Kids steal show in wacky play

Incompetent burglars, nasty nurses, near-sighted heroes and a hospital heist are to come alive on the Harlequin Theatre stage later this month.

An excitable group of young Masterton people, aged eight to 17, will be appearing this year's Harlequin Junior production of The Bungling Burglars, a kids' musical-comedy by Wellington playwright Michelanne Forster.

Director and Harlequin veteran John Mabey stumbled across the show on the internet, and thought it sounded "hilarious".

"I thought, 'this could be really funny'," said Mr Mabey, who has previously directed two Harlequin plays, and has acted in many more.

"I thought it'd be an opportunity to do something really wacky and over-the-top. I'm a bit off the wall like that, myself.

"And, it's a New Zealand play as well."

The Bungling Burglars is the story of three professional burglars, Mac, McNugget and Fish Fingers, who are "absolutely hopeless".

They hatch a plan to steal all the children's teddy bears from the local hospital, only to encounter a trio of beastly nurses - named Sisters Pustule, Pimple and Blister - and be chased by a group of myopic children.

"It's got humour and silliness, some great acting by the kids and a lesson for everyone at the end," said Mr Mabey.

"And it's got a dog who sings."

While working with such a young cast had its challenges, Mr Mabey said he found it rewarding teaching his pint-sized thespians all the tricks of the theatre trade.

Through being involved in the show, he said, the children had learnt all the important dramatic techniques, such as voice projection, body movement, using the stage, and how to physically embody a character.

"For example, we've got a couple of little 8-year-old girls, and they're playing 80-year-old grandparents," he said.

"I always tell them, 'I don't want to see any of you on stage. I want to see your characters.

"And I've had to teach them not to break the fourth wall - even when they've got dad sitting in the audience."

He said the kids had also learnt some of the theatre "etiquette", including going through the audition process, how to behave backstage and the importance of making a commitment to a show.

The Bungling Burglars runs from July 20 to 26 at Harlequin Theatre.