story, American Pie, few will not find something in this show with which they can’t relate.

Catley’s script is economy itself, the performances full of joy – none more so than Leon Scott’s, who couldn’t have had more fun playing Masimo if he were simply acting up for his mates. I bet my hat that Bat Boy would transfer. Older and wiser, I’d still put money on this going to London.

To Mar 3.

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