On Friday morning, Miss A and I, along with my fellow bloggers Penny and Louise, went to The Lakeside (Arts Centre) to see the Engine House production of Two Little Boys.
Two Little Boys is suitable for ages 4 +, and is on for 50 minutes, a perfect length of time I think for this age. It is on from the 6th – 30th of December and all tickets are £8.
I was so surprised to learn that the song was originally written in 1902 by Theodore Morse and Edward Madden, and it actually describes the American Civil War. I had always presumed that Rolf Harris had written it, about the First World War.
This play, written by Mike Kenny is now set in the First World War, and the basis of the song and the play Two Little Boys is about friendship. Long and enduring friendship, and that even though the friends are older, and been affected by what life has dealt them, they are essentially the same person they were when they were children.
Here is what Engine House say:
The set was beautiful, simple and fluid, it moved with the play as it went through the different ages of the two little boys. Two Little Boys is heart warming and made me think about my own childhood friends and the friendships that I had. It has elements that were a little sad, and war really is a tricky subject to have in a play for such young children but it was handled extremely well. There was humour, a lovely humour that was gentle and seem to be subtly threaded through the play. I loved the repetition of Christmas time and whether it would snow. The ending of the play with the two men, actors Steven O’Neill and Kevin McGowen singing the song, was just brilliant. The composer Julian Butler has adapted the music beautifully.
Miss A (3) enjoyed the play and was giggling away, at some of the more simple and visual humour, and I don’t think she really understood the story too much. However it provided a great opportunity for us to talk about friendship together and we chatted over the weekend about some of the friendships I had when I was a child, and the toys that we played with. She loves the song, and has asked if she can listen to it in her bedroom at night.
I would recommend the play, I think it would be a lovely one to take your children to this Christmas. We also enjoyed the interactive exhibition that is at Lakeside too, next to the Cafe, a great way of either starting or ending the performance.
Thank you for reading
Great to see you again, as always 🙂 It was a very thought provoking play, but delivered in a fun and accessible way. My eldest loved it, especially the war part interestingly! xxx