Reviewed by Matthew Forrest

Opening Night verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

David Baddiel will be familiar to many of us for different reasons. For some, we know him for stand-up and comedy. Whilst for others, he’ll have provided the soundtrack to another heartbreaking defeat for the England football team. Others may know him for his work as a playwright, or for his charity work. A blind spot for me was Baddiel’s work as an author of children’s literature – with ten books aimed at children, it would be fair to say this aspect of his career is going well.

Well now he can add musical theatre to his impressive CV. Baddiel teams up with composer Dan Gillespie Sells, who composed the mega smash hit Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, to bring The Parent Agency to life as it receives its world premiere at Chester’s Storyhouse.

Based on Baddiel’s first children’s book, The Parent Agency focuses on Barry, a ten-year old boy rapidly approaching his 11th birthday. Barry has big plans for his special day: a James Bond themed party complete with Bond gadgets and a ride in a fancy car. However, things aren’t looking great, with Barry’s dad, Geoff, picking up the wrong Casino Royle DVD for the party, the David Niven one! This is the final straw for the young boy, who resents his parents for naming him Barry in the first place. On top of that he finds them boring and hates that they are poor.

An argument between Barry and the rest of his family sees him storm off to his room. With only his posters of James Bond and French footballer, Kylian Mbappé for company, he wishes he had better parents. With this wish Barry is transported to The Parent Agency or TPA for short. At TPA the children can pick their parents. Barry has the four days before his birthday to be matched up with his perfect parents. If they fail, something that has never happened before, something unspeakable will happen to Barry.

There is so much to enjoy about the production, it’s an absolute treat from start to finish. At tonight’s performance, Max Bispham was in fine form as Barry: charismatic, charming and filled with warmth and wit. He showcases superb comic timing, matched with a tremendous singing voice.

Rebecca McKinnis and Rakesh Boury are an awesome pairing as Barry’s mum and dad, Susan and Geoff. However, it’s as the various potential parents where the pair absolutely smash it. These include the super-rich, monstrous Rader-Welllorffs and the fitness enthusiasts the Fwahms. As well as the self-centred celebrities Vlassorina, and my own personal favourite, the flakey, hippy hipsters the Cools. Both Mckinnis and Boury go all in and embrace the absurdity of each character and it’s an absolute joy to watch.

Under Tim Jackson’s direction, the action is fast paced and slick. The big comic set pieces work brilliantly with the undoubted highlight being the Fwahm’s Van Halen’s Jump inspired fitness routine – as stunning as it is bonkers. Whilst the Cool’s red double decker bus sequence, is more Rik Mayall’s Young Ones, than Sir Cliff’s! The added extra touches of money raining down upon the audience as well as smoke filled bubbles completely enchanted the younger audience members, as well as some of us oldies too!

Baddiel’s script is smart, witty, with the right balance between big laughs, and beautiful, touching observations about family. It’s refreshing to see a show that doesn’t pitch some of its jokes at adults, and some at kids. Here the jokes are universal and highlights how a great gag can be enjoyed by an audience of all ages.

The musical numbers are catchy, with Barry being the perfect opener, whilst The Rador-Wellorffs and Gonna Make You Sweat are superbly silly, aided by some stunning visuals and outstanding work from the insanely talented ensemble cast. Costume design by Sarah Mercadé is outstanding, and combined with the skills of this incredible cast completely transports you into the world of the TPA. Barry’s parents Susan and Geoff (Mckinnis and Boury) convince us entirely that they are different characters with each costume change. All the creatives involved have excelled themselves creating a truly memorable production which will easily sit at home in the West End. Visually it is stunning, with the attention to detail second to none.

This is a truly joyous production, with plenty of heart, and something for everyone: an enormously entertaining and hugely enjoyable story, told with incredible set pieces and super slick humour. We’d better get used to the name Barry coming back in fashion, because The Parent Agency is going to be around for quite some time, and according to my 9 year old mini-reviewer, “The best show I’ve ever seen”.

The Parent Agency runs until 2nd March tickets are available here.

Images Mark McNulty and also supplied by the production.