by Sarah Cope

There can’t be a child under ten or a parent in the country who doesn’t know about (and can accurately quote) Charlie and Lola, the endearing/irritating cartoon duo devised by Lauren Childs. Most households with children will have at least some of the books, if not the DVDs, stationery, clothing… the list is almost endless.

Now doting parents can take their own little Charlies and Lolas along to see the stage play, or the ‘best bestest play’, to use the rather coy title of this production. And it’s a curiously staged performance, with Charlie and Lola being represented by two-dimensional cardboard cut outs with moving eyes and limbs, which are operated by stage hands in neutral clothing.

They’re there but they’re not there – a difficult concept for any child to grasp. As for the cardboard cut-out figures, I heard one little boy bemoaning loudly, repeatedly, “Mum, that’s not real Charlie and Lola!”

Once the children had learned to suspend disbelief, this was a play that kept this usually fidgety audience rapt. This was helped by the familiarity of the storylines – the play incorporated several of the best-known books and episodes, as well as the voices from the series. The whimsical music used in the BBC cartoons also aided concentration, and when the theme tune started up at the beginning, most of the kids sat up and paid attention in the manner of Pavlov’s dog (minus the dribbling, by and large).

The enduring popularity of Charlie and Lola is encapsulated in this stage version: it’s cute and harmless, imaginative and subtle, but there are serious lessons for the young ‘uns. Such as: don’t tell lies and always apologise when you are wrong. This is a great help for parents everywhere. Less helpful is the example Lola sets in her reluctance to go to bed, but this is perhaps a minor quibble.

The Pleasance, whilst off the beaten track, is a great venue for this production, its relatively small size meaning that the kids are up close to the stage (I’ve noticed this is essential in keeping them engaged in the action rather than envying their neighbour’s sweets).

So take your kids along for a Christmas treat – just beware the falling butterflies and bubbles. Yes, really.

Showing at the Pleasance Theatre until January 2, 2011.