A masterpiece of absurdity

Madeleine Sami is Badjelly in Silo's version of the famous book.

Stinky pooh! Stinky pooh! Knickers, knickers, knickers!

Most children will be able to name the source of these words. So will a significant number of 20 and 30-somethings who grew up listening to Sunday morning children's hour on the radio.

The line was penned by master of nonsense Spike Milligan, and is just one of many memorable moments in a ludicrous fairy tale the comedian wrote for his children in 1973.

The story, Badjelly the Witch, has since become a cult children's classic and nowhere more so, it seems, than in New Zealand. Badjelly has been reprinted here more than in any other country, the story regularly appears on radio and it is New Zealand's most licensed play.

Despite its British origins, the book was adapted into a play by New Zealand writer and actress Alannah O'Sullivan.

Now Badjelly the Witch is getting the Silo Theatre treatment.

The story is a masterpiece of absurdity. Wholesome and wide-eyed children Tim and Rose set out to find their beloved family cow Lucy, who is missing from her paddock. Along the way, they meet an apple tree that used to be a policeman; a grasshopper who barks like a dog; Mudwiggle, the strongest worm in the world; their friend and hero Dinglemouse; Jim the giant eagle; and Badjelly herself.

Joining director Ben Crowder are a host of theatrical heavyweights. Elizabeth Whiting, a regular collaborator with the Auckland Theatre Company, is doing the costumes, and John Verryt is designing the weird and wonderful world of Badjelly. The talented Madeleine Sami is in the title role.

Director Ben Crowder has used O'Sullivan's original script as the basis for devising a version he hopes will appeal to children and adults.

"We are going for quite a visceral style, hoping to show the audience the story, rather than just tell it," he says.

"For ease of production, the existing script bypasses a lot of the things that are difficult to show, like the witch falling out of the sky or Mudwiggle the worm swimming. I want to show the impossible, and I like to think that is quite achievable.

"We are very lucky Alannah lives and works in Auckland, so I can go and chat with her about changes we want to make. And she has given us her blessing."

Devising a new adaptation of a play based on a story by Spike Milligan, for a director who wants to show the impossible live on stage, requires a certain amount of bravery and a willingness to be silly.

"We are encouraged to find the silliness in all of us," says Sami. "And it trickles down from the top. Ben can be really quite a ridiculous person - he may as well have a sausage sewn on to his hat."

But silliness aside, both Sami and Crowder are mindful and unapologetic of the scary elements of the play.

"Spike Milligan has a respect for his audience," says Crowder. "This isn't all namby-pants sweet and nice for kiddies. Parts of it are really scary. And Badjelly is a very scary witch, who eats small children.

"No one feels like they are working on a children's show. It is really rather irreverent and naughty, and not at all PC. It's a scary story, but terribly exciting. It is important to us to make it the best bit of theatre we can, for both children and grown-ups."

The pair realise their younger audience members will be their harshest critics. Sami's young nephew will be in the audience on his first outing to the theatre. His aunt is hoping he will approve.

"Yes, kids remember the smallest details, so this is not minimalist theatre. We are taking the approach that more is more," adds Crowder.

"A friend's four-year-old is annoyed the season hasn't started yet. He has already told me I'd better get it right."

* Badjelly the Witch is at the Silo Theatre from July 8-23