These Theatre Thoughts

So… Billionaire Boy… what’s that all about then? Surprisingly enough, Billionaire Boy is actually about a boy who happens to be a billionaire. But although the name of this stage show by The Birmingham Stage Company, based on David Walliams’ children’s book, might not have much to hide, there are many layers to the story once you get right into it. A bit like a piece of loo roll, really. Like Bum Fresh toilet paper, in fact. Bum Fresh. It’s a name to make the kids giggle (and quite a number of the adults too) and it sets the tone for the rest of the play. Or musical. Because it’s a bit of both. There are some fantastically catchy songs included, but not so many that it starts to become tedious. They come into play at just the right moments, allowing for a little pathos and feeling amongst all the craziness. But back to Bum Fresh. Our protagonist, Joe Spud, is heir to the Bum Fresh billions. His dad created this amazing toilet paper after working for years in a loo roll factory; it’s mo...