Magic Beach by Alison Lester has been an iconic Australian picture book since its publication in 1990. Lester has a particular gift for ever-so gently illustrating, both in words and images, quirky family dynamics and the divine bits of imaginative play that make childhood so wondrous.
If you don’t know the book, here is Alison Lester reading it from her real magic beach.
The new production of Magic Beach, adapted for the stage by Finegan Krukemeyer, beautifully captures the qualities that make Lester’s books so special.
What can be more exciting (or more Aussie) than an annual family beach trip? Three kids – 6 year old Lucy, 8 year old Danny, and 11 year old Sally, plus their parents (voice recordings only) – are heading off on their annual week-long holiday to Magic Beach. Of course, what makes Magic Beach magical is that it is their beach, unchanged every year, and always a place of family connection and joy.
This year, however, Sally is on the cusp of teenagerhood, perhaps ready to leave the games of childhood behind. There’s a quiet sadness in this realisation, both for her, and for her siblings.
Despite Sally’s uncertainty, there is are days of fun to be had, beginning before they even finish packing the car. Lucy is full of boisterous energy and Danny is her willing, if sometimes sulky, companion. My little theatre companion, Miss 3, was immediately drawn in by their playful roughhousing; and it is quite her compliment to how well this production portrays childhood play, to say that her attention never wavered.
The car ride to the beach includes a game of “Spotto” and a dad fart that will certainly win over every kid in the audience. Once at the beach, it’s straight to the water. The episodic structure takes us through the kids’ games like sea horses, rock pools, sand castles, fishing, and a (just slightly scary) game of dragon slaying.
Sally ends up being a delightfully game tween on the beach holiday, finding that “kid stuff” is still great fun. The final scene sees the family enjoying the end-of trip bonfire, with the kids wondering how long Sally will still be one of “them.” Growing a year older on each visit may be inevitable for all of these children, but it’s certain that their Magic Beach experiences will always be a part of them and their family bond.
This is not a bells-and-whistles show, just simple theatrical storytelling with a few sweet songs and earnest, big-hearted performances by the trio of actors. Some beautiful sea life puppetry had Miss 3 whispering, “look at that!” in wide-eyed wonder. Alison Lester’s enduring charm is in her ability to reflect childhood back to children without a single trick or gimmick. This production honours her art, trusting children with a glimpse at what truly matters to them – family, play, nature, a sense of security, and the perfection of finding a place like Magic Beach where their imaginations can soar without boundaries.
Magic Beach is produced by CPD Productions. It is on at The Concourse (Chatswood) until January 10, 2021 and at the Seymour Centre January 21 – 24. It will run at Riverside Theatres (Parramatta) April 20 – 22, 2021. (See venue websites for Covid Safe plans)
Run time: 55 minutes
Recommended age: 3 – 8